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The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was designed as a missile-armed fleet defense fighter for the United States Navy. In 1962, the U.S. Air Force selected the F-4 for its own use as both a fighter and a fighter-bomber. Originally designated F-110 by the Air Force the plane became the F-4C under the unified designation scheme ordered by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. The F-4E is a greatly improved version of the Phantom with numerous improvements to the engines and electronic systems. The most recognizable change is the addition of an internally mounted gun for air-to-air combat. This addressed the greatest combat weakness of the Phantom. The F-4E is the most produced version of the Phantom with a total of 1,387 built for the U.S. Air Force and foreign customers.
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| Wingspan |
38 ft 5 in |
| Length |
63 ft |
| Height |
16 ft 6 in |
| Weight |
55,957 lbs (loaded |
| Maximum Speed |
1,485 mph |
| Service Ceiling |
62,250 ft |
| Range |
1,885 miles |
| Engines |
2 General Electric J79-GE-17 turbojets 17,900 thrust each |
| Crew |
2 |
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