F-4 Phantom

An F4 Phantom II

In 1952 the US Navy wanted a carrier based interceptor. Mcdonnell Douglas responded and gave us the “Super Demon”. After some changes it was finished in the late 50's to early 60's as a fighter. What also changed was the name, several times actually. Now while it was a good jet, it wasn't good at dogfighting because they thought dogfighting was obsolete and didn't need a gun. But the skies over Vietnam were crowded to the point if you used missiles you might shoot a friend down. Due to the unfortunate combination of no guns, missile technology not that good at the time, a smoky trail and the fact it wasn't too terribly maneuverable as it was an interceptor pretending to be a fighter going against a fighter designed as a fighter meant several were lost. Despite that it was a fine jet, the Swiss army knife of planes(Bomber, Fighter, Interceptor, Reconnaissance and so much more) and was retired in the US in 1996 and other countries started retiring it too though recently South Korea just retired theirs and Iran still uses it.

The control surfaces move and the wingtips fold up and assembly should be easy.