McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Supersonic Aircraft Family
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat, twin-engine supersonic aircraft family that first flew in 1958. Developed by McDonnell for U.S. Navy fleet defense, it expanded into a widely operated family for air defense, reconnaissance, training, electronic-warfare, and other military duties. National and service variants introduced different sensors, structures, and engine installations while retaining the common Phantom II design.
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Identity
- Aliases
- McDonnell F4H Phantom IIF4H-1F-4 Phantom IIF-4BF-4CF-4DF-4EF-4EJF-4FF-4GF-4JF-4KF-4MF-4NF-4SFG.1 PhantomFGR.2 PhantomRF-4CRF-4EQF-4
- Family Name
- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
- Full Name
- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Supersonic Aircraft Family
- Roles
- militaryreconnaissancetrainerresearch
- Status
- active
- Type
- aircraft
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- fixed_wing
- Operating Modes
- land
- Takeoff Landing Capabilities
- conventional
- Description
- The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat, twin-engine supersonic aircraft family that first flew in 1958. Developed by McDonnell for U.S. Navy fleet defense, it expanded into a widely operated family for air defense, reconnaissance, training, electronic-warfare, and other military duties. National and service variants introduced different sensors, structures, and engine installations while retaining the common Phantom II design.
- First Flight Year
- 1,958
- Manufacturer
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Count
- 2
- Placement
- fuselage
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- Two General Electric J79 turbojets; representative variants include J79-GE-8, -10, -15, and -17 installations.
- Name
- J79-powered Phantom II variants
- Notes
- Applies to the principal U.S. and most export Phantom II variants; exact J79 dash number and rating vary by variant.
- Entries
- Count
- 2
- Placement
- fuselage
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- Two Rolls-Royce RB.168 Spey afterburning turbofans, using Spey 201/202 installations across the British variants.
- Name
- British Spey-powered Phantom variants
- Notes
- Applies to the Royal Navy F-4K/FG.1 and Royal Air Force F-4M/FGR.2.
- Entries
- Count
- 2
- Placement
- fuselage
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- The U.S. Air Force/ANG fact sheet identifies two General Electric J79-GE-17 engines on the F-4E; GE rates the J79-17 at approximately 17,900 lbf with afterburner.
- Name
- F-4E Phantom II J79-GE-17 installation
- Entries
- Count
- 2
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- RAF Museum collections identify Rolls-Royce R.B.168-25R Spey 202 as fitted to RAF Phantom FGR.2 aircraft; this exact model option is scoped to the British FGR.2 branch, while placement and stage are not inferred from the exhibit record.
- Name
- FGR.2 Phantom Spey 202 exact installation
- Notes
- The RAF Museum identifies the British Phantom FGR.2 as Spey-powered and separately catalogs an R.B.168-25R Spey 202 engine fitted to RAF Phantom FGR.2 aircraft. This model-level option supplements the existing generic British Spey family configuration without collapsing the exact variant boundary.
- Entries
- Count
- 2
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- The National Museum of the United States Air Force identifies the F-4C with two General Electric J-79-GE-15 engines at 17,000 lb thrust each. Placement and stage are left unspecified because the cited aircraft record does not state them.
- Name
- F-4C Phantom II J79-GE-15 exact installation
- Notes
- Exact F-4C branch: the National Museum of the United States Air Force identifies two General Electric J-79-GE-15 engines at 17,000 lb thrust each. This exact option supplements the generic J79 branch and does not apply to F-4E or British Spey variants.
- Entries
- Count
- 2
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum identifies the basic F-4B as powered by two 17,000-lb-thrust J79-GE-8 turbojets; Naval History and Heritage Command identifies F4H-1 (F-4B) with the J79-GE-8 engine. Placement and stage are left unspecified because the cited records do not state them.
- Name
- F-4B Phantom II J79-GE-8 exact installation
- Notes
- Exact basic F-4B branch: the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and Naval History and Heritage Command identify two General Electric J79-GE-8 turbojets. This exact option supplements the generic J79 branch and does not apply to F-4C, F-4E, or British Spey variants.
- Entries
- Count
- 2
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- Pima Air & Space Museum identifies the F-4J/YF-4J record with two General Electric J79-GE-10 turbojets at 17,900 lb thrust each; the Department of Defense record independently associates J79-GE-10 with F-4J. Placement and stage are left unspecified because the cited records do not state them.
- Name
- F-4J Phantom II J79-GE-10 exact installation
- Notes
- Exact F-4J branch: Pima Air & Space Museum identifies two General Electric J79-GE-10 turbojets at 17,900 lb thrust each, with a Department of Defense engine record providing an independent F-4J association. This exact option supplements the generic J79 branch and does not apply to F-4B, F-4C, F-4E, or British Spey variants.
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Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 30, 2026 at 04:00:22 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 25, 2026 at 04:26:38 UTC