McDonnel-F-4-Phantom

The F-4 Phantom II was manufactured by McDonnell Aircraft (later McDonnell Douglas after merging with Douglas Aircraft in 1967).

Key facts about the F-4 Phantom II:

• Designed by McDonnell Aircraft in the late 1950s

• First flew in May 1958 and entered service in 1960

• Served as a fighter-bomber, interceptor, and reconnaissance aircraft

• Used by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force

• One of the few aircraft to be used by both the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds demonstration teams

• Widely exported to allied nations including the UK, Israel, Japan, Germany, Australia, and others

• Remained in U.S. service until 1996 (with the Air Force Reserve)

• Some international operators continued using F-4s into the 2010s

• Notable for being a large, powerful twin-engine, two-seat aircraft

• Set numerous world records for speed, altitude, and time-to-climb

• Played a significant role in the Vietnam War

• Over 5,000 were built across various models

• Nicknamed "Double Ugly," "Rhino," and "The World's Leading Distributor of MiG Parts"

The F-4 Phantom II is considered one of the most successful and versatile combat aircraft ever built, and its distinctive shape with upturned wingtips makes it instantly recognizable.