Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA1930

General Background

The F-4 Phantom II first entered US Military service in 1960. It was designed as a fleet defense fighter for the US Navy but by 1963 it was adopted as the US Air Force primary fighter-bomber. Despite the size and weight of this Cold War icon the F-4 broke 15 world records and continued to hold five of them until 1975.

Produced from 1960 to 1981 there were 5,195 Phantom IIs manufactured. Eleven countries other than the USA had the Phantom II in their inventory.

The Aircraft

Normally a flight of F-4s would fly ahead of a flight of F-105s. The MiG-17s would wait for the second flight comprised of the F-105s before they would attack. On July 10, 1965 there were no F-105s only two flights of F-4Cs flying like F-105s. The MiG-17s attacked and after much maneuvering Capt. K.E. Holcombe and Capt. A.C. Clark managed to get behind a MiG-17 and shot it down making them the first crew to shoot down a MiG-17. On July 30, 1967 F-4C 64-0693 and crew were lost.

Specifications :

Dimensions
Length:	17.7m
Height:	4.7m
Wingspan:	11.6m
Wingarea:	49.2 sq m
No. of Engines:	2
Powerplant :	General Electric J79-GE-10 (A/B 17,900Lb/8,119Kg)
Performance
Range:	2,222 km
Cruise Speed:	908 km/h
Max Speed:	2,299 km/h
Climb:	12,572 m/min
Ceiling:	16,672 m