F-4 PHANTOM - USAF "THUNDERBIRDS"

Historical Note:          The Thunderbirds F-4's conversion was the most extensive in the team's history. Among other modifications, paints that had worked on the F-100 made the F-4 look patchy because of multicolored alloys used in the F-4 to resist heat and friction at Mach II speeds. As a result, a polyurethane paint base was developed and used to cover the problem. The white paint base remains a part of today's Thunderbird aircraft.

The F-4 Phantom is a fighter-bomber type of aircraft. It was manufactured by McDonnell Douglas and designed by David S. Lewis, Jr. Its maiden flight was on the 27th of May 1958 and it was introduced on the 30th of December 1960. Its primary users are United States Air Force, United States Navy, and United States Marine Corps. The aircraft was produced from 1958 to 1981.

The F-4 Phantom was designed and developed as a fleet defense fighter for the United States Navy. The F-4 first entered the service in 1960, and it joined the United States Air Force as a fighter-bomber aircraft in 1963. The aircraft held a record for having the longest and continuous production for 24 years.

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds used the F-4E version of the Phantom II. The F-4E allows only two flight crews. It is 63 feet long with a wingspan of 38 feet, 4.5 inches and height of 16 feet, 6 inches. Its wing area is 530 square feet. Its weight is 30,328 pounds when empty and 41,500 pounds when loaded. It is powered by 2x General Electric J79-GE-17A axial compressor turbojets with 17,845 lbf each.

Scale:    1:42
W/S:      10.9     inches, 
Lgth:      18.0    inches

Item Number:    TMC-CF004TB                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Price:    $169.95