One of the most famous and easily recognized fighter aircraft of the post-WWII era was the
McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. This aircraft was developed as a private venture by the aircraft
company but was soon ordered by the USN as a carrier-based attack aircraft. Its first flight took
place on May 27, 1958 and it entered active service in December 1960. It wasn’t long after the
F-4B appeared that a fly-off was set up with USAF front-line fighters. It was no contest, the F-4
performed so well that the USAF ordered their own variant, the F-4C. As time went on, the F-4
evolved into well over a dozen variants.

VF-84 “Jolly Rogers” received the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II in 1964. In 1970 concerns about
the F-4B’s condition eventually led to 228 being converted to F-4Ns. These aircraft were
completely stripped, refurbished and upgraded. The first F-4N flew on June 4, 1972 with F-4B
150415 being the 95th aircraft to be converted. In 1975 VF-84’s last cruise with the F-4N was in
the Mediterranean on board the USS F. D. Roosevelt. F-4N 150415 was one of 78 F-4Ns
converted to QF-4N drones. VF-84 converted to the F/A-18 Hornet in 1976.

F-4N Upgrades Applied To F-4B
Structurally Upgraded
Complete New Wiring
New Electrical System
F-4J Slotted Stabilator
Inboard Leading-Edge Flaps Locked Shut
New Counter-Measures Equipment
Long Antenna Fairings On Upper Air Intake

Specification of the F-4B Phantom II
Number of “B” variant built for USN and USMC - 649
Engines – 2 x General Electric J79-GE-8A/-8B/-8C turbojets, 10,900 lb.s.t. dry, 17,000 lb.s.t.
with afterburner
Performance
Maximum speed
@ Sea level - 845 mph
@ 48,000 ft - 1,485 mph
Initial climb rate - 28,000 fpm
Service ceiling - 62,000 ft
Combat ceiling - 56,850 ft.
Combat range
Normal - 400 miles
Maximum range – 2,300 miles with maximum fuel load
Weights
Empty - 28,000 pounds
Gross - 44,600 pounds
Combat - 38,500 pounds
Maximum take-off - 54,600 pounds
Dimensions
Wingspan - 38 ft 5 in
Wing area - 530 sq. ft
Length - 58 ft 3.75 in
Height - 16 ft 3 in
Fuel
Maximum fuel load
Internal in fuselage – 1,358 U.S. Gallons
Internal in wings – 630 U.S. Gallons
Total external fuel load – 1,988 U.S. Gallons
Maximum external fuel load
In center-line tank under the fuselage - 600 U.S. Gallons
In 2 x under-wing tanks - 740 U.S. Gallons
Combined fuel load – 3,328 U.S. Gallons
Armament
4 x AIM-7D or -7E Sparrow semi-active radar homing missiles in under-fuselage recesses
Inner under-wing pylons could each accommodate an additional Sparrow or a pair of AIM-9
Sidewinder infrared homing missiles
In ground attack mode, could carry up to 16,000 pounds of ordnance on centerline pylon
underneath the fuselage and on four under-wing hard-points

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