Originally built to a US Navy specification the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom was quickly adopted by the USAF and Marine Corp and became one of the mainstay aircraft in several airforces around the world including Great Britain's RAF and Germany's airforce.
Capable of pushing mach 2 at altitude on it's twin engines this high performance aircraft had an operational ceiling of over 70,000 ft depending on the version and could carry up to 8 AAMs or 16,000 lb ordnance externally. First prototype flight was in 1958 and units began receiving the aircraft operationally during the early sixties.
The aircraft thus became available for the Vietnam conflict and was widely used throughout the troubles there.

The aircraft was continually refined, modified and developed over a twenty year period of production. Many marks were produced in this time including the RAF versions based on the F-4b powered by Rolls-Royce Spey engines instead of the General-Electric power plants of the US planes.
F-4 Navy Phantom

F-4 Navy Phantom in flight
F-4 Phantom

F-4 from above.


Phantoms were replaced gradually in the various services by several different aircraft. The US Navy phased them out in favour of the F14 Tomcat. In the USAF the F15 Eagle displaced the aircraft and in RAF units the Phantom was largely superceded by the Panavia Tornada in various marks.
The fact that one aircraft type was replaced by all these shows the great all-round ability and high importance possessed by the F-4. The Phantom largely replaced the BAC Lightning in RAF service.

Tamiya F4 Phantom 2 model kit

Picture shows the excellent Tamiya 1/32 scale F-4 Phantom in US Marine colours. Tamiya also produce a smaller model kit of the aircraft.

Many more manufacturers also produce F4 kits including Airfix, ItaleriandRevell.

Scales include 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32.


F-4 Phantom 2 FG Mk1 (RAF)
Engine 2x Rolls-Royce Spey RB168-25r turbojets
21,250 lbs thrust each on re-heat		 Top Speed Mach 2 approx.
Weight max 58,000 lb Wingspan 38 ft 5 inches
Length 57 ft 11 inches Weapons Up to 8 AAMs including Sparrow and Sidewinders
16,000lb external ordnance
Country USA Crew 2