The McDonnell Douglas F-4 was the main multipurpose aircraft for the US Military for
20 years. The F-4E variant was an improved version of the C/D with an elongated
nose and compact radar. These two things made it possible to install a 20mm M61A1
6 barrel 640 round Vulcan gun pod in the nose. The F-4E was the most produced
variant with 1387 aircraft being made over its 12 year production period. The “E”
also equipped more air forces than any other variant of the Phantom II.

With 27 aircraft ordered Iran was the second largest customer for the RF-4E. The first of these
aircraft was produced in late 1970 arriving in Iran in early 1971. Fifteen more RF-4Es arrived in
Iran but in February 1979 the final eleven aircraft were cancelled due to political unrest and the
fall of the Shah. Around the year 2000 at least one Iranian RF-4E was painted in a low-viz
scheme like that of RF-4E 20267 with an MSN of 4207, registration of 2-6502 and s/n 72-0267.

Specifications for the F-4E Phantom II / RF-4E

RF-4E - Unarmed reconnaissance version for export only. Retrofitted by most
customers to carry weapons.

RF-4E Maiden Flight – September 1970

Number Built: F-4E - 5,195.

Interesting trivia:
Each aircraft has 54,197 feet of wiring and 643,000 fasteners holding it together.

Weights:
Empty - 29,535 pounds.
Gross - 40,562 pounds.
Combat weight - 38,019 pounds.
Maximum takeoff weight - 61,651 pounds.

Dimensions:
Wingspan - 38 feet 5 inches.
Wing area - 530 square feet.
Length - 63 feet 0 inches.
Height - 16 feet 6 inches.

Engines:
2 X General Electric J79-GE-17 turbojets, 11,870 lb.s.t dry, 17,900 lb.s.t. with
afterburner.

Performance:
Maximum speed - 1430 mph at 36,000 feet (Mach 2.21), 914 mph at sea level (Mach
1.19).
Cruising speed - 585 mph.
Landing speed - 158 mph.
Initial climb rate - 61,400 feet per minute.
Service ceiling - 62,250 feet.
Combat ceiling - 59,600 feet.
Combat range - 595 miles.
Normal range - 1,100 miles.
Maximum range – 1,885 miles with maximum external fuel.
Fuel:
Maximum internal fuel in the fuselage tanks - 1364 US gallons (up to block 40)
OR
1225 US gallons (block 41 and beyond). An additional 630 gallons of fuel could be
carried in internal tanks inside the wings.
Maximum external fuel - 600 US gallons in a centerline tank carried underneath the
fuselage.
Plus 370 US gallons in each of two tanks carried underneath the outer wing pylons.
Total fuel load – 3,334 US gallons (up to block 40) or 3,195 US gallons (block 41 and
beyond).

Armament:
1 X 20-mm M61A1 cannon with 639 rounds.
4 X AIM-7 Sparrow semi-active radar homing air-to-air missiles in semi-recessed
slots in the fuselage belly.
2 to 4 X AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red homing air-to-air missiles carried under the
wings on the inboard pylons.
A total offensive load of up to 16,000 pounds could be carried on the centerline and
four under-wing hard-points.

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