Originally Posted by
MPN11
Was the 2nd seat an after-thought? Or was the prototype built differently?
All the prototype F-4's were designed for two seats, but the early jets were only fitted with the pilot's seat. The redesigned canopy (and raised cockpit floor) was as a result of early crews complaining of poor visibility, the revised profile canopy was fitted from aircraft No.19 (Block 3, BuNo 146817).
-RP