Photo: Platinum Fighters
Supersonic flight is something all of the world’s military dreamed of during the war. Yet, it was not until after that humans managed to develop the necessary technology to take them past the speed of sound.
After Chuck Yeager managed to become the first human to go past the barrier in 1947, America quickly started making supersonic planes. The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is one of the earliest such pieces of technology, having had its first flight in 1958.
The F-4 was designed as a two-seat, twin-engine interceptor and fighter-bomber. It could reach a maximum speed of 1,470 mph (2,370 mph), or Mach 2.23, and had a combat range of 420 miles (680 km). The F-4 was capable of carrying cannons, Sidewinder missiles and, if need be, even nuclear ordinance.
Being a supersonic plane, the kind that requires a bit more skill and training to fly than the war-era machines, there are not that many of them in private hands presently. In fact, there allegedly is only one, and you’re looking at it.
Described as the “world's only privately owned F-4 Phantom capable of flight,” it resides in California, where for the past ten years has been the object of a long and careful restoration process – we're told work on the airplane is presently about 85 percent done.
The supersonic winged machine is supposedly the 11th pre-production F-4s, and one of three to be used by the U.S. Navy to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of U.S. Naval Aviation in 1961. Although not taking part in any actual combat, this plane was damaged by the launch of a Sidewinder missile, and then suffered an engine failure. It was retired by the Navy in 1964, with 461 hours of flight.
Although restoration work on this plane is not complete, the owner is selling it, as is. The asking price is $3,250,000.
The F-4 was designed as a two-seat, twin-engine interceptor and fighter-bomber. It could reach a maximum speed of 1,470 mph (2,370 mph), or Mach 2.23, and had a combat range of 420 miles (680 km). The F-4 was capable of carrying cannons, Sidewinder missiles and, if need be, even nuclear ordinance.
Being a supersonic plane, the kind that requires a bit more skill and training to fly than the war-era machines, there are not that many of them in private hands presently. In fact, there allegedly is only one, and you’re looking at it.
Described as the “world's only privately owned F-4 Phantom capable of flight,” it resides in California, where for the past ten years has been the object of a long and careful restoration process – we're told work on the airplane is presently about 85 percent done.
The supersonic winged machine is supposedly the 11th pre-production F-4s, and one of three to be used by the U.S. Navy to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of U.S. Naval Aviation in 1961. Although not taking part in any actual combat, this plane was damaged by the launch of a Sidewinder missile, and then suffered an engine failure. It was retired by the Navy in 1964, with 461 hours of flight.
Although restoration work on this plane is not complete, the owner is selling it, as is. The asking price is $3,250,000.
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