@ Mojave, CA
October 2022
The Mojave Air & Space Port has a selection of aircraft arrayed by the main entrance; Delivered in 1964, this F-4 is a “C” model designed specifically for U.S. Air Force use, seeing action in Vietnam and was one of the 36 F-4C’s modified to Wild Weasel IV configuration, un-officially referred to as EF-4C’s. This Phantom was formerly used as a flight test aircraft in the early stages of BAe/Flight Systems QF-4 Full Scale Aerial Target modification program and wears the livery of an QF-4 drone. Of the 316 Phantoms converted, 84 QF-4 drones remain in the USAF inventory.
Designed by McDonnell Aircraft and first flown in 1958, this classic fighter served with three US services and air forces around the world. December 21, 2016 would mark the phinal retirement of the Phantom from US service. F-4 production ran from 1958 to 1981, with a total of 5,195 built, making it the most produced American supersonic military aircraft. McDonnell Aircraft would later merge with Douglas Aircraft in 1967.
