In terms of tools in the SDK, what are you expecting?
You have to model and animate the F-4 in 3d Max or equivalent
You have to skin it in Photoshop or equivalent
You have to code it in Visual Studio, Dreamweaver, Notepad++ or equivalent
You then use the SDK to "integrate" your code into your module for the sim to recognise it. This is mainly for DLL integration at the moment.
You don't need the SDK to get your plane into the sim as long as you use an SFM and LUA scripting.
So in reality, the SDK plays a very small part of what you want to achieve unless you want to protect your code form others seeing it, then you need it to build your DLL's.
Good luck :D