Profile – F-4 Phantom II

In this two-part feature, Eric Allen traces the evolution of one of the most successful combat aircraft of this century.

The McDonnell Phantom II ranks amongst the elite group of “classic” fighter aircraft. Undoubtedly it has been the dominant fighting aircraft of the Western World for the past two decades and is assured of fulfilling an important role well into the 1990s. In terms of the total manufactured and the performance figures attained it has certainly deserved the superlatives bestowed upon it.

Before examining the Phantom itself, it is worth having a brief look at the history of the McDonnell organisation and its previous products.

James S. McDonnell, the founder and driving force, was born in Denver, Colorado in 1899. He obtained a Bachelor of Science (Physics) diploma from Princeton University, New Jersey in 1921 ·and after further study, his Diploma of Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from MIT in 1925. Over the next 14 years, he worked for several companies and was associated with the design of some notable aircraft. In 1933 he was appointed Chief Engineer for Landplanes with the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore, Maryland. He worked on numerous designs, the best known of which was the Baltimore bomber.

This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.

Login

Become a Member

To continue reading the rest of this article, please login.

Username or Email

Password Forgot password?

Keep me signed in on this device.

If you check this box before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

If you check the box above before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

---

or

---

Login with a Passkey

To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.

PRINT

$49.95 for 1 year Become a Member

See benefits

• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website

MOST POPULAR

PRINT + DIGITAL

$99.95 for 1 year Become a Member

$179.95 for 2 years Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

DIGITAL

$5.99 Monthly Become a Member

$59.95 Annual Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

View more offers and details