Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA1983

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

For "Operation Desert Storm" the 52nd TFW based at Spangdahlem AB, Germany provided 24 F- 4Gs from August 19, 1990 until March 1991 as part of the 35th TFW (provisional). One of the F- 4Gs was McDonnell Douglas Phantom II F-4E-42-MC s/n 69-0269, c/n 3802. In 1981 it under went conversion to an F-4G specifications. During ODS the 35th flew 3,072 combat missions and accumulated 10,318 hours. On August 21, 1991 69-0269 was sent to AMARC, later converted to a drone and destroyed January 24, 2002.

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