The Phantom, over 5,000 of which were built, is a two-seat fighter interceptor with guided missiles and is reputed to be one of the most combat capable and versatile aircraft built since the Second World War. The prototype flew for the first time in 1958. Soon after that, the Phantom achieved a total of 15 spectacular best performances, such as the world record at a maximum altitude of 30 km and a speed of 3,085 km/h. Based on experience gained with the first combat operations in Vietnam, in 1967 the F-4E fighter version appeared, equipped with new slats to improve manoeuvrability and more powerful engines. Since 1975 the West German Air Force has had the almost identical F-4F version and uses the 175 machines, some of them with uprated combat capability as fighter interceptors and fighter bombers. Maximum speed: Mach 2.17 at 10,000 altitude, range: 2,830 km.