Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA1931

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

In 1969 the 366th TFW received 2 squadrons of F-4E Phantoms. The 366th TFW were the "Gunfighters" because of the addition of 20mm Gatling gun pods to their earlier F-4Cs. F-4E 68-0339 from the 366th TFW/421st TFS "Black Widows" was modified to carry special payloads. Operating alone near the DMZ this heavily armed free-roaming strike-recce aircraft, call sign "Chico" would attack any enemy targets of opportunity. F-4E 68-339 became known as "Chico the Gunfighter" and was the only USAF F-4 modified to carry out these special missions.

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