McDonnell Phantom FG.1 / FGR.2
McDonnell Douglas / BAC · United Kingdom · first flew 1966 · fighter
The British Phantom variants replaced the J79 engine with the Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan, producing a distinctly fatter fuselage and different intake geometry unique to UK aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Fatter mid-fuselage cross-section compared with J79-powered USAF Phantoms |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Wider, squarer engine intakes to accommodate the larger-diameter Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans
- Fatter mid-fuselage cross-section compared with J79-powered USAF Phantoms
- British avionics spine hump and later AN/AWG-11/12 radar distinct from US variants
Tell the British Phantom from its American siblings by the wider, more rectangular intake ducts needed for the Spey and the resulting thicker mid-fuselage. At distance the planform is identical to other Phantoms, but side-on the fatter waist is unmistakable.
Specifications
- The McDonnell Phantom FG.1 / FGR.2 has a length of 17.55 m (58 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.7 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2230 km/h (1386 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The UK ordered Phantoms in the mid-1960s to equip the Royal Navy (FG.1) and RAF (FGR.2), specifying Rolls-Royce Spey engines for maximum thrust. The Spey required wider engine bays and revised intakes, giving British Phantoms a noticeably stouter appearance. The first British Phantom flew in June 1966 and both marks entered service by 1969.
Variants
The FG.1 was a Royal Navy fleet-defence interceptor; the RAF's FGR.2 covered ground attack, reconnaissance and, later, air defence following the naval Phantom's withdrawal. Both shared the widened Spey installation; the FGR.2 retained a ventral reconnaissance pack provision.
Where you'll see it
RAF Phantoms served at Coningsby, Wattisham and Leuchars on QRA duties until retirement in 1992, intercepting Soviet aircraft over the North Sea throughout the Cold War. Fleet Air Arm FG.1s flew from HMS Ark Royal. Preserved examples are held at the RAF Museum Cosford and Imperial War Museum Duxford.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.