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Scale 1:38   Length 19"   Wingspan 12"

Photography by Action Asia Photo
© 2002-8 Action Asia Photo - All Rights Reserved
www.actionasiaphoto.com

First flown in May 1958, the Phantom II was developed as a fleet defense fighter with a powerful radar and armed only with air-to-air missiles. It entered service in 1961.

The next variant - the F-4B - was much more than just an interceptor and was also used as a ground-support bomber for the US Marine Corps flying air support, interception, air defense suppression, long-range strike, fleet defense, attack and reconnaissance missions. It is recognizable by having a small Infra Red Seeker pod under the nose

The USAF evaluated the F-4C for close air support, interdiction and counter-air operations and, in 1962, approved a USAF version. The USAF's Phantom II, designated F-4C, made its first flight in May, 1963. The Air Force purchased 583 F-4Cs (which were little different from the Navy's F-4Bs) and 773 F-4Ds with improved radar and ground attack capability. Early F-4Ds had the IR Seeker pod removed and later F-4Ds had the pod put back on but, instead of housing an IR seeker, the pod contained RHAW antennas.

The Phantom saw considerable action in the Vietnam War where its lack of an onboard gun was found to be a considerable disadvantage. This was rectified in the F-4E by adding a 6-barrel M61A1 Gatling gun under the nose, which gave the type a new distinctive recognition feature. Additionally, the F-4E had more powerful engines and an updated radar. (Note: The designation F-4F was used for F-4Es considerably lightened and sent to Germany. The designation F-4EJ is for F-4Es built by Japan).

Also during the Vietnam war, the F-4G 'Wild Weasel' was introduced as a defense suppression aircraft tasked with destroying enemy SAMs and their radar. The aircraft's under-the-nose canon was replaced by an elongated electronics pod that gave the F-4G  a different recognition feature. The F-4G is also the only Phantom II with a full length pod on the tip of the tail that housed an AFT receiver antenna.

The F-4J is a follow-on aircraft to the Navy's F-4B and had many of the systems and structural changes found in Air Force Phantoms. The variant is easily recognizable by a complete absence of any pods under the front of the nose, although the two small bulges on the nose sides (which are scoops for the air conditioner) remain. The F-4J first flew in May of 1966 and fleet deliveries began later that year. 

The Phantom II is the first and only aircraft ever to be flown concurrently by both the Blue Angels (F-4Js) and the Thunderbirds (F-4Es). It has been flown by the defense forces of 11 other nations: Australia, Egypt, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iran, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Spain and Turkey. Phantom II production ended in 1979 after over 5,000 had been built - more than 2,600 for the USAF, about 1,200 for the Navy and Marine Corps and the rest for friendly foreign nations.

Other follow-on versions of the F-4 Phantom II aircraft are F-4J, F-4K, F-4M, F-4N, F-4S and the Super Phantom.

Crew:          Two
Length:       63 ft
Wingspan:  38 ft  4 in
Speed:        Mach 2.4
Ceiling:       57,200 ft
Range:        400 miles
Engines:     Two J-79-GE-17s of 17,900 lbs thrust each with afterburner
Armament: Up to 16,000 lbs of externally carried nuclear or conventional bombs, rockets and missiles in various combinations

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