McDonnell Phantom FC-4 on static display in the Great gallery of the Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Seattle
McDonnell Phantom FC-4 on static display in the Great gallery of the Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Seattle. The F-4 Phantom II, with its harsh symmetry, swept-back wings, and drooping tail was called "brutishly ugly" by some pilots. But whatever the Phantom lacked in looks, it more than made up for with exceptional performance. When unveiled, the fighter was considered huge and immensely powerful. In 1958, the F-4 was selected by the Navy as a fleet defense interceptor. Soon, its remarkable capabilities led to use by the Air Force and Marine Corps as well. As the pre-eminent American combat aircraft of the 1960s, it fulfilled the roles of interceptor, air superiority fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft and became the standard by which all other fighters were judged for more than ten years. The Museum's F-4C was built in 1965 and served in Vietnam. This plane shot down three North Vietnamese MiG-21 aircraft. After its active Air Force duty, this Phantom served the Oregon Air National Guard for nine years, flying tactical defense exercises from Portland International Airport. This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force through the cooperation and assistance of the Oregon National Guard and the Oregon Military Museum. The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II] is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. Proving highly adaptable, it became a major part of the air wings of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. It was used extensively by all three of these services during the Vietnam War, serving as the principal air superiority fighter for both the Navy and Air Force, as well as being important in the ground-attack and reconnaissance roles by the close of involvement in the war. First entering service in 1960, the Phantom continued to form a major part of mil
Size: 5140px × 3297px
Location: Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal Way South, Seattle, Washington 98108
Photo credit: © John Gaffen 2 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: -110a, -4, aircraft, fc-4, fighter, ii, interceptor, jet, mcdonnell, military, phantom
