F-4 Phantom II
F-4E from 347th TFW dropping 500-lb Mark 82 bombs
Type	Fighter-bomber
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	McDonnell Aircraft/ McDonnell Douglas
Maiden flight	27 May 1958
Introduction	30 December 1960
Status	744 active in non-US service, and as drones, as of 2001
Primary users	United States Air Force United States Navy United States Marine Corps
Produced	1958–1981
Number built	5,195
Unit cost	US$2. The United States Air Force 's 347th Rescue Wing is an inactive combat Search and rescue unit last assigned to Moody AFB, Georgia. The Mark 82 (Mk 82 is an unguided low- drag General-purpose bomb ( Dumb bomb) part of the U Ground-attack aircraft are military aircraft designed to attack targets on the ground and are often deployed as Close air support for and in proximity to their own ground forces The United States of America —commonly referred to as the An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing building testing selling and maintaining Aircraft, Aircraft parts The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was an American Aerospace manufacturer based in St McDonnell Douglas was a major American Aerospace manufacturer and Defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft The maiden flight of an Aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 4 million when new (F-4E)

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II^[1][2] is a two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic fighter-bomber originally developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. For other uses see Supersonic. The term supersonic is used to define a speed that is over the Speed of sound ( Mach 1 Ground-attack aircraft are military aircraft designed to attack targets on the ground and are often deployed as Close air support for and in proximity to their own ground forces The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was an American Aerospace manufacturer based in St ^[2] Proving highly adaptable, it became a major part of the air wings of the U. S. Navy, Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force. ^[3] It was used extensively by all three of these services during the Vietnam War, serving as the principal air superiority fighter for both the Navy and Air Force, as well as being important in the ground-attack and reconnaissance roles by the close of U. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Reconnaissance (also scouting) is a military and medical term denoting exploration conducted to gain information S. involvement in the war. ^[3]

First entering service in 1960, the Phantom continued to form a major part of U. S. military air power throughout the 1970s and 1980s, being gradually replaced by more modern aircraft such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon in the U. S. Air Force and the F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet in the U. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout S. Navy. It remained in service in the reconnaissance and Wild Weasel roles in the 1991 Gulf War, finally leaving service in 1996. Wild Weasel is a nickname for aircraft of the United States Air Force tasked with the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ( SEAD) mission ^[4][5] The Phantom was also operated by the armed forces of 11 other nations. Israeli Phantoms saw extensive combat in several Arab–Israeli conflicts, while Iran used its large fleet of Phantoms in the Iran–Iraq War. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Phantoms remain in front line service with seven countries, and in use as an unmanned target in the U. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV is an unpiloted Aircraft. UAVs can be remote controlled or fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans or more complex dynamic S. Air Force. ^[6]

Phantom production ran from 1958 to 1981, with a total of 5,195 built. ^[3] This extensive run makes it the second most-produced Western jet fighter, behind the famous F-86 Sabre at just under 10,000 examples. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

Overview

A formation of F-4 Phantom II fighter aircraft fly in formation during a heritage flight demonstration to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the U. S. Air Force.

The F-4 Phantom was designed as a fleet defense fighter for the U.S. Navy, and first entered service in 1960. A fighter aircraft is a Military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other Aircraft, as opposed to a Bomber, which is designed By 1963, it had been adopted by the U.S. Air Force for the fighter-bomber role. When production ended in 1981, 5,195 Phantom IIs had been built, making it the most numerous American supersonic military aircraft. ^[7] Until the advent of the F-15 Eagle, the F-4 also held a record for the longest continuous production for a fighter with a run of 24 years. Innovations in the F-4 included an advanced pulse-doppler radar and extensive use of titanium in its airframe. Pulse-Doppler is a Radar system capable of not only detecting target location (bearing range and altitude but also measuring its radial velocity (range-rate Titanium (taɪˈteɪniəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Ti and Atomic number 22 ^[8]

Despite the imposing dimensions and a maximum takeoff weight of over 60,000 pounds (27,000 kg),^[9] the F-4 had a top speed of Mach 2. The Maximum Takeoff Weight or Maximum Takeoff Mass of an Aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot of the aircraft is allowed to attempt to take off Mach number (\mathrm{Ma} or M (generally ˈmɑːk sometimes /ˈmɑːx/ or /ˈmæk/ is the speed of an object moving through air or any Fluid 23 and an initial climb of over 41,000 ft per minute (210 m/s). ^[10] Shortly after its introduction, the Phantom set 15 world records,^[11] including an absolute speed record of 1,606. 342 mph (2,585. 086 km/h), and an absolute altitude record of 98,557 ft (30,040 m). ^[12] Although set in 1959–1962, five of the speed records were not broken until 1975 when the F-15 Eagle came into service. ^[11]

The F-4 could carry up to 18,650 pounds (8,480 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, and unguided, guided, and nuclear bombs. A hardpoint is any part of an Airframe designed to carry an external load ^[13] Since the F-8 Crusader was to be used for close combat, the F-4 was designed, like other interceptors of the day, without an internal cannon. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout ^[14] In a dogfight, the RIO or WSO (commonly called "backseater" or "pitter") assisted in spotting opposing fighters, visually as well as on radar. A Naval Flight Officer (NFO in the United States Navy and Marine Corps is an officer of the line meaning they can screen for command in the Naval aviation In the United States Air Force the Weapon Systems Officer ( "WSO", pronounced "wizzo" is an air navigator directly involved in all air operations It became the primary fighter-bomber of both the Navy and Air Force by the end of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

Due to its distinctive appearance and widespread service with United States military and its allies, the F-4 is one of the best-known icons of the Cold War. Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the It served in the Vietnam War and Arab–Israeli conflicts, with American F-4 crews achieving 277 aerial victories in Southeast Asia and completing countless ground attack sorties. Sortie is a term for deployment or dispatch of one military unit be it of Aircraft, Ship or in older times of columns of troops from a fort ^[15]

The Blue Angels flew F-4Js from 1969 to 1974. The United States Navy 's Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, popularly known as the Blue Angels, was formed in 1946 and was the world's first officially sanctioned

The F-4 Phantom has the distinction of being the last United States fighter flown to attain ace status in the 20th century. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy Aircraft during aerial combat During the Vietnam War, the USAF had one pilot and two WSOs,^[16] and the USN one pilot and one RIO,^[17] become aces in air-to-air combat. It was also a capable tactical reconnaissance and Wild Weasel (suppression of enemy air defenses) platform, seeing action as late as 1991, during Operation Desert Storm. SEAD (pronounced see-add or seed or Suppression of Enemy Air Defences, also known as " Wild Weasels quot and "Iron Hand" operations in the USA are ^[4][5]

The F-4 Phantom II was also the only aircraft used by both US flight demonstration teams. ^[18] The USAF Thunderbirds (F-4E) and the USN Blue Angels (F-4J) both switched to the Phantom for the 1969 season; the Thunderbirds flew it for five seasons,^[19] the Blue Angels for six. The Thunderbirds are the Air Demonstration Squadron of the US The United States Navy 's Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, popularly known as the Blue Angels, was formed in 1946 and was the world's first officially sanctioned ^[20]

The baseline performance of a Mach 2-class fighter with long range and a bomber-sized payload would be the template for the next generation of large and light/middle-weight fighters optimized for daylight air combat. The Phantom would be replaced by the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon in the U. S. Air Force. In the U. S. Navy, it would be replaced by the F-14 Tomcat and the F/A-18 Hornet which revived the concept of a dual-role attack fighter. ^[21]

Design and development

Origins

In 1952, McDonnell's Chief of Aerodynamics, Dave Lewis, was appointed by CEO Jim McDonnell to be the company’s Preliminary Design Manager. David Sloan Lewis Jr, ( July 6, 1917 - December 15, 2003) was a major force in the aerospace and defense industry for four decades James Smith McDonnell ( April 9, 1899 - August 22, 1980) was an Aviation pioneer and founder of McDonnell Aircraft Corporation ^[22] With no new aircraft competitions on the horizon, internal studies concluded the Navy had the greatest need for a new and different aircraft type, an attack fighter. ^[23]

In 1953, McDonnell Aircraft began work on revising its F3H Demon naval fighter, seeking expanded capabilities and better performance. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The company developed several projects including a variant powered by a Wright J67 engine,^[24] and variants powered by two Wright J65 engines, or two General Electric J79 engines. This article is about the jet aero-engine for the vehicle see Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire (motor car WikipediaWikiProject ^[25] The J79-powered version promised a top speed of Mach 1. Mach number (\mathrm{Ma} or M (generally ˈmɑːk sometimes /ˈmɑːx/ or /ˈmæk/ is the speed of an object moving through air or any Fluid 97. On 19 September 1953, McDonnell approached the United States Navy with a proposal for the "Super Demon". Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Uniquely, the aircraft was to be modular—it could be fitted with one- or two-seat noses for different missions, with different nose cones to accommodate radar, photo cameras, four 20 millimeter cannon, or 56 FFAR unguided rockets in addition to the nine hardpoints under the wings and the fuselage. The Mk 4 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket ( FFAR) is a 275 in (70 mm diameter unguided Rocket weapon commonly used by U A hardpoint is any part of an Airframe designed to carry an external load The Navy was sufficiently interested to order a full-scale mock-up of the F3H-G/H but felt that the upcoming Grumman XF9F-9 and Vought XF8U-1 already satisfied the need for the supersonic fighter. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout ^[26]

The McDonnell design was therefore reworked into an all-weather fighter-bomber with 11 external hardpoints for weapons and on 18 October 1954, the company received a letter of intent for two YAH-1 prototypes. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) On 26 May 1955, four Navy officers arrived at the McDonnell offices and, within an hour, presented the company with an entirely new set of requirements. Events 451 - The Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sassanid Empire takes place Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Because the Navy already had the A-4 Skyhawk for ground attack and F-8 Crusader for dogfighting, the project now had to fulfill the need for an all-weather fleet defense interceptor. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A second crewman was added to operate the powerful radar. ^[2]

XF4H-1 prototype

The XF4H-1 was designed to carry four semi-recessed AAM-N-6 Sparrow III radar-guided missiles, and to be powered by two J79-GE-8 engines. The AIM-7 Sparrow is a medium-range Semi-active radar homing Air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy As in the F-101 Voodoo, the engines sat low in the fuselage to maximize internal fuel capacity and ingested air through fixed geometry intakes. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout An intake ramp is a rectangular plate-like device within the air intake of a Jet engine, designed to generate a Shock wave to aid the inlet compression process at The thin-section wing had a leading edge sweep of 45 degrees and was equipped with a boundary layer control system for better low-speed handling. Blown flaps are a powered Aerodynamic High-lift device invented by the British on the Wings of certain Aircraft to improve low-speed ^[27]

Wind tunnel testing had revealed lateral instability requiring the addition of five degrees dihedral to the wings. A wind tunnel is a research tool developed to assist with studying the effects of air moving over or around solid objects Dihedral is the upward angle from horizontal of the wings or tailpane of a Fixed-wing aircraft or the wing of a Bird. ^[28] To avoid redesigning the titanium central section of the aircraft, McDonnell engineers angled up only the outer portions of the wings by 12 degrees which averaged to the required five degrees over the entire wingspan. The wings also received the distinctive "dogtooth" for improved control at high angles of attack. Angle of attack ( AOA, \alpha Greek letter alpha) is a term used in Aerodynamics to describe the Angle between the The all-moving tailplane was given 23 degrees of anhedral to improve control at high angles of attack while still keeping the tailplane clear of the engine exhaust. Dihedral is the upward angle from horizontal of the wings or tailpane of a Fixed-wing aircraft or the wing of a Bird. ^[27] In addition, air intakes were equipped with movable ramps to regulate airflow to the engines at supersonic speeds. All-weather intercept capability was achieved thanks to the AN/APQ-50 radar. To accommodate carrier operations, the landing gear was designed to withstand landings with a sink rate of 23 ft per second (7 m/s), while the nose strut could extend by some 20 inches (50 cm) to increase angle of attack at takeoff. ^[28]

Naming the aircraft

There were proposals to name the F4H "Satan" and "Mithras", the Persian god of light. Satan, ( Standard Hebrew Satan'el, English accuser) is a term that originates from the Abrahamic faiths, being traditionally The Mithraic Mysteries or Mysteries of Mithras (also Mithraism) was a Roman mystery religion which became popular among the military in the late ^[29] In the end, the aircraft was given the less controversial name "Phantom II," the first "Phantom" being another McDonnell jet fighter, the FH-1. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The Phantom II briefly carried the designation F-110A and was also given the name of "Spectre" by the USAF, neither title was used. ^[30]

Prototype testing

On 25 July 1955, the Navy ordered two XF4H-1 test aircraft and five YF4H-1 pre-production fighters. Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) The Phantom made its maiden flight on 27 May 1958 with Robert C. Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Little at the controls. A hydraulic problem precluded retraction of the landing gear but subsequent flights went more smoothly. Early testing resulted in redesign of the air intakes, including the distinctive addition of 12,500 bleed air holes on each ramp; and the aircraft soon squared off against the XF8U-3. Bleed air in gas turbine engines is compressed air taken from within the engine after the compressor stage(s and before the fuel is injected in the burners Due to operator workload, the Navy wanted a two-seat aircraft and on 17 December 1958 the F4H was declared a winner. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Delays with the J79-GE-8 engines meant that the first production aircraft were fitted with J79-GE-2 and -2A engines, each having 16,100 pound-force (71. 8 kN) of afterburning thrust. The AfterBurner is a lighting solution for the Game Boy Advance system that was created by Triton-Labs In 1959, the Phantom began carrier suitability trials with the first complete launch-recovery cycle performed on 15 February 1960 from USS Independence. Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 1960 – 1964 Independence operated off the Virginia Capes for the next year on training maneuvers and departed 4 August 1960 for her ^[28]

Production

A flight of USAF F-4Cs refuel from a KC-135 tanker before making a strike against targets in North Vietnam. The Phantoms are fully loaded with 750-pound general purpose bombs, Sparrow missiles and external fuel tanks.

Early in production, the radar was upgraded to a larger AN/APQ-72, necessitating the bulbous nose, and the canopy was reworked to improve visibility and make the rear cockpit less claustrophobic. ^[31] The Phantom underwent a great many changes during its career, summarized in the "Variants" section below.

The USAF received Phantoms as the result of Defense Secretary Robert McNamara's push to create a unified fighter for all branches of the military. Robert Strange McNamara (born June 9 1916 in Oakland, California) is an American business executive and former United States Secretary of Defense After an F-4B won the "Operation Highspeed" fly-off against the F-106 Delta Dart, the USAF borrowed two Naval F-4Bs, temporarily designating them F-110A "Spectre" in January 1962, and developed requirements for their own version. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Unlike the Navy focus on interception, the USAF emphasized a fighter-bomber role. With McNamara's unification of designations on 18 September 1962, the Phantom became the F-4 with the Naval version designated F-4B and USAF F-4C. Events 96 - Nerva is proclaimed Roman Emperor after Domitian is assassinated Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The first Air Force Phantom flew on 27 May 1963, exceeding Mach 2 on its maiden flight. Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[32]

Phantom II production ended in the United States in 1979 after 5,195 had been built (5,057 by McDonnell Douglas and 138 in Japan by Mitsubishi), making it the second most produced and exported American military-jet; the F-86 Sabre still remains the most numerous jet-powered warplane produced and exported by the United States. This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1979: Events January January 12 - Pilatus Aircraft acquires WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Of these, 2,874 went to the USAF, 1,264 to the Navy and Marine Corps, and the rest to foreign customers. ^[18] The last U. S. -built F-4 went to Turkey, while the last F-4 ever built was completed in 1981 as an F-4EJ by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan. This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1981: Events January January 3 - Pan Am makes its final As of 2001, about 1,100 Phantoms remained in service worldwide, including QF-4 drones operated by the U. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. S. military. ^[33]

World records

To show off their new fighter, the Navy led a series of record-breaking flights early in Phantom development:^[18]

• Operation Top Flight: On 6 December 1959, the second XF4H-1 performed a zoom climb to a world record 98,557 ft (30,040 m). Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[12] The previous record of 94,658 ft (28,852 m) was set by a Soviet Sukhoi T-43-1 prototype. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Commander Lawrence E. Flint, Jr. , USN accelerated his aircraft to Mach 2. 5 at 47,000 ft (14,330 m) and climbed to 90,000 ft (27,430 m) at a 45 degree angle. He then shut down the engines and glided to the peak altitude. As the aircraft fell through 70,000 ft (21,300 m), Flint restarted the engines and resumed normal flight. ^[34]
• On 5 September 1960, an F4H-1 averaged 1,216. Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 78 mph (1,958. 16 km/h) over a 500 kilometer (311 mi) closed-circuit course. ^[12]
• On 25 September 1960, an F4H-1 averaged 1,390. Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 21 mph (2,237. 26 km/h) over a 100 kilometer (62 mi) closed-circuit course. ^[12]
• Operation LANA: To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Naval aviation (L is the Roman numeral for 50 and ANA stood for Anniversary of Naval Aviation) on 24 May 1961, Phantoms flew across the continental United States in under three hours and included several tanker refuelings. Roman numerals are a Numeral system originating in ancient Rome, adapted from Etruscan numerals. Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The fastest of the aircraft averaged 869. 74 mph (1,400. 28 km/h) and completed the trip in 2 hours 47 minutes, earning the pilot (and future NASA Astronaut), Lieutenant Richard Gordon, USN and RIO, Lieutenant Bobbie Long, USN, the 1961 Bendix trophy. Richard Francis Gordon Jr, Captain, USN, Ret (born October 5, 1929) is a retired NASA Astronaut. The Bendix Trophy is an US aeronautical racing trophy The transcontinental point-to-point race sponsored by industrialist Vincent Bendix founder of ^[12][35][36]
• Operation Sageburner: On 28 August 1961, a Phantom averaged 902. Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 769 mph (1,452. 826 km/h) over a three-mile (4. 82 km) course flying below 125 ft (40 m) at all times. ^[12] Commander J. L. Felsman, USN was killed during the first attempt at this record on 18 May 1961 when his aircraft disintegrated in the air after pitch damper failure. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[37]
• Operation Skyburner: On 22 December 1961, a modified Phantom with water injection set an absolute world record speed of 1,606. Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Water injection, also known as anti-detonant injection, is a method for cooling the Combustion chambers of Engines by adding Water to the incoming 342 mph (2,585. 086 km/h). ^[12]
• On 5 December 1961, another Phantom set a sustained altitude record of 66,443. Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 8 ft (20,252. 1 m). ^[12]
• Operation High Jump: A series of time-to-altitude records was set in early 1962; 34. This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1962: Events January US Army CH-21 Shawnees are dispatched to 523 seconds to 3,000 m (9,840 ft), 48. 787 seconds to 6,000 m (19,680 ft), 61. 629 seconds to 9,000 m (29,530 ft), 77. 156 seconds to 12,000 m (39,370 ft), 114. 548 seconds to 15,000 m (49,210 ft), 178. 5 seconds to 20,000 m (65,600 ft), 230. 44 seconds to 25,000 m (82,000 ft), and 371. 43 seconds to 30,000 m (98,400 ft). ^[12] Although not officially recognized, the Phantom zoom-climbed to over 100,000 ft (30,480 m) during the last attempt. ^[38]

All in all, the Phantom set 16 world records. With the exception of Skyburner, all records were achieved in unmodified production aircraft. Five of the speed records remained unbeaten until the F-15 Eagle appeared in 1975. ^[11]

Flight characteristics

In air combat, the Phantom's greatest advantage was its thrust, which permitted a skilled pilot to engage and disengage from the fight at will. ^[39]

The massive aircraft, designed to fire radar-guided missiles from beyond visual range, lacked the agility of its Soviet opponents and was subject to adverse yaw during hard maneuvering. A Beyond Visual Range Missile usually refers to an Air-to-air missile that is capable of engaging at ranges beyond 20 Nautical Adverse yaw is a secondary effect of the application of the Ailerons in Aircraft. Although thus subject to irrecoverable spins during aileron rolls, pilots reported the aircraft to be very communicative and easy to fly on the edge of its performance envelope. In 1972, the F-4E model was upgraded with leading edge slats on the wing, greatly improving high-angle-of-attack maneuverability at the expense of top speed. Slats is also a nickname for Australian cricketer Michael Slater, and NHL executive Glen Sather Slats are Aerodynamic Angle of attack ( AOA, \alpha Greek letter alpha) is a term used in Aerodynamics to describe the Angle between the ^[40]

The J79 engines produced copious amounts of black smoke at military power which made the Phantoms easy to spot from a distance, a severe disadvantage in air combat against smaller aircraft. Pilots could eliminate the smoke by using afterburner, but at the cost of fuel efficiency. The AfterBurner is a lighting solution for the Game Boy Advance system that was created by Triton-Labs ^[41] Some pilots adopted the procedure of running one engine in dry thrust at normal power setting, and the other in afterburner, resulting in the same total thrust as using both engines at full rated military power without generating the tell-tale smoke trail.

The F-4's biggest weakness, as it was initially designed, was its lack of an internal cannon. For a brief period, doctrine held that turning combat would be impossible at supersonic speeds and little effort was made to teach pilots air combat maneuvering. Air combat maneuvering ( ACM) is the art of maneuvering a combat Aircraft in order to attain a position from which an attack can be made on another aircraft In reality, engagements quickly became subsonic. Furthermore, the relatively new heat-seeking and radar-guided missiles at the time were frequently reported as unreliable and pilots had to use multiple shots just to hit one target. To compound the problem, rules of engagement in Vietnam precluded long-range missile attacks in most instances, as visual identification was normally required. In Military or Police operations the rules of engagement ( ROE) determine when where and how force shall be used (for example a submarine of Many pilots found themselves on the tail of an enemy aircraft but too close to fire short-range Falcons or Sidewinders. Although in 1967 USAF F-4Cs began carrying SUU-16 or SUU-23 external gunpods containing a 20 millimeter M61 Vulcan Gatling cannon, USAF cockpits were not equipped with lead-computing gunsights, virtually assuring a miss in a maneuvering fight. The M61 Vulcan is a 20 mm Hydraulically or Pneumatically driven six- barreled air-cooled Some Marine Corps aircraft carried two pods for strafing. In addition to the loss of performance due to drag, combat showed the externally mounted cannon to be inaccurate, yet far more cost-effective than missiles. In Fluid dynamics, drag (sometimes called fluid resistance) is the force that resists the movement of a Solid object through a Fluid (a The lack of cannon was finally addressed by adding an internally mounted 20 millimeter M61 Vulcan on the F-4E. ^[40]

Costs

Note: Costs are in 1965 United States dollars and have not been adjusted for inflation. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been ^[42]

Operational history

See also: F-4 Phantom II U.S. operators

United States Navy

A US Navy F-4J Phantom of VF-31 lands on the USS Saratoga. US units that operated the F-4 Phantom II are listed below US Construction and trials She was ordered as a "Large Aircraft Carrier" Hull classification symbol CVB-60, and her contract was awarded to the

On 30 December 1960, the VF-121 Pacemakers at NAS Miramar became the first Phantom operator with its F4H-1Fs (F-4As). Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar, formerly Naval Air Station (NAS Miramar is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd The VF-74 Be-devilers at NAS Oceana became the first deployable Phantom squadron when it received its F4H-1s (F-4Bs) on 8 July 1961. The VF-74 Be-Devilers was a US Navy fighter squadron stationed at NAS Oceana until their disestablishment in 1994 Naval Air Station Oceana or NAS Oceana is a military airport located in Virginia Beach Virginia, and is a United States Navy Master Jet Base Events 939 - The Major Occultation or Ghaybat el-Kubra of Muhammad al-Mahdi 1099 - First Crusade: 15000 Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[43] The squadron completed carrier qualifications in October 1961 and Phantom’s first full carrier deployment between August 1962 and March 1963 aboard USS Forrestal (CV-59). 1956–1962 From her home port Norfolk Virginia, Forrestal spent the first year of service in intensive training operations off the Virginia Capes ^[44] The second deployable US Atlantic Fleet squadron to receive F-4Bs was the VF-102 Diamondbacks, who promptly took their new aircraft on the shakedown cruise of USS Enterprise. The United States Fleet Forces Command (USFLTFORCOM of the United States Navy is the part of the Navy responsible for operations in and around the Atlantic Ocean. Strike Fighter Squadron 102 (VFA-102 is a United States Navy Strike Fighter squadron based at NAF Atsugi. A shakedown is a period of testing or a trial journey undergone by a ship aircraft or other craft and its crew before being declared operational Design Enterprise was intended to be the first of a class of six but construction costs ballooned and the remaining vessels were never laid down resulting in her ^[45] The first deployable US Pacific Fleet squadron to receive the F-4B was the VF-114 Aardvarks, which participated in the September 1962 cruise aboard USS Kitty Hawk. The United States Pacific Fleet ( USPACFLT) is a Pacific Ocean Navy theater-level component command of the United States Navy, under the operational control The VF-114 Aardvarks was a US Navy fighter squadron established on 20 January 1945 and deactivated on 30 April 1993 1961 to 1964 Following a shakedown in the Western Atlantic, Kitty Hawk departed Norfolk on 11 August 1961. ^[43]

US Navy F-4 Phantom of VF-74 from USS America at RAF Duxford

By the time of the Tonkin Gulf incident, 13 of 31 deployable Navy squadrons were armed with the type. Construction and shakedown Originally ordered as an Enterprise -class nuclear carrier the ballooning costs of during construction caused the cancellation of the nuclear The Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire, England, commonly referred to simply as 'Duxford', houses the Imperial War Museum 's The Gulf of Tonkin Incident is the name given to two separate incidents involving naval forces of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam and the United States F-4Bs from USS Constellation made the first Phantom combat sortie of the Vietnam War on 5 August 1964, flying bomber escort in Operation Pierce Arrow. History 1960–1969 Following fitting out and acceptance trials Constellation departed her home port of Norfolk Virginia, on 7 February The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Operation Pierce Arrow was a US military operation during the Vietnam War. ^[46] The first Phantom air-to-air victory of the war took place on 9 April 1965 when an F-4B from VF-96 Fighting Falcons piloted by Lieutenant (junior grade) Terence M. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans) Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Murphy and his RIO, Ensign Ronald Fegan, shot down a Chinese MiG-17 'Fresco'. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The Phantom was then shot down, apparently by an AIM-7 Sparrow from one of its wingmen. ^[28] There continues to be controversy over whether the Phantom was shot down by MiG guns or whether, as enemy reports later indicated, an AIM-7 Sparrow III from one of Murphy's and Fegan's wingmen. ^[47] On 17 June 1965, an F-4B from VF-21 Freelancers piloted by Commander Thomas C. Events 1462 - Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II ( The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. The VF-21 Freelancers was a US Navy fighter squadron flying the F-14 Tomcat until disestablished in 1996 Page and Lieutenant John C. Smith shot down the first North Vietnamese MiG of the war. ^[48]

On 10 May 1972, Lieutenant Randy "Duke" Cunningham and Lieutenant (junior grade) William P. Driscoll flying an F-4J, call sign "Showtime 100", shot down three MiG-17s to become the first flying aces of the war. Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Randall Harold Cunningham (born December 8, 1941) usually known as Randy or Duke, was a Republican member of the United William "Willy" "Irish" Driscoll (born March 1947 is a former United States Navy Flight Officer who received the Navy Cross during In Broadcasting and Radio communications a call sign (also known as a callsign or call letters, or abbreviated as a call, or otherwise WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy Aircraft during aerial combat Their fifth victory was believed at the time to be over a mysterious North Vietnamese ace, Colonel Toon, now considered mythical. Nguyen Toon (Nguyễn Tuân or " Colonel Toon" or "Tomb" was a mythical North Vietnamese fighter pilot and On the return flight, the Phantom was damaged by an enemy surface-to-air missile. A surface to air missile ( SAM) or ground-to-air missile ( GTAM) is a Missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy Aircraft To avoid being captured, Cunningham and Driscoll flew their burning aircraft upside down (the damage made the aircraft uncontrollable in a conventional attitude) until they could eject over water. Cunningham and Driscoll became USN aces by shooting down five or more enemy aircraft. ^[17]

During the war, Navy Phantom squadrons participated in 84 combat tours with F-4Bs, F-4Js, and F-4Ns. The Navy claimed 40 air-to-air victories at the cost of 71 Phantoms lost in combat (5 to aircraft, 13 to SAMs, and 53 to AAA). A surface to air missile ( SAM) or ground-to-air missile ( GTAM) is a Missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy Aircraft Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging hostile military Aircraft in defence of ground objectives, ground or naval forces An additional 54 Phantoms were lost in accidents. Of the 40 aircraft shot down by Navy and Marine Phantom crews, 22 were MiG-17s, 14 MiG-21s, two Antonov An-2s, and two MiG-19s. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Of these, eight aircraft were downed by AIM-7 Sparrow missiles and 31 by AIM-9 Sidewinders. ^[49]

By 1983, the F-4Ns had been completely replaced by F-14 Tomcats, and by 1986 the last F-4Ss were exchanged for F/A-18 Hornets. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout On 25 March 1986, an F-4S belonging to VF-151 Vigilantes became the last Navy Phantom to launch from an aircraft carrier, in this case, the USS Midway. Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Early operations and deployment with the 6th Fleet After shakedown in the Caribbean, Midway joined in the U On 18 October 1986, an F-4S from the VF-202 Superheats, a Naval Reserve fighter squadron, made the last-ever Phantom carrier landing while operating aboard USS America. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) The VF-202 Superheats was a US Navy reserve fighter squadron based at NAS Dallas. Construction and shakedown Originally ordered as an Enterprise -class nuclear carrier the ballooning costs of during construction caused the cancellation of the nuclear In 1987, the last of the Naval Reserve-operated F-4Ss were replaced by F-14As. The last Phantoms in service with the Navy were QF-4 target drones operated by the Naval Air Warfare Centers. The former name of Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division The name of the center was the Naval Air Missile Test Center prior to PMTC ^[28] These were retired in 2004. ^[50]

United States Marine Corps

The Marines received their first F-4Bs in June 1962, with the Black Knights of VMFA-314 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California becoming the first operational squadron. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314 is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located near Irvine California, at. In addition to attack variants, the Marines also operated several tactical reconnaissance RF-4Bs. Marine Phantoms from VMFA-531 arrived in Vietnam on 10 April 1965, flying close air support missions from land bases as well as from USS America. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 531 (VMFA-531 was a United States Marine Corps fighter squadron consisting of F/A-18 Hornets. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Marine F-4 pilots claimed three enemy MiGs (two while on exchange duty with the USAF) at the cost of 75 aircraft lost in combat, mostly to ground fire, and four in accidents. On 18 January 1992, the last Marine Phantom, an F-4S, was retired by the Cowboys of VMFA-112. Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112 is a reserve United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron The squadron was re-equipped with F/A-18 Hornets. ^[51]

United States Air Force

This McDonnell F-4B-9i (F4H-1) from the U. S. Navy (BuNo 149405) was redesignated F-110A and later F-4C with USAF S/N 62-12168. (U. S. Air Force photo)

In USAF service the F-4 was initially designated the F-110 Spectre^[52] prior to the introduction of the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system. On the 18 September 1962, the United States Department of Defense introduced a unified designation system for the aircraft of the United States armed forces At first reluctant to adopt a Navy fighter, the USAF quickly embraced the design and became the largest Phantom user. The first Air Force Phantoms in Vietnam were F-4Cs from the 555th "Triple Nickel" Tactical Fighter Squadron,^[53] which arrived in December 1964. ^[54] Unlike the Navy, which flew the Phantom with a naval aviator (pilot) in the front seat and a naval flight officer as a radar intercept officer (RIO) in the back seat, the Air Force initially flew its Phantoms with a rated pilot in the back seat. A United States Naval Aviator is a pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. US Air Force aeronautical ratings are military aviation skill standards established and awarded by the United States Air Force for commissioned officers participating in aerial This policy was later changed to using a navigator qualified as a weapon/targeting systems officer (later designated as weapon systems officer or WSO) in the rear seat. In the United States Air Force the Weapon Systems Officer ( "WSO", pronounced "wizzo" is an air navigator directly involved in all air operations However, because they originally flew with pilots in the rear seat, all USAF Phantoms retained dual flight controls throughout their service life.

An RF-4C-21-MC (AF Serial No. 64-1019) with auxiliary fuel tanks in flight August 1968. This aircraft was assigned to the 192nd Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Nevada Air National Guard. The Air National Guard ( ANG), often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the several states and It was retired to AMARC on 27 January 1982

USAF F-4Cs scored their first victories against North Vietnamese MiG-17s on 10 July 1965 using AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Events 48 BC - Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range Air-to-air missile carried by Fighter aircraft and recently certain gunship helicopters ^[55] On 24 July 1965, a Phantom from the 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron on temporary assignment in Vietnam became the first American aircraft to be downed by an enemy SAM, and on 5 October 1966 an 8th Tactical Fighter Wing F-4C became the first U. Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. The 47th Fighter Squadron ( 47 FS) is part of the 917th Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. A surface to air missile ( SAM) or ground-to-air missile ( GTAM) is a Missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy Aircraft Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. The United States Air Force 8th Fighter Wing (8 FW is the host wing at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. S. jet lost to an air-to-air missile, fired by a MiG-21. An air-to-air missile ( AAM) is a guided Missile fired from an Aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

Early aircraft suffered from leaks in wing fuel tanks that required re-sealing after each flight and 85 aircraft were found to have cracks in outer wing ribs and stringers. ^[42] There were also problems with aileron control cylinders, electrical connectors, and engine compartment fires. For the band with a similar name see The Ailerons Ailerons are hinged control surfaces attached to the Trailing edge of the Wing of a Fixed-wing Reconnaissance RF-4Cs made their debut in Vietnam on 30 October 1965, flying the hazardous post-strike reconnaissance missions. Events 637 - Antioch surrenders to the Muslim forces under Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of Iron bridge. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar.

Although the F-4C was essentially identical to the Navy F-4B in flight performance and carried the Navy-designed Sidewinder missiles, USAF-tailored F-4Ds initially arrived in June 1967 equipped with AIM-4 Falcons. The Hughes AIM-4 Falcon was the first operational guided Air-to-air missile of the United States Air Force. However, the Falcon, like its predecessors, was designed to shoot down bombers flying straight and level. Its reliability proved no better than others, and its complex firing sequence and limited seeker-head cooling time made it virtually useless in combat against agile fighters. The F-4Ds reverted to using Sidewinders under the "Rivet Haste" program in early 1968, and by 1972, the AIM-7E-2 "Dogfight Sparrow" had become the preferred missile for USAF pilots. Like other Vietnam War Phantoms, the F-4Ds were urgently fitted with radar homing and warning (RHAW) antennae to detect the Soviet-built SA-2 Guideline SAMs. Radar is a system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range altitude direction or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as Aircraft, ships ^[56]

From the initial deployment of the F-4C to Southeast Asia, USAF Phantoms performed both air superiority and ground attack roles, supporting not only ground troops in South Vietnam but also conducting bombing sorties in Laos and North Vietnam. As the F-105 force underwent severe attrition between 1965 and 1968, the bombing role of the F-4 proportionately increased until after November 1970 (when the last F-105D was withdrawn from combat) it became the primary USAF ordnance delivery system. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see Wikipe diaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout In October 1972 the first squadron of EF-4C Wild Weasel aircraft deployed to Thailand on temporary duty. Wild Weasel is a nickname for aircraft of the United States Air Force tasked with the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ( SEAD) mission ^[57] The "E" prefix was later dropped and the aircraft were simply known as F-4C Wild Weasels.

Sixteen squadrons of Phantoms were permanently deployed between 1965 and 1973, and 17 others deployed on temporary combat assignments. ^[58] Peak numbers of combat F-4s occurred in 1972, when 353 were based in Thailand. ^[59] A total of 445 Air Force Phantom fighter-bombers were lost, 370 in combat and 193 of those over North Vietnam (33 to MiGs, 30 to SAMs, and 307 to AAA). ^[59]

The RF-4C was operated by four squadrons,^[60] and of the 83 losses, 72 were in combat including 38 over North Vietnam (seven to SAMs and 65 to AAA). ^[59] By war's end the U. S. Air Force had lost a total of 528 F-4 and RF-4C Phantoms. When combined with US Naval/Marine losses of 233 Phantoms; 761 F-4/RF-4 Phantoms were lost in the Vietnam War.

On 28 August 1972, Capt Steve Ritchie became the first USAF ace of the war. Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Brigadier General Richard Stephen "Steve" Ritchie (born June 25, 1942 in Reidsville North Carolina) was an officer in the United States ^[16] On 9 September 1972, WSO Capt Charles B. DeBellevue became the highest-scoring American ace of the war with six victories. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Colonel Charles Barbin “Chuck” DeBellevue (born August 15, 1945) is a retired officer in the United States Air Force. ^[16] and WSO Capt Jeffrey Feinstein became the last USAF ace of the war on 13 October 1972. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[61] Upon return to the United States, DeBellevue and Feinstein were given vision waivers, assigned to pilot training and requalified as USAF pilots in the F-4. According to the USAF, its F-4s scored 107½ MiG kills in Southeast Asia (50 by Sparrow, 31 by Sidewinder, five by Falcon, 15. 5 by gun, and six by other means). ^[59]

On 31 January 1972, the 170th Tactical Fighter Squadron/183d Tactical Fighter Group of Illinois Air National Guard became the first Air National Guard unit to transition to Phantoms. Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Illinois Air National Guard is the subordinate Air force element of the Illinois National Guard. The Air National Guard ( ANG), often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the several states and ^[62] The Phantom's ANG service lasted until 31 March 1990, when it was replaced by the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar)

F-4E-43-MC (AF Serial No. 69-7234) "Wild Weasel" modified to the F-4G configuration with an AGM-88 HARM missile under the wing. Gulf War Friendly Fire Incident During the Gulf War, the HARM was involved in a friendly fire incident when the pilot of an F-4G Wild Weasel escorting This aircraft was assigned to the 37th TFW, George AFB, California, April 1982

On 15 August 1990, 24 F-4G Wild Weasel Vs and six RF-4Cs were mobilized to the Middle East for Operation Desert Storm. For the civilian use of this facility after 1992 see Southern California Logistics Airport George Air Force Base (1941-1992 is a former United States California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Wild Weasel is a nickname for aircraft of the United States Air Force tasked with the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ( SEAD) mission The reason for this was that the F-4G was the only aircraft in the USAF inventory equipped for the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) role since the EF-111 Raven lacked the offensive capability of the AGM-88 HARM missile, while the RF-4C was the only aircraft equipped with the ultra-long-range KS-127 LOROP (long-range oblique photography) camera. SEAD (pronounced see-add or seed or Suppression of Enemy Air Defences, also known as " Wild Weasels quot and "Iron Hand" operations in the USA are WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Gulf War Friendly Fire Incident During the Gulf War, the HARM was involved in a friendly fire incident when the pilot of an F-4G Wild Weasel escorting In spite of flying almost daily missions, only one RF-4C was lost in a fatal accident before the start of hostilities. One F-4G was lost when enemy fire damaged the fuel tanks and the aircraft ran out of fuel near a friendly airbase. The last USAF Phantoms, F-4G Wild Weasel Vs from 561st Fighter Squadron, were retired on 26 March 1996. The 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron was an F-4 Phantom II Wild Weasel fighter Squadron, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The last operational flight of the F-4G Wild Weasel was from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Idaho Air National Guard, in April 1996. ^[63] The last operational USAF/ANG F-4 to land was flown by Maj Mike Webb and Maj Gary Leeder, Idaho ANG. Like the Navy, the Air Force continues to operate QF-4 target drones, serving with the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron,^[64] it being expected that the F-4 will remain in the target role with the 82nd ATRS until 2013/14. The 82d Aerial Target Squadron is located at Tyndall AFB. This squadron is the only unit left in the USAF to fly the F-4 Phantom II, although they are QF-4C/E/G ^[6]

Non-U. S. air forces

Main article: F-4 Phantom II non-U.S. operators

The Phantom served with the air forces of many countries, including Australia, Egypt, Germany, United Kingdom, Greece, Iran, Israel, Japan, Spain, South Korea and Turkey. See also F-4 Phantom II F-4 Phantom II non-US operators are the non-U For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Egyptian Air Force, or EAF (القوات الجوية المصرية) is the aviation branch of the Egyptian armed forces. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches

Australia

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) leased 24 USAF F-4Es from 1970 to 1973 while waiting for their order for the General Dynamics F-111C to be delivered. The Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout They were so well-liked that the RAAF considered adopting the F-4E instead. ^[65]

Egypt

In 1979, the Egyptian Air Force purchased 35 former USAF F-4Es along with a number of Sparrow, Sidewinder, and Maverick missiles from the US for $594 million as part of the "Peace Pharaoh" program. The Egyptian Air Force, or EAF (القوات الجوية المصرية) is the aviation branch of the Egyptian armed forces. ^[66] An additional seven surplus USAF aircraft were purchased in 1988. ^[67] Three attrition replacements had been received by the end of the 1990s. ^[65]

Germany

The German Luftwaffe initially ordered the reconnaissance RF-4E in 1969, receiving a total of 88 aircraft which were delivered from January 1971. ( German 'luftvafe is a generic German term for an Air force. ^[68] In 1982, the initially unarmed RF-4Es were given a secondary ground attack capability, and were retired in 1994. ^[69]

In 1973, under the "Peace Rhine" program the Luftwaffe purchased the lightened and simplified F-4F which was upgraded in the mid-1980s. Germany also initiated the "ICE" (Improved Combat Efficiency) program in 1983. The 110 ICE-upgraded F-4Fs entered service in 1992,^[33] and are expected to remain in service until 2012. ^[70] Twenty-four German-owned F-4Fs were operated by the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing of the USAF at Holloman AFB to train Luftwaffe crews until 2002. Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located six miles (10 km) southwest of the Central business district of Alamogordo In 1975, Germany also received 10 F-4Es for training in the U. S. In the late 1990s, these were withdrawn from service, being replaced by F-4Fs. ^[71]

Greece

F-4E Terminator 2020 of the Turkish AF

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In 1971 the Hellenic Air Force ordered brand new F-4E Phantoms, with deliveries starting in 1974. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. The Hellenic Air Force ( HAF) (in Πολεμική Αεροπορία ( ΠΑ) Polemikí Aeroporía, literally "Military Aviation" Later (early 1990s) the Hellenic AF acquired surplus RF-4Es and F-4Es from the Luftwaffe and U. S. ANG. ^{[72] [73]}

Following the success of the German ICE program, on 11 August 1997, DASA of Germany received a contract to upgrade 39 aircraft to the very similar "Peace Icarus 2000" standard. Events 2492 BC - Traditional date of the defeat of Bel by Hayk, progenitor and founder of the Armenian nation Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG or DASA, was the former aerospace subsidiary of Daimler-Benz AG (later DaimlerChrysler) from 1989 ^[28] As of May 2008 the Hellenic AF operates 35 upgraded F-4E-PI2000 (338 and 339 Squadrons) and 22 RF-4E aircraft (348 Squadron).

Iran

In the 1960s and 1970s, then U. S. -friendly Iran purchased 225 F-4D, F-4E and RF-4E Phantoms. The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Phantoms saw action in the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s and are kept operational by overhaul and servicing from Iran’s aerospace industry. The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF ( is the aviation branch of the Iranian armed forces. ^[74]

Israel

The Israeli Air Force has been the largest foreign user of the Phantom, flying both newly built and ex-USAF aircraft, as well as several one-off special reconnaissance variants. The Israeli Air Force ( IAF; Hebrew: זרוע האויר והחלל Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal, "Air and Space Arm" commonly known as חיל The first F-4Es, nicknamed "Kurnass" (Heavy hammer), and RF-4Es, nicknamed "Orev" (Raven), were delivered in 1969 under the "Peace Echo I" program. Additional Phantoms arrived during the 1970s under "Peace Echo II" through "Peace Echo V" and "Nickel Grass" programs. Israeli Phantoms saw extensive combat during Arab–Israeli conflicts, first seeing action during the War of Attrition. The War of Attrition (מלחמת ההתשה حرب الاستنزاف was a Limited war fought between the Israeli military and forces of the Egyptian Republic ^[75] In the 1980s, Israel began the "Kurnass 2000" modernization program which significantly updated avionics. ^[28] The last Israeli F-4s were retired in 2004. ^[76]

Japan

From 1968, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force purchased a total of 140 F-4EJ Phantoms without aerial refueling and ground attack capabilities. The, or JASDF, is the Aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for the defense of Japanese Airspace and other aerospace ^[77] Mitsubishi built 138 under license in Japan and 14 unarmed reconnaissance RF-4Es were imported. Of these, 96 F-4EJs have since been modified to the F-4EJ Kai (改、 "modified") standard. Seventeen F-4EJs have been converted to reconnaissance aircraft designated RF-4EJ, with similar upgrades as the F-4EJ Kai. As of 2007, Japan has a fleet of 90 F-4s in service and studies are underway to replace them with either the Eurofighter Typhoon^[78], Dassault Rafale, or one of several others. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

South Korea

The Republic of Korea Air Force purchased its first batch of ex-USAF F-4D Phantoms in 1968 under the "Peace Spectator" program. The Republic of Korea Air Force ( ROK Air Force, ROKAF, Hanglul: 대한민국 공군 Hanja: 大韓民國 空軍 is the Air force The ex-USAF F-4Ds continued to be delivered until 1988. The "Peace Pheasant II" program also provided newly-built and ex-USAF F-4Es. ^[79] Currently F-4Ds are being retired from service by new F-15K Slam Eagles. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

Spain

The Ejercito del Aire (Spanish Air Force) acquired its first batch of ex-USAF F-4C Phantoms in 1971 under the "Peace Alfa" program. The Spanish Air Force ( Spanish: Ejército del Aire; literally "Army of the Air" is the Air force of Spain. Designated C. 12, the aircraft were retired in 1989. At the same time, the SAF received a number of ex-USAF RF-4Cs, designated CR. 12. In 1995–1996, these aircraft received extensive avionics upgrades. Spain retired its RF-4s in 2002. ^[80][81]

Turkey

The Turkish Air Force received 40 F-4Es in 1974, with a further 32 F-4Es and 8 RF-4Es in 1977-78 under the "Peace Diamond III" program, followed by 40 ex-USAF aircraft in "Peace Diamond IV" in 1987, and a further 40 ex-U. The Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri is a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. S. Air National Guard Aircraft in 1991. ^[82] A further 32 RF-4Es were transferred to Turkey after being retired by the Luftwaffe between 1992 and 1994. ^[82] In 1995, IAI of Israel implemented an upgrade similar to Kurnass 2000 on 54 Turkish F-4Es which were dubbed the F-4E 2020 Terminator. Israel Aerospace Industries ( Hebrew: התעשייה האווירית לישראל ha-ta`aSiyyâh ha-'awîrît lë-yiSrâ'êl) or IAI (תע"א ta`a' ^[28]

United Kingdom

Phantom FGR. 2 of No. 43 Sqn. Royal Air Force

The United Kingdom bought versions based on the USN F-4J for use with the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships The main differences were the use of the British Rolls-Royce Spey engines and of British-made avionics. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The RN and RAF versions were given the designation F-4K and F-4M respectively, and entered service as the Phantom FG. 1 (fighter/ground attack) and Phantom FGR. 2 (fighter/ground attack/reconnaissance). ^[83][84]

After the Falklands War, 15 upgraded ex-USN F-4Js, known as the F-4J(UK) entered RAF service to compensate for one interceptor squadron redeployed to the Falklands. The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the ^[33]

Around 15 RAF squadrons received various marks of Phantom, many of them based in Germany. The first to be equipped was 6 Squadron at RAF Leuchars in July 1969. RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. One noteworthy deployment was to 43 Squadron where Phantom FG1s remained the squadron equipment for a remarkable twenty years, arriving in September 1969 and departing in July 1989. During this period the squadron was based throughout at Leuchars. ^[85]

The interceptor Phantoms were replaced by the Panavia Tornado F3 from the late 1980s onwards, and the last British Phantoms were retired in October 1992 when 74 Squadron disbanded. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout ^[28][85]

Civilian use

Sandia National Laboratories used an F-4 mounted on a "rocket sled" in a crash test to see the results of an aircraft hitting a reinforced concrete structure, such as a nuclear power plant. ^[86]

One aircraft, an F-4D (civilian registration NX749CF), is operated by the Massachusetts-based non-profit organization Collings Foundation as a "living history" exhibit. A non-profit organization ( abbreviated "NPO" also "not-for-profit" is a legally constituted Organization whose objective is to support or engage Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of ^[28][87] Funds to maintain and operate the aircraft, which is based in Houston, Texas, are raised through donations/sponsorships from public and commercial parties. ^[88][89]

NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center acquired an F-4A Phantom II on 3 December 1965. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program The Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC located inside Edwards Air Force Base, is an aeronautical research center operated by NASA. Events 1800 - War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Hohenlinden, French Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. It made fifty-five flights in support of short programs, chase on X-15 missions and lifting body flights. The F-4A also supported a biomedical monitoring program involving 1,000 flights by NASA Flight Research Center aerospace research pilots and students of the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School flying high-performance aircraft. The pilots were instrumented to record accurate and reliable data of electrocardiogram, respiration rate and normal acceleration. In 1967, the F-4A supported a brief military-inspired program to determine whether an airplane's sonic boom could be directed and whether it could possibly be used as a weapon of sorts, or at least an annoyance. NASA also flew an F-4C in a spanwise blowing study from 1983 to 1985, after which it was returned to the Air Force. ^[90]

Variants

Main article: F-4 Phantom II variants

QF-4E 74-1652, the second "Q" flown by the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, c. See also F-4 Phantom II The McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II variants were numerous versions and designations of the F-4 and are described below 2005

F-4A, B, J, N and S

Variants for the US Navy and the US Marines. F-4B was upgraded to F-4N, and F-4J was upgraded to F-4S.

F-110 Spectre, F-4C, D and E

Variants for the U. S. Air Force. F-4E introduced an internal M61 Vulcan cannon. F-4D and E were widely exported.

F-4G Wild Weasel V

A dedicated SEAD variant with updated radar and avionics, converted from F-4E. SEAD (pronounced see-add or seed or Suppression of Enemy Air Defences, also known as " Wild Weasels quot and "Iron Hand" operations in the USA are The designation F-4G was applied earlier to an entirely different Navy Phantom.

F-4K and M

Variants for British military re-engined with Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A turbofan is a type of Jet engine, similar to a Turbojet. It essentially consists of a Ducted fan with a smaller diameter turbojet engine

F-4EJ

Simplified F-4E exported to and license-built in Japan.

F-4F

Simplified F-4E exported to Germany.

QF-4 74-626 at McGuire AFB, 12 May 2007 with an A-10 in the background

F-4X

Proposed reconnaissance variant with water injection capable of exceeding Mach 3. McGuire Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command (AMC Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

QF-4B, E, G, N and S

Retired aircraft converted into remote-controlled target drones used for weapons and defensive systems research.

RF-4B, C, and E

Tactical reconnaissance variants.

Culture

Nicknames

An F-4F on display described as the "World's largest distributor of MiG parts", because of the high number of this type of enemy aircraft shot down

The Phantom gathered a number of nicknames during its career. JSC "RSK "MiG" or Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG in full (formerly Mikoyan or Mikoyan-i-Gurevich Design Bureau, Микоян Some of these names included "Rhino", "Double Ugly",^[91] the "Flying Anvil", "Flying Footlocker", "Flying Brick", "Lead Sled", the "Big Iron Sled" and the "Louisville Slugger". ^[92] In recognition of its record of downing large numbers of Soviet-built MiGs,^[93] it was called the "World’s Leading Distributor of MiG Parts"^[91] As a reflection of excellent performance in spite of bulk, it was dubbed "the triumph of thrust over aerodynamics. JSC "RSK "MiG" or Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG in full (formerly Mikoyan or Mikoyan-i-Gurevich Design Bureau, Микоян "^[94] German Luftwaffe crews called their F-4s the Eisensau ("Iron Pig"), Fliegender Ziegelstein ("Flying Brick") and Luftverteidigungsdiesel ("Air Defense Diesel"). Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. ( German 'luftvafe is a generic German term for an Air force. ^[95]

Imitating the spelling of the aircraft’s name, McDonnell issued a series of patches. Pilots became "Phantom Phlyers", backseaters became "Phantom Pherrets", fans of the F-4 "Phantom Phanatics", and call it the "Phabulous Phantom". Ground crewmen who worked on the aircraft are known as "Phantom Phixers". ^[18]

The Spook

The Spook

The aircraft's emblem is a whimsical cartoon ghost called "The Spook", which was created by McDonnell Douglas technical artist, Anthony "Tony" Wong, for shoulder patches. The name "Spook" was coined by the crews of either the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing or the 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing at MacDill AFB. MacDill Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base under the claimancy of the Air Mobility Command ( AMC) The figure is ubiquitous, appearing on every imaginable item associated with the F-4. The Spook has followed the Phantom around the world adopting local fashions; for example, the British adaptation of the U. S. "Phantom Man"^[96] is a Spook that sometimes wears a bowler hat and smokes a pipe. ^[97]

Survivors

See also: F-4 Phantom II survivors

The Collings Foundation F-4D Phantom II, with Vietnam-era "Ritchie/DeBellevue" markings, taxis at Selfridge ANGB, May 2005. There are a number of F-4 Phantom IIs on display in the USA and worldwide Australia RAAF Museum, Melbourne - 1 F-4E painted to represent Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is a joint Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township

There are a number of F-4 Phantom IIs on display in the USA and worldwide. For example, a Phantom II F-4C-15-MC 37699, which is on loan from the USAF Museum, is on display at the Midland Air Museum, Coventry, England;^[98] a Phantom II F4H-1, BuNo 145310, U. The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum) is the official National Museum of the United States Air The Midland Air Museum (MAM is situated just outside the village of Baginton in Warwickshire, England, and is adjacent to Coventry Airport. Coventry ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in the County of West Midlands in England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland S. Navy,^[99] is located at French Valley Airport, Murrieta, California;^[100] and there is a dwindling number of reserve F-4's stored at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. French Valley Airport is a county-owned public-use Airport in southwestern Riverside County, California, located on Highway 79 near the communities Murrieta is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base adjacent to Tucson, Arizona. ^[101][102]

One aircraft, an F-4D, is operated by the Massachusetts-based non-profit organization Collings Foundation as a "living history" exhibit. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. A non-profit organization ( abbreviated "NPO" also "not-for-profit" is a legally constituted Organization whose objective is to support or engage Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of ^[28][103] Funds to maintain and operate the aircraft, which is based in Houston, Texas, are raised through donations/sponsorships from public and commercial parties. ^[104][105]

Specifications (F-4E)

For the F-4E Phantom II variant:

Data from The Great Book of Fighters^[33] Quest for Performance,^[27] and Encyclopedia of USAF Aircraft. ^[42]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 63 ft 0 in (19. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. 2 m)
• Wingspan: 38 ft 4. The wingspan (or just span) of an airplane or a Bird, is the distance from the left wingtip to the right wingtip 5 in (11. 7 m)
• Height: 16 ft 6 in (5. 0 m)
• Wing area: 530. 0 ft² (49. 2 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 0006.4-64 root, NACA 0003-64 tip
• Empty weight: 30,328 lb (13,757 kg)
• Loaded weight: 41,500 lb (18,825 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 61,795 lb (28,030 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× General Electric J79-GE-17A axial compressor turbojets, 17,845 lbf (79. An airfoil (in American English) or aerofoil (in British English) is the shape of a Wing or blade (of a Propeller, rotor The NACA airfoils are Airfoil shapes for aircraft wings developed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass The Maximum Takeoff Weight or Maximum Takeoff Mass of an Aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot of the aircraft is allowed to attempt to take off Axial compressors are rotating aerofoil based compressors in which the working fluid principally flows parallel to the axis of rotation TurboJET (噴射飛航 is the brand name for the operations of the Hong Kong -based Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management Limited (信德中旅船務管理有限公司 This article deals with the unit of force For the unit of mass see Pound (mass. 6 kN) each
• Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0. In Aerodynamics, the zero-lift drag coefficient C_{D0} is a dimensionless parameter which relates an aircraft's zero-lift drag Force to its 0224
• Drag area: 11. In Aerodynamics, the zero-lift drag coefficient C_{D0} is a dimensionless parameter which relates an aircraft's zero-lift drag Force to its 87 ft² (1. 10 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 2. In Aerodynamics, the aspect ratio of a wing is defined as the square of the wing span divided by the wing area 77
• Fuel capacity: 1,994 US gal (7,549 L) internal, 3,335 US gal (12,627 L) with three external tanks
• Maximum landing weight: 36,831 lb (16,706 kg)

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2. A gallon is a measure of Volume. It is in current use in the United States and still has limited use in many other English-speaking countries In Aviation, V-speeds or Velocity-speeds are standard terms used to define Airspeeds important or useful to the operation of Aircraft, such Mach number (\mathrm{Ma} or M (generally ˈmɑːk sometimes /ˈmɑːx/ or /ˈmæk/ is the speed of an object moving through air or any Fluid 23 (1,472 mph, 2,370 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
• Cruise speed: 506 kn (585 mph, 940 km/h)
• Combat radius: 367 nmi (422 mi, 680 km)
• Ferry range: 1,403 nmi (1,615 mi, 2,600 km) with 3 external fuel tanks
• Service ceiling 60,000 ft (18,300 m)
• Rate of climb: 41,300 ft/min (210 m/s)
• Wing loading: 78 lb/ft² (383 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 0. In Aviation, V-speeds or Velocity-speeds are standard terms used to define Airspeeds important or useful to the operation of Aircraft, such A nautical mile or sea mile is a unit of Length. It corresponds approximately to one minute of Latitude along any meridian. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States For Aircraft, ferry range means the maximum range the aircraft can fly In Aeronautics, a ceiling is the maximum Density altitude an aircraft can reach under a set of conditions In Aerodynamics, the rate of climb RoC is the speed at which an Aircraft increases its Altitude. In Aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing Thrust-to-weight ratio is as its name suggests the ratio of instantaneous Thrust to Weight (where weight means weight at the Earth ’s surface 86
• Lift-to-drag ratio: 8. In Aerodynamics, the lift-to-drag ratio, or L/D ratio ("ell-over-dee" in the US "ell-dee" in the UK is the amount of lift generated 58
• Takeoff roll: 4,490 ft (1,370 m) at 53,814 lb (24,410 kg)
• Landing roll: 3,680 ft (1,120 m) at 36,831 lb (16,706 kg)

Armament

• 1x 20 mm M61 Vulcan gatling cannon, 639 rounds
• Up to 18,650 lb (8,480 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including general purpose bombs, cluster bombs, TV- and laser-guided bombs, rocket pods, air-to-ground missiles, anti-runway weapons, anti-ship missiles, targeting pods, recce pods, and nuclear weapons. The M61 Vulcan is a 20 mm Hydraulically or Pneumatically driven six- barreled air-cooled Baggage pods may also be carried. External fuel tanks of 370 US gal (1,420 L) capacity for the outer wing hardpoints and either a 600 or 610 US gal (2,310 or 2,345 L) fuel tank for the centerline station can be fitted to extend the range.
• 4x AIM-7 Sparrow in fuselage recesses plus 4x AIM-9 Sidewinders on wing pylons; upgraded Hellenic F-4E and German F-4F ICE carry AIM-120 AMRAAM, Japanese F-4EJ Kai carry AAM-3, Hellenic F-4E will carry IRIS-T in future. The AIM-7 Sparrow is a medium-range Semi-active radar homing Air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range Air-to-air missile carried by Fighter aircraft and recently certain gunship helicopters The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM (pronounced am-ram is a modern Beyond Visual Range (BVR air-to-air Missile The Mitsubishi AAM-3 (Type 90 air-to-air missile ja 90式空対空誘導弾 is a short-range Air-to-air missile developed in Japan. IRIS-T ( Infra Red Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) is a German -led program to develop a short-range Air-to-air missile to replace the Iranian F-4s could potentially carry Russian and Chinese missiles. UK Phantoms Skyflash missiles ^[106]

See also

• Operation Bolo
• Mojave Spaceport
• Wild Weasel
  

Related development

• F3H Demon
  

Comparable aircraft

• English Electric Lightning
• F8U-3 Crusader III
• Sukhoi Su-15
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
• Shenyang J-8
  

Related lists

• List of fighter aircraft
• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of units using the F-4 Phantom
  

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• The F-4 website
• F-4 Phantom II Society website
• Phantom F4K - Fleet Air Arm - Royal Navy
• The Phantom Turns 50 Article at Fence Check
• 8th Tactical Fighter Wing website
• "Silver Lobos" fly into retirement
• F-4 Phantom page on Aerospaceweb.org
• The McDonnell F-4 Phantom on Vectorsite.net
• RAF Phantom Losses
• The Phantom Zone