McDonnell FH-1 Phantom

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1945 · fighter

The McDonnell FH-1 Phantom was the first jet aircraft to operate from a US Navy carrier, a pioneering straight-wing single-seat fighter that paved the way for McDonnell's long line of naval fighters.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	11.35 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

First US Navy jet to operate from a carrier
Twin Westinghouse turbojets buried in wing roots
Straight mid-wing with rounded wingtips

A compact straight-wing jet with two small oval inlets at the wing roots, a pointed nose, and a conventional tail; it lacks the later angled wings and area-ruled fuselage of its successors.

Specifications

The McDonnell FH-1 Phantom has a length of 11.35 m (37 ft).
It has a wingspan of 12.42 m (41 ft).
Its maximum speed is 771 km/h (479 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Ordered in 1943 and first flown in January 1945, the FH-1 entered service in 1947 with VF-17A, making the first US Navy carrier jet landings. Production was limited to 60 aircraft as the more capable Grumman F9F and other types followed quickly.

Variants

Only a single production variant, the FH-1, was built. The name 'Phantom' was later reused for the famous F4H/F-4 Phantom II, an entirely different aircraft.

Where you'll see it

Served briefly with US Navy and Marine Corps fighter squadrons from 1947 to around 1950 before being replaced by second-generation jets; too few were built for wide service.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.