F-4B / F-4C Phantom II
McDonnell Douglas · United States · first flew 1961 · fighter
The F-4B (Navy) and F-4C (Air Force) are the original production Phantom variants, gunless and with an infrared seeker under the nose, representing the first generation of the type in widespread service.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.76 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Smooth, tapering nose with infrared seeker blister visible beneath the radome tip — standard on B and C but deleted on the F-4E
- No gun installation — clean underbelly compared with the gun-muzzle of the F-4E; gun pod typically carried on centreline
- Unslotted straight leading-edge wing without the outer-panel slats of the later E model
Distinguished from the gun-equipped F-4E by the smooth underbelly with no gun muzzle and the IR seeker blister beneath the nose radome. The straight leading-edge wing without outer slats confirms an early-generation Phantom. Body proportions are slightly shorter than the E due to the shorter nose section.
Specifications
- The F-4B / F-4C Phantom II has a length of 17.76 m (58 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.7 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2370 km/h (1473 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The F-4B entered US Navy service in 1961 and the USAF's F-4C followed in 1963, both relying entirely on missiles for air-to-air combat. Vietnam experience exposed the danger of this approach, as Sidewinder and Sparrow missiles proved unreliable in close combat. The B and C remained in frontline service through the late 1960s before being supplemented by the D and E.
Variants
The F-4B was the baseline Navy variant; the F-4C was a minimally modified Air Force version using the same airframe. The improved F-4D added an optical sight and improved weapons systems. All lacked the internal gun that defined the later F-4E.
Where you'll see it
F-4B and C aircraft bore the brunt of early Vietnam air combat for the US Navy and Air Force. F-4C units operated from European bases in Germany including Ramstein and Bitburg, and occasional Cold War visitors to UK exercises. Several are preserved in US aviation museums.
Related aircraft
- McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II
- McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II
- Douglas EC-24A
- F-4 Phantom II
- Canadair CF-104D
- HAL HF-24 Marut
- Tu-128 Fiddler
- Tupolev Tu-128P
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