Why British pilots loved the F-4 Phantom

In 1958, McDonald Aircraft Corporation delivered a prototype, twin engine, supersonic, all-weather, long range fighter - a design the US Navy could not ignore. The F-4 Phantom was designed for a new age of warfare. Rather than nimble aerial dogfighting, the F-4 would use advances in radar and missile technology to engage enemy aircraft from beyond visual range. It would go on to become the most produced American jet fighter in history and a cold war icon. It would also later end up in British service.

Please note - at 2.33 mins into the video, the presenter references an F-86 Super Sabre. The footage shows an F-100 Super Sabre.

At 1:58 there is a brief shot of an F15 cockpit.

Watch another video in this series, on the Hawker Hunter aircraft, here:

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Explore and license the film clips used in this video from IWM Film:

This video contains photos courtesy of the following individuals and organisations:

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German Federal Archive

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This video also contains archive material from the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD). The appearance of U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

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[rudyyarbrough]

It's funny to hear a story from a British pilot about burning the paint off of an F-4 because the same thing happened to me on my Mach II indoctrination run. I was a 2nd Lieutenant in the USMC and joined an F-4B squadron. McDonnell was awarding Mach II pins to the pilots who broke Mach II in the F-4. I went up to about 30, 000 feet and started a slight descent in full afterburner. I watched the airspeed indicator as it climbed toward Mach II. Going through Mach I was not even noticeable and the speed climbed at a pretty good rate. I got to Mach 1.9 and the needle stopped. I pushed the nose over a little more but it would not budge. I was still in afterburner so the fuel burn rate was tremendous and I had to start thinking about getting home. I pulled the power back to cruise and landed disappointed that I had not reached Mach II. The crew chief came over to me as I deplanned and said come look at this. He showed me where all of the paint had burned off of the access door panels and the radome was also blackened. He found out that the air data computer had failed and that is why the speed would not go any higher. They figured that I had probably gone over Mach 2.3 or higher! I got my pin after all! I love that brute of a plane and she always got me home.

[hughjass]

I don't know how anyone could think it was ugly. I think it's one of the most badass looking combat aircraft ever.

[dondouglass]

Great video. I hung out the back of a Herc refueling aircraft while a Phantom was refueled over the Falklands in 1986. I was 24 and shall never forget that experience and the Phantom pilot waving at me as I took a photo.... Memories are made of this... 😊

[jefreagan]

My old man flew the F-4E in South East Asia in 1968-1969. I was just a nipper, but I couldn’t have been more proud.
In my life, I have built dozens of F-4E models. The profile, the paint, the beastly brute power of that craft is magnificent.
At Williams AFB, my dad took me to the Air Mobile shack on the runway, and when 2 Phantoms took off at after burner, I thought my chest would shake apart.
One of a kind.

[terryboyer]

I heard the son of British F-4 back seater relate a story of when as a child he attended a squadron family party. Pilots often talk disparagingly of back seaters saying they take up space and add weight they rather have as fuel. This particular pilot however took him aside and said back seaters can be very useful. "If I crash in the jungle or desert I can eat him". Love British humor!

[peterwhitaker]

i went to an airshow at the old Liverpool airport (now a Marriot Hotel) in late 1970's. A phantom of R.A.F. came in across the river Mersey at such speed and noise with it's wingtips tilted up and it's rear stabilizer wings turned downwards almost counter balancing it. never have i forgotten that aircraft and love to see anything about it today, if anyone says it is ugly, , , , beauty is in the eye of the beholder, i love it to bits

[russellbateman]

I'm nearly 70. I grew up with the dream of flying the F-4 one day. I built models of them as an adolescent. Fortunately, the Paris Treaty was signed in my senior year of high school, but, unfortunately, the need for so many pilots also dried up. Ultimately, I pursued a life very different from the one I had dreamed of. Today, however, there is still no aircraft more beautiful (and yes, badass) to my eyes than an F-4 Phantom II.

[rebreaville]

I was lucky to get 1000 hours in F-4E and F-4G Wild Weasel jets. I flew into 1995 at Nellis. In exercises with F-15, F-16 jets, we could stay alive and even get kills but it took a lot of perfect execution. Loved the jet, loved the men I flew with in the 422 TES. Can’t say enough about the maintainers who kept our jets flying.

[sennen]

Excellent and well-presented video from Emily here. As an ex Phantom (Spey) engine man, I appreciate it. Much better than the hyperbolic and inaccurate output of other YT channels (I'm looking at you, Dark Skies).

[chrisnizer]

The F-4 was proof of the old adage that with a big enough engine anything will fly. Always loved the iconic F-4 Phantom II. Thanks for showing it some love!

[rael]

Myself and my partner were the last Crew Chiefs to work on the B-52D in the background. My name would be in the maintenance log book if they still have it. The pilot who flew it there in 1983 (I think) was a highly experienced Vietnam war Veteran and a great guy. He has since passed away. There is a video of the plane arriving in Duxford with a short interview of Colonel Nerger.

[jwingate]

As a Crew Chief of some 40 years ago, it was a blast to be part of such history. I used to look at them in the still of hanger maintenance and its profile was very graceful but deadly. Long live the phantom!!!

[jamesalias]

My first assignment in the US Air Force was to Spangdahelm Germany which had F-4E and F-4G's at the time. The pilots that flew in Nam, especially the wild weasel one's were crazy. One day while working in the office with the widows open on the 2nd floor, I see this F-4 streaking towards the building below the 2nd floor, as he pulls up over the building the roar of the jet engines blew all the papers in the office all over the place.

[nicholasklangos]

Good video! I crewed F4E&G for my first 8 years of service, it was a hard aircraft to work and demanded blood, sweat and tears every day and night, but once I knew her I was her master and my jet did things and flew like crazy! I even got a ride in my F4E 740663 before moving to tankers. I went Mach 2.3 and pulled 7.5 +Gs and 4 negative went inverted an did a bunch of barrel rolls and all kinds of tricks over the Mohave Desert it was a kick in the ass!! Have great pictures!! What a jet!!

[festrikeeagle-fr]

British pilots love F4, American pilots love F4, Turkish pilots love F4, everyone loves F4!

[utbs]

I had a cousin who flew the F-8 Crusader and then the F-4. He flew the F-8 for 2 years and loved that plane but he really loved the Phantom. He talked about it a lot.
He skippered an F-4 fighter squadron during Vietnam and retired a captain.
You could touch the afterburner on a Phantom and the smoke trail would cease.

[danielearley]

I remember watching an interview with Capt Eric 'Winkle' Brown about the F4, he was of the opinion that if the Royal Navy had kept the Phantom's, the Argentinian fighter jets would never had made it even halfway to the Falkland islands in 1982. They looked incredible futuristic at the time and even now, still don't look to much out of place 60 years later.

[blindarcher]

Grew up on a Phantom base in Europe 70-90s; nothing like that Phantom roar of freedom. Scout leader was a simulator operator, while other scouts were learning to shoot bows we were shooting AIMs

[corysadler]

The F-4 was by far the loudest of the many jet aircraft that flew in the Hill AFB air show I went to a few years back. Its engines roared a deep growl that shook the earth.

[robertnelson]

Thanks for the look back I was a Mech in the USMC and worked on them until my last year in when they went to F18. Awesome bird to see and work on.