McDonnell Douglas YF-4E Phantom II Note: This aircraft is currently in storage. The museum's airframe served as a prototype for the RF-4C reconnaissance version and later the F-4E fighter-bomber variant. It also was the test bed for such advanced ideas as F-4 leading edge slats and the "Fly-By-Wire" concept (electrical rather than mechanical interconnections between pilot and control surfaces). A final modification added distinctive wing-like canard surfaces to examine the Precision Aircraft Control Technology configuration for mission and performance improvements. The F-4 was delivered to the museum from McDonnell Douglas in 1979. Click here to return to the Featured Accessions index. Find Out More Related Fact Sheets McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II Note: The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the National Museum of the USAF, the U.S. Air Force, or the Department of Defense, of the external website, or the information, products or services contained therein.