Air & Space Museum

McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II

McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II

McDonnell initially created the F-4 Phantom II for the US Navy in 1958 to provide defensive “top cover” for the fleet, however, the F-4 went on to serve with the Air Force, Marines, and 15 other nations around the world. It has served as an interceptor, a fighter, a bomber, a close-support attack aircraft, a reconnaissance aircraft, an air defense suppression platform, and as a target drone. As of 2022, four air forces are still flying the Phantom, 64 years after the first F-4 flew.

Like other interceptors of the time, the F-4 was designed around an all-missile armament system with the expectation that air combat would take place at a distance. American pilots learned in the Vietnam War that air-to-air combat quickly degenerated into close-in dogfights, where the Phantom was at a disadvantage because its missiles had to fly a certain distance before they were armed. To make the F-4 more effective in these dogfights, the Air Force had McDonnell Douglas design the F-4E model with a multi-barrel 20mm rotary cannon in the nose.

In addition to the Vietnam War, Phantoms saw combat in the Middle East with the Israeli Air Force, in the wars between Iran and Iraq, and in Operation Desert Storm.

The F-4E Phantom II at Wings served with the US Air Force in several testing projects at Edwards, Wright Patterson, and MacDill AFBs before being transferred to Lowry AFB in 1982 for use as a munitions loading trainer. It is on loan from the National Museum of the US Air Force.

Aircraft specifications:
Wingspan: 38 ft 5 in (11.7 m)
Length: 63 ft (19.2 m)
Maximum speed: Mach 2.23 (1,473 mph; 2,371 km/h)
Maximum weight: 41,500 lb (18,824 kg)
Seats: 2
Engines: two GE J79-GE-17 turbojets
Total thrust: 35,690 lb (with afterburner)

Air & Space Museum Air & Space Museum

Lowry - Denver

Air & Space Museum

Upcoming Events

Saturday Jun 3
9:30AM TO 12:30PM
Exploration of Flight

Breakfast Fly-In

Breakfast Fly-In
Saturday, Jun 3 | 9:30AM to 12:30PM

Join Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight for monthly fly-ins featuring planes, pilots and breakfast!

On the first Saturday of every month, enjoy breakfast from a local food truck, watch aircraft fly in and explore interactive exhibits and simulators.

Purchase Tickets

Food Truck: Cruz In & Eat
Please note: Food purchases are not included in admission.

Pilots – Fly in for free breakfast! For tie-down space, contact Flight@WingsMuseum.org or 303.360.5360 ext 160.

Monday Jun 5
Exploration of Flight

Summer Camp: Skyward

Summer Camp: Skyward
Monday, Jun 5 to Friday, Jun 9

Look toward the sky… the blue sky.  Learn how airplanes, helicopters, and experimental aircraft fly and talk to pilots who fly them! Aviation-related projects and flight simulators make this camp something special for young aviators.

Register Here

 

Monday Jun 5
Air & Space Museum

Summer Camp: Rockets and Drones

Summer Camp: Rockets and Drones
Monday, Jun 5 to Friday, Jun 9

This camp is sold out. 

Start the summer off with a blast! In Rockets and Drones, campers learn about programming and building rockets and drones. Campers will use the engineering design process to build and launch rockets and fly small drones in a safe and responsible way.

 

Get updates and special offers

Sign up for our newsletter, and stay up to date with all of the latest exhibits and events at Wings Over the Rockies.

Warbird Jet - Wings Museum