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In the early 1950s, McDonnell Douglas wasn't trying to build a legend; they were trying to save a failing project. After losing a Navy contract for a supersonic fighter, they took their rejected design and independently kept pushing. What emerged on , was a massive, twin-engine beast with wings that cranked upward and a tail that slanted down. It looked less like a bird and more like a "brick with wings," leading to the famous pilot joke: "With enough thrust, even a brick can fly". Conquering the Skies
It reached the edge of space, setting absolute altitude records.
Despite its awkward looks, the Phantom was a monster of performance. Shortly after its first flight, it began shattering world records: It broke the world record at 1,450 mph.
