McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II

Developed as the direct descendent of the disappointing F3H Demon, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 became its era's premier strike fighter, with more than 5000 aircraft of various versions delivered to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, and 11 foreign countries. Its huge payload gave it formidable attack capability, while its two-man crew, powerful engines, and advanced radar also made it a potent fighter. The F-4J was the world's first fighter able to detect and attack low-flying aircraft, and during the Vietnam War Navy Phantoms claimed 40 air-air victories while losing seven F-4s to enemy fighters; Navy and Marine Corps F-4s lacked guns and relied solely on AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles. F-4J Bureau Number 153071 spent its career at NAS Patuxent River, first flew on 28 June 1966, transferred to the Naval Air Test Center in February 1967, and served primarily as the carrier suitability and Automatic Carrier Landing System test aircraft. Over its life, it logged 4,256.1 flight hours, 447 catapult launches, 533 arrested landings, and 8,655 total landings before retirement in October 1986 and transfer to PRNAM in March 1987.

Maryland · United States