Originally Posted by Willard Whyte
Quote:
'F-110' (which seems to have been an early designation for the F-4)
One wonders how many Mid East exports would've taken place if the name 'Satan' had been adopted.
The F-110 was to have been named "Spectre"... in line with McDonnell's history of naming fighters after supernatural creatures... XF-85 Goblin; XF-88 Voodoo; FH Phantom; F2H Banshee; F3H Demon; F-101 Voodoo; F4H Phantom II.
Since the Phantom had so much going for it, in January of 1962, President Kennedy requested Congressional approval for the procurement of F4H-1 derivatives for the Air Force under the designation F-110. The F-110A was to be the tactical fighter version, with RF-110A being the tactical reconnaissance version. The name Spectre was assigned to the aircraft.
McDonnell F-110A Spectre/F-4C Phantom II
Sept. 18: With the changes in military designations, the McDonnell F-110A becomes the F-4C and the Spectre name is discarded.
Boeing: History -- Chronology - 1957 - 1963