Number 8: The McDonnell F-4 Phantom II
The skies over Vietnam prove that the dogfight is alive and well, showcasing the Phantom II as one of the best of its kind.
by Staff Writer

< Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 'Fresco' | Republic P-47 Thunderbolt >

Synopsis: Generally regarded as one of the best military aircraft designs ever, the F-4 Phantom II is - at the very least - the pinnacle of Cold War fighter design on any level. The mammoth aircraft proved effective in the Vietnam Conflict as interceptor, strike fighter and reconnaissance platform. The system was also the first aircraft in the history of the United States military to fly with the USAF, USN and USMC at the same time.

Pros: Targeting, tracking and engaging targets beyond visual range with missiles; Mach 2.0+ straight-line speed; tremendous rate-of-climb from its General Electric J79 series afterburning engines; twin cockpit seating offers up two-heads-better-than-one advantage.

Notoriety: Knocked off no fewer than 280 baddies in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War; one of the most unorthodox designs to ever achieve such notoriety; proved that a brick could actually fly given the chance; brought back the term "ace" into American speech.

Total Production: 5,195

Operators: Australia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Iran, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States.

< Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 'Fresco' | Republic P-47 Thunderbolt >