Re: F4 Phantom - Flying Bus???
The number produced and the multitude of Nations that bought them testifies to the quality of the 'bus' ride. It was not the sleekest of its' era and it did have a few odd angles to overcome specific aerodynamic problems but it worked and looked workmanlike.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 2600hrs I spent in the 'bus' and it was capable of beating most aircraft of its' time. It provided the RAF with their first real look down shoot down capability and it could escort itself on strike attack missions. With those attributes one could forgive the aerodynamic properties and where there were instability characteristics, at least it remained predictable - if you screwed up it bit you.
It also provided much satisfaction if you got it right - GA results depended almost entirely on the crew, not on the accuracy of the avionics. Al-in-all I found it much more of a challenge than the more modern kit.