F-4 Phantom II Replica (STOCK)

Interceptor. Wild Weasel. Fighter bomber. The triumph of thrust over aerodynamics.

Current version: F-4B Phantom

-Redesigned tailplane

-Repositioned wings

-Repositioned WSO/RIO cockpit

-Repositioned landing gear (optimized for shorter takeoff rolls)

In the early days of the jet fighter and guided air-to-air missiles, it was thought that the missile would make air combat manoeuvring irrelevant and pointless. Fighter design was to revolve around massive (what were basically flying bricks) aircraft spamming missiles beyond visual range. The Phantom is one of these magnificent aircraft.

In any event however our Phantom will do anything we need it to. It can still dogfight, in which its greatest advantage is thrust. Rather than lingering around for a dogfight, pilots should use hit and run tactics, using their excellent speed and acceleration to close in on the enemy, engage, and bug out as quickly as possible.

The Breakdown:

Length: 12.3 metres (Compare to 19 metres for the real life version)

Width: 8.1 metres (Compare to 12 metres for the real life version)

Height: 4.1 metres (Compare to 5 metres for the real life version)

Empty Weight: 8.7 tonnes (Compare to 13.5 tonnes for the real life version)

Loaded Weight: 13.1 tonnes (Compare to 18.5 tonnes for the real life version)

Top Speed at sea level: The craft disintegrated before I could measure it fully.

Top Speed at 10 kilometres: Read one line above.

Turn Performance: 20 degrees per second sustained at 6+ G, 40 degrees per second instantaneous at 15+ G

Cost: 26.906 Kerbal Currency

Part Count: 44

Fuel Capacity: 880 units

Time Over Target: Approximately 22 minutes worst-case scenario, with full fuel

Thrust to weight ratio: 12/1

Service Ceiling: 22.6 KM