Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA1981

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

McDonnell Douglas F-4 69-7582 c/n 4053 was manufactured as an "E" variant and assigned to 563 TFS / 37th TFW at George AFB, California in the early to mid-1980s. The aircraft was later sent to the Ogden Air Logistics Center and modified to a "G" variant. F-4G 69-7582 spent time with the 23rd TFS / 52nd TFW in Spangdahlem West German as the Boss Bird before it was WFU (Withdrawn From Use) and sent to AMARC November 21, 1991. On July 13, 2000 the aircraft was sent for conversion to a QF-4G AF-222 drone. On March 10, 2006 it was destroyed. The three stars on the left splitter were not earned by this aircraft, the kills were actually squadron/individual credits.

69-7561 was sent to AMARC September 12, 1995 and destroyed on June 6, 2001.

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