The F-4E Phantom with two J79-GE-17A engines making 17,845 pounds of thrust each can make mach 2.23.
The F/A-18E Super Hornet with two F414-GE-400 making 22,000 pounds of thrust each can only make mach 1.8.
This kind of puts paid to the argument that the Phantom is a brick with wings, it's actually very refined aerodynamically.
Something else that surprised me looking up those numbers; the Super Hornet is heavier than the Phantom.
The empty weight of the F-4E is 30,328 lb., gross weight is 41,500 lb. and max take-off is 61,795 lb. giving 20,295 lb. for payload.
The empty weight of the F/A-18E is 32,081 lb., loaded weight (fighter configuration) is 47,000 lb. and max take-off is 66,000 lb. giving 19,000 lb. for payload.
I am not sure of how gross and loaded weight differ.
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The Phantom is more like a couple of big engines with a seat, wings and a tail strapped onto it. People don't give it enough credit as evidenced by its amazingly long service life. Few planes can say they saw active duty service in so many decades. The others also are worthy of significant respect.
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