How Retired McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Became The Best Selling Supersonic Fighter In History?
Video from the channel TRONSTIKE about McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 4:09. Language: English. Video type: Documentary.
The video traces the history of the F-4 Phantom II, which McDonnell developed for the US Navy in the late 1950s as an interceptor to protect carrier groups.
It first flew on 27 May 1958, received the name Phantom II on 3 July 1959, and entered Navy service in 1961. It was later adopted by the Marine Corps and the Air Force, which used it as its primary fighter in Vietnam. It was exported to 11 other countries and was flown by the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels.
With 5,195 units built by McDonnell Douglas and Mitsubishi, it is the most-produced American supersonic military aircraft. It had no internal gun until later versions and left US service in 1996.