Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA1968
McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II 151474, VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" , 1965
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.
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
There have been 5 USN Aviation squadrons to either use the designation VF-84 or use the
name and insignia of the Jolly Roger. It all began back on January 1 1943 with the creation of
VF-17. In 1959 with the disestablishment of VF-61 that wore the skull and cross bones at that
time the name and insignia was moved to VF-84 under Roger Hedrick. VF-84 was flying the
F8U-2 Crusader at that time before transitioning to the F-4B in 1964. In 1965 VF-84 deployed
aboard the USS Independence in the Gulf of Tonkin where they flew 1,507 combat sorties over
2,200 flight hours. VF-84 flew variants of the F-4 until 1976 when they left the Phantom II for the
F-14 Tomcat. VF-84 was disestablished on October 1, 1995, but VF-103 Sluggers adopted the
name and insignia of the Jolly Rogers.
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 |