McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

US Air Force, US Navy, US Marines, Various Foreign Nations

Overview

    The F-4 Phantom II was one of the most successful postwar fighters ever built. Designed as an air superiority fighter for the US Navy, it later could also be fitted with bombs and rockets for ground attack roles. Later, the air force also developed the F-4 for its own use. It served in the Vietnam Conflict with 227 victories and in the Israeli/Arab Conflicts (under Israeli pilots), with 116 reported victories. The Phantom was the first US fighter that could destroy a target without any guidance from ground control, and served both the US Air Force Thunderbirds and the US Navy Blue Angels. The F-4 also serves many other countries including Australia, Egypt, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Turkey, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom. Today, all Phantoms in the US are now retired. In the navy, it has been replaced by the F-14 Tomcat and the F/A-18 Hornet. In the air force, the F-16 and F-15 replaced the F-4. The last operational F-4 was the G Wild Weasel variant, retired in 1996. However, about 100 QF-4s are still being used by the navy. A total of 5,057 F-4 Phantom IIs were produced, with another 138 manufactured in Japan. F-4 variants of foreign nations are not posted here. 

F-4A (F4H-1F) Phantom II Specifications (USN)

Technical data currently not available at this time.

F-4B (F4H-1) Phantom II Specifications (USN)

Primary function: multi-role attack and fighter
Manufacturer: McDonnell Aircraft (McDonnell Douglas) Co.
Power plant: two General Electric J70-GE-8A, B, or C turbojets
Thrust: 17,000 pounds each engine 
Length: 58.4 feet (17.9 meters)
Height: 16.3 feet (4.9 meters)
Wingspan: 38.5 feet (11.8 meters)
Speed: 1,485 mph (Mach 1.98) (at 48,000 feet)
Range: approximately 28,000 miles with maximum external fuel
Ceiling: 56,850 feet (17,441.5 meters)
Maximum takeoff weight: 54,600 pounds (24,767 kilograms)
Armament: four AIM-7 Sparrows, additional Sparrow or two AIM-9 Sidewinders (on each internal wing pylon), or 16,000 pounds of ordinance
Crew: two (pilot and weapons/radar operator)
Deployment date: 1961
Retirement date: 1996
Unit cost: N/A
Inventory: none (retired) 

RF-4C (RF-110 Spectre) Phantom II Specifications (USAF)

Primary function: low-level tactical reconnaissance
Manufacturer: McDonnell Aircraft (McDonnell Douglas) Co.
Power plant: two General Electric J79-GE-15 turbojets
Thrust: 17,000 pounds each engine 
Length: 58.4 feet (17.9 meters)
Height: 16.3 feet (4.9 meters)
Wingspan: 38.5 feet (11.8 meters)
Speed: Mach 2 plus
Range: approximately 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers)
Ceiling: 71,000 feet (21,640 meters)
Maximum takeoff weight: 46,500 pounds (21,092 kilograms)
Armament: none
Crew: two (pilot and camera/radar operator)
Deployment date: 1964
Retirement date: N/A
Unit cost: N/A
Inventory: none (retired) 

F-4D Phantom II Specifications (USAF)

Primary function: multi-role attack and fighter
Manufacturer: McDonnell Aircraft (McDonnell Douglas) Co.
Power plant: two General Electric J79-GE-15 turbojets
Thrust: 17,000 pounds each engine 
Length: 58.4 feet (17.9 meters)
Height: 16.3 feet (4.9 meters)
Wingspan: 38.5 feet (11.8 meters)
Speed: Mach 2+
Range: approximately 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers)
Ceiling: 71,000 feet (21,640 meters)
Maximum takeoff weight: 54,600 pounds (24,767 kilograms)
Armament: four AIM-7 Sparrows, additional Sparrow or two AIM-9 Sidewinders (on each internal wing pylon), or 16,000 pounds of ordinance
Crew: two (pilot and weapons/radar operator)
Deployment date: 1965
Retirement date: N/A
Unit cost: N/A
Inventory: none (retired) 

F-4E Phantom II Specifications (USAF)

Primary function: multi-role attack and fighter
Manufacturer: McDonnell Aircraft (McDonnell Douglas) Co.
Power plant: two General Electric J79-GE-17 turbojets
Thrust: 17,900 pounds each engine 
Length: 58 feet, 4 inches (17.9 meters)
Height: 16 feet, 3 inches (4.9 meters)
Wingspan: 38 feet, 5 inches (11.8 meters)
Speed: 1,485 mph (Mach 1.98) (at 48,000 feet)
Range: approximately 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers)
Ceiling: 62,000 feet (18,900 meters)
Maximum takeoff weight: 54,600 pounds (24,767 kilograms)
Armament: one 20mm gun, four AIM-7 Sparrows, additional Sparrow or two AIM-9 Sidewinders (on each internal wing pylon), or 16,000 pounds of ordinance
Crew: two (pilot and weapons/radar operator)
Deployment date: 1967
Retirement date: N/A
Unit cost: N/A
Inventory: none (retired) 

F-4G Phantom II Wild Weasel Specifications (USAF)

Technical data currently not available at this time.