She started my love affair with all things aviation.... and to me, still remains the sexiest bird ever made.
Goodbye 'cat.
DelaneyT - The Phoenix was retired a few years ago, since then the cats were only carrying Sidewinders for A2A as they were never wired for AMRAAMs and I don't think there are in Sparrows around in the USN. So they were strictly A2G aircraft.
No phoenix has ever been fired in combat, and no one outside the USAF ever operated them. It was originally designed for the (later cancelled) F-111B, but moved to the 'cat which replaced it.
As for how 'good' it was, well, we'll never really know but then again it was designed to bring down Soviet Bears and (correct me if i'm wrong) Badgers with bad intentions.