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.

On Friday May 5, 2017 the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) 348th Tactical reconnaissance Squadron
was officially disbanded at Larissa AB. To mark the occasion RF-4E 7499 was given a special
paint scheme It had “The End Of The Film” in English printed on the starboard side of the
fuselage and Greek on the port side; the end of using film, giving way to digital. This aircraft was
former USAF 69-7499 , ex German 35+52 that had been the Aufklarungsgeschwader 52
"Black Panther” in 1994.

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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