Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA1974
McDonnell Douglas F-4J "Showtime 112" 157267, VF-96, USS Constellation, 1972
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
VF-96 “Fighting Falcons” on board the USS Constellation deployed to Vietnam from October
1971 until July 1972. While there F-4J 157267 “Showtime 112” crewed by Lt. Randall “Duke”
Cunningham and LTJG William “Willie” Driscoll shot down their first two MiG’s.
On January 19, 1972 they shot down a MiG-21 over North Vietnam followed by a MiG-17 on
May 8, 1972. 157267 was later upgraded to an “S” variant and in 1984 was sent to MASDC but
later went on display at the San Diego Air Museum.
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 |