F-4 Phantom II - McDonnell Douglas Supersonic Jet Interceptor And Fighter Bomber

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy. Proving highly adaptable, it entered service with the Navy in 1961 before it was adopted by the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force, and by the mid-1960s it had become a major part of their air arms. Phantom production ran from 1958 to 1981, with a total of 5,195 aircraft built, making it the most-produced American supersonic military aircraft in history and cementing its position as a signature combat aircraft of the Cold War.
The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of over Mach 2.2. It can carry more than 18,000 pounds (8,400 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and various bombs. The F-4, like other interceptors of its time, was initially designed without an internal cannon. Later models incorporated an M61 Vulcan rotary cannon. Beginning in 1959, it set 15 world records for in-flight performance, including an absolute speed record and an absolute altitude record.
The F-4 was used extensively during the Vietnam War. It served as the principal air superiority fighter for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps and became important in the ground attack and aerial reconnaissance roles late in the war. During the Vietnam War, all five American servicemen who became aces - one U.S. Air Force pilot, two weapon systems officers (WSOs), one U.S. Navy pilot, and one radar intercept officer (RIO) - did so in F-4s. The F-4 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, the F-14 Tomcat in the U.S. Navy, and the F/A-18 Hornet in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 63 ft 0 in (19.2 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 5 in (11.7 m)
Width: 27 ft 7 in (8.4 m) wing folded
Height: 16 ft 5 in (5 m)
Wing area: 530 sq ft (49.2 m2)
Aspect ratio: 2.77
Airfoil: NACA 0006.4-64 root, NACA 0003-64 tip
Empty weight: 30,328 lb (13,757 kg)
Gross weight: 41,500 lb (18,824 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 61,795 lb (28,030 kg)
Maximum landing weight: 36,831 lb (16,706 kg)
Fuel capacity: 1,994 US gal (1,660 imp gal; 7,550 L) internal, 3,335 US gal (2,777 imp gal; 12,620 L) with 2x 370 US gal (310 imp gal; 1,400 L) external tanks on the outer wing hardpoints and either a 600 or 610 US gal (500 or 510 imp gal; 2,300 or 2,300 L) tank for the center-line station.
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric J79-GE-17A after-burning turbojet engines, 11,905 lbf (52.96 kN) thrust each dry, 17,845 lbf (79.38 kN) with afterburner
Performance
Maximum speed: 1,280 kn (1,470 mph, 2,370 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m)
Maximum speed: Mach 2.23
Cruise speed: 510 kn (580 mph, 940 km/h)
Combat range: 370 nmi (420 mi, 680 km)
Ferry range: 1,457 nmi (1,677 mi, 2,699 km)
Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,000 m)
Rate of climb: 41,300 ft/min (210 m/s)
Lift-to-drag: 8.58
Wing loading: 78 lb/sq ft (380 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.86 at loaded weight, 0.58 at MTOW
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
E-model has a 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan cannon mounted internally under the nose, 640 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-ship missiles, gun pods, and nuclear weapons. Reconnaissance, targeting, electronic countermeasures baggage pods, and external fuel tanks may also be carried.
4× AIM-9 Sidewinders on wing pylons, Israeli F-4 Kurnass 2000 carried Python-3, Japanese F-4EJ Kai carry AAM-3.
4× AIM-7 Sparrow in fuselage recesses, upgraded Hellenic F-4E and German F-4F ICE carry AIM-120 AMRAAM, UK Phantoms carried Skyflash missiles
6× AGM-65 Maverick
4× AGM-62 Walleye
4× AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-78 Standard ARM
4× GBU-15
18× Mk.82, GBU-12
5× Mk.84, GBU-10, GBU-14
18× CBU-87, CBU-89, CBU-58
Nuclear weapons, including the B28EX, B61, B43 and B57
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[@brealistic3542]

The British Navy loved their F4s. I don't know of any country flying them that didn't. Truly ONE of the great Jet fighters.

[@simple_beys]

The greatest distributor of MiG parts.

[@Truck_person]

when the missiles tracked lol

[@kennethhoffman8845]

Good one... Wish I'd thought of it! 🤣

[@henrylowery8238]

CLEVER! One of my favorite planes.

[@gownerjones]

My dad served in the German Luftwaffe for 12 years and he worked on the electronic systems of these magnificent planes. To this day, he loves the F-4. He has pictures of it on his walls, he bought the plane in MFS and flies it every day. He infected me with an enthusiasm for military aviation and now I, too, love the F-4.

[@72151]

RF4C crew chief here… Strong airframe, usually leaks something somewhere, very smooth to fly.

[@kennethhoffman8845]

It's amazing to think that in just 4 years Mcdonnell went from introducing the clumsy, underpowered F-3 Demon in 1956 to this incredible BEAST in 1960.

[@wmjohns881]

I was an navy aviation ordnance AO2 during the Vietnam war. My specialty was both the F-4 and the A-4 I really liked how easy it was to access and repair the weapons systems on the Phantom. The F-4 was a very rugged fighter and could handle a lot of damage without going down.

[@halojump123]

🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇸🇷🇺U.S ARMY VETERAN.

[@rickmcbride9865]

❤ I lived in St Louis by Lambert Field and I used to see a whole Squadron of phantom sitting there and they were awesome and I always remember it and it's one of my favorite airplanes ever

[@w.rustylane5650]

Didn't realize that the Phantom had such slats and flaps that used compressor gasses. What a great design. I was on Yankee Station on a WESTPAC cruise aboard the USS Coral Sea, CVA-43, with Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 224, from 12 November 1971 until 17 July 1972. VMA(AW)-224 was an A-6 squadron and we flew A-6A's, A-6B's & KA-6D tankers. I believe there was a Navy squadron with an EA-6B Prowler. Along with our squadron were 2 Navy F-4 Phantom squadrons, VF-111 (the Sundowners) & VF-51, two Navy A-7D squadrons, VA-22 & VA-94. The Commander, Air Group 15, Commander Roger E. Sheets was shot down over north Vietnam on a mission to take out a bridge. As CAG-15, he always led the airstrikes in his A-7D. On May 3, 1972, we lost a couple of aircrews attacking another bridge in north Vietnam. Cmdr. Sheets led the mission when we mined Hiaphong harbor. Commander Sheets and my friend, Capt. David B. Williams, bodies have been returned to the US for proper burial. When we got back to Cherry Point, NC, I purchased a POW/MIA bracelet from Capt. Williams' wife and still have it to this day. I've kept up with these fallen warriors all these years because I served with them. Cheers from an old Marine sergeant in eastern TN

[@801walt]

My favorite fighter. I was lucky to see the Thunderbirds flying F4s when I was 10 or 11. Built a model in camo colors.

[@kevingthompson14]

There were more variants than letters in the alphabet. In stripped down trials they made mach 3.2. Once that nose gun was added it made for the PERFECT flying tiger grin. The navy loved them. The marines depended on them. The air force insisted on them against the entire USAF brass. Robin Olds and Randy Cunningham became living legends flying them. Hell, Olds staked his entire career upon absolute insistence on having them as he as adamant to not send any more guys to Hanoi Hilton by transport of Thud aka Thundercheif. You gotta love these things. Those JOLLY ROGER tail fins. The SUNDOWNER tail fins. These things were the stuff so many young men dreamed about joining service for in the 70s and 80s. I was one of those.

[@Sam_Green____4114]

An F-4 Phantom flew over my house the other day ! Not just one but two in formation !! And not just once , several times !

[@user-clintredwood]

I know many will disagree but the phantom is the sexist jet fighter ever!! Ive loved her since i can remember. Im not talking capabilities, im talk look ,style

[@iamnotpaulavery]

I'm with you on that. When I was working on a degree in computer aided drafting and design, my project for the three dimensional design class was actually the F4. I painstakingly hand drew, measured, scaled, etc., etc. the jet then drew it on the computer, extruded everything...long story short I aced the class and the instructor literally framed my work and put it on his office wall - with my permission of course. Me? It's on a ZIP disc, which is totally obsolete! I have a ZIP drive, but my computer won't even recognize it. Thankfully, I was able to make one large printout which is tucked away and hidden so well I forgot where the hell I put it!!

[@RB-bd5tz]

I had a die-cast metal toy of one as a kid. I have always thought it looked so cool, with the angled wing and tail surfaces. It looked solid, mean, and capable; it looked like business, like a real war machine.

[@user-clintredwood]

@@RB-bd5tz yup absolutly. My thoughts exactly!

[@oceanforth21]

Yeah can’t really agree. The phantom is a good looking aircraft, but it’s not sexy. It’s not a sleek jet. It’s menacing and imposing. It’s a rook, not a bishop

[@garyr2650]

I agreev

[@markusfuerer5431]

My fav model from Revell as a kid in the 70s . And I glued the back wings the wrong way around 😂

[@kennethhoffman8845]

I did the Revell kits that included all four Blue Angels and all four Thunderbirds. They had a special stand that put them in diamond formation. This was back around 1972. I've been trying to locate these kits through sources like Ebay and Mercari from collectors who may have them buried in a closet somewhere. No luck so far.

[@jimgraham6722]

I flew these, fantastic.

[@kennethhoffman8845]

I remember an interview with an Israeli pilot who described its 'tremendous acceleration' its 'tremendous kick'. I suspect there were times when you got a sense of being invincible.

[@Cypress612]

Coolest looking plane ever made.

[@kennethhoffman8845]

One of the sometimes overlooked aspects of the Phantom's design is the completely flush underside of the wings. It allowed a nearly unobstructed surface for the attachment of weapons and external fuel tanks.

[@JohnShields-xx1yk]

1970 I was 10 when we had a Christmas at grandparent's house, Nanna had glass ornaments with the grandkids name on them, " John ", I felt so loved, luckily my uncle Jack was there, on leave where he piloted the F4 Phantom in Vietnam, I was in awe, still am. God bless the United States of America 🇺🇸

[@ridermak4111]

Unmistakable from any view angle. 👊😎

[@jimmeryellis]

Unmistakable but still not as awsome as the English Electric Lightening.

[@vittoriocasassa7611]

Sin duda el avión MÁS HERMOSO que se a construido... Gracias por tan buen video.😅😅😅

[@HarperBrown-mr9bc]

F-4 is a top model jet in the world

[@matteocrotti6781]

PHANTOM FOREVER ❤

[@Gator-357]

The B-17 was the first heavy bomber to use both a supercharger and a turbo charger in succession in order to maintain full speed at height.

[@AnthonyTolhurst-dw1nc]

PHABULOUS PHANTOM PHOREVER!

[@abitofapickle6255]

With enough thrust, even a brick can fly.

[@keithad6485]

I remember years ago, reading that the F4 was America's proof to the world that they could make a brick fly!

[@PostalWorker14]

Saw one at Air Force Museum massive engine wings are weird and small

[@mikestanmore2614]

When you compare the exhaust from the British Spey engined Phantom with the American version, the British aircraft is practically the stealth version!

[@orucreyisguven9672]

Türk Hava kuvvetleri İsrail hava endüstrisi ile birlikte geliştirdiği F4E Phantom terminator uçaklarını hala başarıyla kullanmakta . Her ne kadar günümüz modern çağının stealth vb özelliklerinin çok uzağında olsa da Phantom yüksek hızı manevra kaabiliyeti hava hava ve hava yer tercübesi ile çok etkili bir görev uçağı. Jet savaş uçağı dünyasında F-14 tomcat ile birlikte en ikonik tasarıma sahip uçaktır Phantom

[@Rogge73]

1958 mind boggling 😮😮😮😮

[@kkpriest5880]

2 more days ladies and gentlemen

[@Spooky_32]

Phantom gaming

[@Royalasiangaming]

real idk why they couldn't drop it last Friday

[@marcolinji]

❤

[@RedTail1-1]

I've been flying the F-4 in DCS for over 2 years. Y'all been missing out.

[@robmorgan1214]

I want a titanium composite F4 with GE F110s and fly by wire avionics (including computer controlled intake ramps) the thing would supercruise and hit Mach 3 without melting. Combat weight 30000lbs with 34000lbs thrust out of burner. Range 2300 mi. Max takeoff 70000lbs 12500 lbs internal fuel. No stealth... but that doesn't really work as Iran recently proved. Saving 8000lbs on steel and aluminum has a major impact on performance.

[@RB-bd5tz]

44:29, 44:41 Pharting Phantoms!

[@chandrachurniyogi8394]

the naval carrier borne F-4E Phantom II (Block 30) multi role fighter interceptor is called legendary for a reason . . . it was unwise to design the F-4 without the invaluable 20 MM internal gun . . . that are normally built into the forward lower fuselage or wing root section of fighter jets . . . during take off the front landing gear of the carrier borne F-4E Phantom II multi role fighter interceptor is raised up as the aft part of the F-4E is hunkered down with the bridal . . . would like to know why . . .

[@jimginn4021]

The F-4E was the Air Force’s version which did have a Vulcan 20 mm cannon. Navy phantoms raised the nose to increase the angle of attack, meaning the plane generates more lift this way when it needs it most.

[@ExploreTechniques95]

It certainly participated in the war in Southeast Asia.

[@DavidSherman-m5l]

The meatball is located on the PORT side of the flight deck on the aft area of the flight deck. Not the right side, as you stated.

[@futursbrite]

in just a few days the dcs simulator will come out😮

[@marcosavila8215]

wHO IS HERE because of DCS?

[@mikeck4609]

lol…it’s not a coincidence that every time DCS releases a module, KZbin videos and books about it see ALOT more traffic! Almost every fighter pilot podcast/you tube content creator will tell you that DCS is what pays the bills

[@djpalindrome]

I remember when the Thunderbirds flew Phantoms at full afterburner, supposedly to drown out the anti war protesters 😅

[@801walt]

And I was mad when a couple years later they replaced them with T-38 trainers. boo. (saw both)

[@dawightg9787]

The phantoms was a great fighter, However the pilots was not trained to Dogfight during the 60s Due to the BVR Doctrine held by the Top Brass of that Era . However Brave men stood up to them and started to retrain pilots how to Dogfight at a school they started called Fighter weapons school.,These Naval pilots would achieve a 24:1 kill ratio during Vietnam. Unfortunately the Air Force decided to blame the plane rather than the method and kept the 2:1 ratio throughout Vietnam. Not until after Vietnam did the Airforce change its methods to what they are today..

[@ArktikosAdventures]

More DCS research...

[@dreemeagle]

a fantastic interceptor as it was designed to be but terrible dogfighter whose only triumphant tactic was zoom and boom;

[@andrewleyden2752]

What is the date of that second video?

[@Darthdoodoo]

I prefer the f14 tomcruise myself 😂

[@shenmisheshou7002]

Many criticized the F-4 for not having a gun, but the designers were right not to include it. The main problems in Vietnam were defective sidewinders, BVR engagement limitations, and poor pilot training. As to the supremacy of the gun, even the "Last Gunfighter", the F8, only had to gun kills, with all of the rest being sidewinder kills. In fact, no US fighter has had a gun kill against an enemy fighter since 1970. All US fighter kills since then have been missile kills. So, the F-4 designers had it exactly right. No human pilot can out-maneuver a sidewider, which can pull 60 Gs.

[@801walt]

Iran. Don't they still have a few?

[@johnrisher3007]

I'm sorry but any fighter aircraft without guns is a very bad idea