Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA19025F-4E Phantom II 3-6643, Iranian Air Force, 2010
General Background
The F-4E variant was an improved version of the C/D with an elongated nose and compact radar. These two things made it possible to install a 20mm M61A1 6 barrel 640 round Vulcan gun pod in the nose. The F-4E was the most produced variant with 1387 aircraft being made over its 12 year production period. The “E” also equipped more air forces than any other variant of the Phantom II.
The Aircraft
In 1971 the order for 208 F-4Es and 32 RF-4E began arriving for the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF). In 1979 a revolution took place and an embargo was applied and only 177 F-4Es were delivered. The Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) became the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF). In October 1975 F-4E 73-1545 MSN 4715 serial 3-822 arrived in Iran assigned to the 32nd TFW. Later with the IRIAF the aircraft became 3-6643 assigned to the 6th TAB / 61st TFS. In 2009 3-6643 received its shark mouth. Around 2008 the RoKAF began to reduce its reliance on the Phantom and replacing them with the new F-35.
