F-4E Phantom II, U.S. Air Force "Thunderbirds" (1:72)

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 was the main multipurpose aircraft for the US Military for 20 years. The F-4E variant was an improved version of the C/D with an elongated nose and compact radar. These two things made it possible to install a 20mm M61A1 6 barrel 640 round Vulcan gun pod in the nose. The F-4E was the most produced variant with 1387 aircraft being made over its 12 year production period. The 'E' also equipped more air forces than any other variant of the Phantom II.

Starting in 1969 and for 5 seasons the USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration Team flew the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II. This was a move back to the team's tradition of using front-line type aircraft in their performances, something they had gotten away from when they previously flew the T-38A Talon super-sonic trainer. Converting the large F-4E to Thunderbird requirements was the most difficult and extensive in the team's history. The various metals used on the F-4E to combat high heat and friction caused the paint that had been used on previous Thunderbird aircraft to look patchy. Out of necessity a polyurethane based paint was developed that would meet all requirements and provided a smooth looking finish. The main color on the F-4 became white instead of the usual silver of the previous aircraft. The white paint scheme has been used on all the Thunderbird aircraft from the F-4E through to today's F-16.
Specifications for the standard production 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.

The Thunderbird's aircraft were stripped of all weapons and any unnecessary equipment.