Phantom II F4D at the Museum of Aviation

We are nearing the end of our tour of the Museum of Aviation at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. One of the jets on display there was the very familiar to me Phantom II F4D. This jet was made by McDonnell Douglas and was a twin engine, twin pilot aircraft that could fly at Mach 2.2 with up to 18,000 pounds of payload.

This included all types of missiles both air to air and air to ground and also bombs. It was later fitted with a rotary cannon. It started service in 1959 and remained in service throughout the Vietnam and Gulf War up until 1996 in the United States. It is still in use in many countries overseas and is the most built fighter jet with 5,195 units built. I still remember watching them take off from very close viewing at Air Force bases while growing up.