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Fighter / Attack:
   Bell P-39 Airacobra
   Bell P-63 Kingcobra
   Brewster Buffalo
   Chance-Vought F-4U Corsair
   Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
   Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
   Douglas A-1 Skyraider
   Douglas A-26 Invader
   Douglas SBD Dauntless
   Fairey Firefly
   Focke-Wulf Fw 190
   Grumman F4F Wildcat
   Grumman F6F Hellcat
   Grumman F7F Tigercat
   Grumman F8F Bearcat
   Grumman TBF Avenger
   Hawker Hurricane
   Hawker Sea Fury
   Lockheed P-38 Lightning
   Messerschmitt Bf-109
   Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen
  
North American P-51 Mustang

   Polikarpov I-16
   Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
   Supermarine Spitfire
   Yakovlev Yak-3
  
Yakovlev Yak-9


Trainers:
  
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan (C-45)
   Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
  
Boeing / Stearman PT-17

   Commonwealth CA-25 Winjeel
   Commonwealth CA-1 Wirraway
   DeHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk
   DeHavilland DH-82 Tiger Moth
   Fairchild PT-19 Cornell
   Hunting / Percival Provost
   Meyers OTW
   Nanchang CJ-6
   Naval Aircraft Factory N3N
   N. Am. BT-9 / BT-14 / Yale
   N. Am. T-6 Texan / SNJ / Harvard
  
N. American T-28 Trojan

   Piaggio P149
  
Ryan PT-22 Recruit

   Scottish Aviation T1 Bulldog
   Vultee BT-13 Valiant
   Yakovlev Yak-11
   Yakovlev Yak-18
  
Yakovlev Yak-52


Bombers:
   Avro Lancaster
   Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
   Boeing B-29 Superfortress
   Bristol Blenheim / Bolingbroke
   Consolidated B-24 Liberator
  
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

   Douglas A-3 Skywarrior
   DeHavilland Mosquito
   Fairey Swordfish
  
Heinkel He-111 / Casa 2.111

   Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon / Ventura
   Martin B-26 Marauder
  
North American B-25 Mitchell


Transports:
   Beechcraft C-45 (AT-11)

   Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter (KC-97)
   Curtiss C-46 Commando
   Douglas C-47 Skytrain / Dakota
  
Douglas C-54 Skymaster

   Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
   Fairchild C-123 Provider
   Grumman C-1 Trader (S-2)
   Lockheed C-60 Lodestar
  
Lockheed C-69 Constellation


Utility / Observation / Special Duty:
   Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper
   Aeronca L-16 Grasshopper
   Antonov AN-2 Colt
   Auster AOP 6/9
   Avro 652 Anson
   Avro Shackleton
   British Taylorcraft I-V
   Cessna L-19 / O-1 Bird Dog
   Cessna O-2 Super Skymaster
   Cessna T-50 / UC-78 Bobcat
  
Consolidated PBY Catalina

   DeHavilland U-6A / L-20 Beaver
   Fairey Gannet
   Fairey Swordfish
   Fieseler Fi156 Storch
   Grumman S-2 Tracker (C-1)
   Grumman HU-16 Albatross
   Grumman OV-1 Mohawk
  
Junkers Ju 52/3m

   Lockheed P2V Neptune
   Max Holste M.H.1521 Broussard
  
Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun

   Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman
   North American L-17 Navion
   N. Am./ Rockwell OV-10 Bronco
   Piper L-4 Grasshopper
   Stinson L-5 Sentinel
   Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper
  
Westland Lysander


Jets:
   Aero L-29 Delfin
   Aero L-39 Albatros
   Aermacchi MB-326
   Avro Vulcan
   BAC Strikemaster
   Blackburn (BAC) Buccaneer
   Canadair Tutor
   Cessna A-37 Dragonfly
   DeHavilland Vampire
   DeHavilland Venom
   English Electric Canberra
   English Electric Lightning
   Folland Gnat
   Fouga CM-170 Magister
   Gloster Meteor
   Grumman F9F Panther
   Hawker Hunter
   Hispano HA-200 Saeta
   Hunting Jet Provost
   Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
   Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
   McDonnell-Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
   McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom
   Messerschmitt Me-262
   Mikoyan MiG-15
   Mikoyan MiG-17
   Mikoyan MiG-21
   N. Am. F-86 Sabre / FJ-4 Fury
   N. Am. F-100 Super Sabre
   N. Am. / Rockwell T-2 Buckeye
   Northrop T-38 Talon / F-5
   PZL / WSK TS-11 Iskra
   Saab J35 Draken
   Soko G-2A Galeb
  
Temco Pinto & Super Pinto


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McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom

(Variants/Other Names: See History below)


McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom Steve Ritchie
The Collings Foundation's F-4D, NX749CF, performs at Randolph AFB, Texas, USA.
Photo by Buck Wyndham.

History: The F-4 is one of the most famous fighter aircraft of the post-World War II era, having been used in large numbers by the air forces of many western nations, where it gradually evolved in capability and mission diversity. First flown on 27 May 1958, the Phantom was developed as a private venture by McDonnell and was first ordered by the US Navy as a carrier-based attack aircraft (the F-4B). Soon after its introduction to active service in December 1960, a fly-off competition was conducted between the Phantom and various frontline Air Force fighters. The Phantom excelled in the competition in such a decisive way that the US Air Force ordered a slightly different version of the aircraft (the F-4C) and the Phantom went on to equip over three-quarters of the USAF's fighter wings.

US involvement in the war in Vietnam saw the F-4 utilized in an increasingly multi-role capacity, delivering bombs in huge multi-aircraft formations, shooting down North Vietnamese MiGs, and earning its rightful place in history. Improvements in the aircraft's electronic systems, engines and airframe resulted in many variants, including the F-4E (with more powerful engines, leading-edge wing slats to improve maneuverability, and a 20-mm cannon); the RF-4E (export version designed for tactical reconnaissance); the F-4F (air superiority version for the German Luftwaffe, with air-to-ground weapons system removed); the F-4G ("Wild Weasel" anti-missile version); and the F-4K/M (Royal Navy/Royal Air Force versions, respectively).

The latest variant, and certainly the last, are the QF-4N pilotless target drones operated by the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Florida. In addition to several others performing civilian-contract test work at Mojave, California, a sole privately operated F-4 was made airworthy in the 1990s in the USA, thanks to the hard work of both the USAF and the Collings Foundation. This F-4 is occasionally still flown at airshows around the USA. (See photo above.)

Another F-4 is rumored to be close to airworthy condition in California.

The F-4 remains in service in several nations around the world, including Japan, Greece, Turkey, Iran, South Korea, and Egypt. 

Nicknames: Double Ugly; Rhino; Old Smokey; Lead Sled; Elephant; St. Louis Slugger; Eisenschwein ("Iron Pig"), Fliegender Ziegelstein ("Flying Brick"), Luftverteidigungsdiesel ("Air Defense Diesel) (Luftwaffe nicknames); Tomb (early RAF nickname); Kurnass (Israeli nickname meaning "Hammer")

Specifications (F-4E):
        Engines: Two 17,900-pound thrust afterburning General Electric J79-GE-17 turbojets
        Weight: Empty 29,535 lbs., Max Takeoff 61,651 lbs.
        Wing Span: 38ft. 5in.
        Length: 63ft. 0in.
        Height: 16ft. 6in.
        Performance:
            Maximum Speed: 1,485 mph (Mach 2.25) at 40,000 ft.
            Ceiling: 62,250 ft.
            Range: 1,100 miles
        Armament:
            One 20-mm M61A1 rotary cannon;
            Four AIM-7 Sparrow missiles or 3,020 pounds of weapons under fuselage;
            Up to 12,980 pounds of various weapons on underwing pylons.

Number Built: 5,195

Number Still Airworthy: One in civilian hands; Recent active service in the USA, Germany, Japan, Greece, Turkey and South Korea.

Links:
The Collings Foundation's F-4D / (Additional site)
F-4 Phantom II Society
F-4 Phantom Site (UK)
German Air Force Flying Training Center -- Home of some of the last military F-4s in the USA, at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
Michel Klaver's F-4 Site -- Many, many great photos and links.
Phantom's Phabulous Phortieth
Phantom Phlyers -- (Text in German)
UGA Media's F-4 Phantom Reference CD-ROM
 

 

 

 



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