F-4E Phantom II No. 201 Squadron, Israeli Air Force, Hatzor, Nov. 11, 1969 (1:72)

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series (Jet Powered)
HA1909 - McDonnell-Douglas F- 4E, Israeli Air Force Kurnass #08
201 Squadron "The One" Hatzor AFB, November 11, 1969
True 1/72 scale.
Professionally painted.
Great attention to detail.
All markings are Tampoed (pad applied).
Option to display the model on a stand that is provided.
Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions.
Loads of optional armament provided.
Canopy can be displayed open or closed.
Pilot figures included.
Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic.
Highly collectable.

One pilot described the F-4 Phantom II as “a brick with wings that they made fly”. The McDonnell Douglas Phantom II had several variants produced with the F-4E variant being the most produced. The F-4E variant came with new improved engines, increased fuel capacity, re-designed nose containing smaller radar, leading edge slats and finally a 20mm cannon. The Kurnass was capable of carrying a large assortment of weapons including the AGM-84 Harpoon missile as well as the Rafael Gabriel anti-ship missile and later the Rafael Popeye air-to-surface missile. The Kurnass was also frequently used in SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defences) roles.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF; Hebrew: זרוע האויר והחלל, Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal) first took possession of their new F-4Es on September 5, 1969 at the Hatzor Airbase. In Israel the F-4 would be called Kurnass (sledgehammer) not Phantom. Over time the IAF purchased 42 factory new F-4Es, 12 factory new RF-4Es and 162 ex-USAF aircraft with the possibility of even more. The RF version was referred to as “Orev” (Raven). The first squadron to receive the Phantoms was the newly formed 201 Squadron “The One” (הטייסת האחת). The plan was to deliver four aircraft approximately every month and the first four had U.S. serials 68-0396 – 68-0399 that were changed to #01, #04, #08 and #10. The IAF originally used 2 digit tail numbers but it wasn't long before the switched to a 3 digit system with the 201st adding a 6 as the first digit. These particular aircraft all were involved in notable events, #01 flew the first Kurnass mission, on April 2 1970 #04 was the first Kurnass lost when it was downed by an Egyptian MiG-21. Aircraft #08 was credited with the first Kurnass kill on November 11 1969 when it downed an Egyptian Air Force MiG-21 and #10 scored the third kill.
Between November 1969 and June 1982 the Kurnass was used to down 116.5 enemy aircraft while sustaining 56 losses mostly due to ground fire. Of this total the 201st was credited with 40.5 kills:
25.5 MiG-21s of the Egyptian and Syrian Air Forces.
4 MiG-17s of the Egyptian and Syrian Air Forces.
3 Su-7 of the Egyptian and Syrian Air Forces.
1 IL-28 of the Egyptian Force.
7 Mi-8s of the Egyptian Air Force.
The Kurnass continued to fly until May 12, 2004 and in 2006 the 201st Squadron was deactivated.Specifications McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II

Engines - 2 X General Electric J79-GE-17 turbojets
Thrust – 11,870 lb. st dry, 17,900 lb. st with afterburners

Fuel
Maximum internal fuel - fuselage tanks 1,364 US gallons (up to block 40) and 1,225 US
gallons (from block 41 on).
Additional - 630 gallons of fuel in internal wing tanks.
External fuel load - 600 US gallons centerline tank
Additional - 370 US gallons tanks under each wing attached to the outer pylon
Total fuel load - 3334 US gallons (up to block 40) or 3195 US gallons (from block 41 on)

Performance
Maximum speed – 1,430 mph at 36,000 ft (Mach 2.21) / 914 mph at sea level (Mach 1.19)
Cruising speed – 585 mph
Landing speed – 158 mph
Initial climb rate – 61,400 fpm
Service ceiling – 62,250 ft
Combat ceiling – 59,600 ft
Combat range - 595 miles
Maximum range - 1885 miles with maximum external fuel

Weights
Empty - 29,535 lbs
Gross - 40,562 lbs
Combat - 38,019 lbs
Take off - 61,651 lbs

Dimensions
Wingspan - 38 ft 5 in
Wing area - 530 sq ft
Length - 63 ft 0 in
Height - 16 ft 6 in

Armament
1 X 20-mm M61A1 cannon with 639 rounds in an under-nose gondola
4 X AIM-7 Sparrow semi-active radar homing air-to-air missiles in semi-recessed slots in the fuselage belly
2 to 4 X AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red homing air-to-air missiles carried under the wings on the inboard pylons
Total offensive load of up to 16,000 pounds could be carried on the centerline and four under-wing hard-points.