The United States Navy’s first pre-production variant of the Phantom, the McDonnell Douglas YF4H-1 (142259), on its maiden flight on May 27, 1958, flown by company Chief Test Pilot Robert C. Little.

Summary: The F-4 Phantom II, affectionately dubbed the “Lead Sled,” emerged as a quintessential icon of mid-20th century aviation and the world’s first multi-role fighter.

The F-4 Phantom II, a large, twin-engine fighter from the 1950s, was a workhorse of Western air forces for decades, most ...

The F-4 was retired from U.S. Air Force service in 1996, but many Phantom IIs of numerous variants are displayed in museums worldwide. Incredibly, the venerable warbird still remains in service ...