Specification of the F-4E Phantom: Engines: Two General Electric J79-GE-17 turbojets, 11,870 lb.s.t dry, 17,900 lb.s.t. with afterburner.

Performance: Maximum speed 1430 mph at 36,000 feet (Mach 2.21), 914 mph at sea level (Mach 1.19). Cruising speed 585 mph. Landing speed 158 mph. Initial climb rate 61,400 feet per minute. Service ceiling 62,250 feet. Combat ceiling 59,600 feet. Combat range 595 miles, maximum range 1885 miles with maximum external fuel.

Weights: 29,535 pounds empty 40,562 pounds gross 38,019 pounds combat weight 61,651 pounds maximum takeoff weight.

Dimensions: Wingspan 38 feet 5 inches Wing area 530 square feet Length 63 feet 0 inches Height 16 feet 6 inches.

Fuel: Maximum internal fuel in the fuselage tanks was 1364 US gallons (up to block 40) or 1225 US gallons (block 41 and beyond). An additional 630 gallons of fuel could be carried in internal tanks inside the wings.

Maximum external fuel load was 600 US gallons in a centerline tank that could be carried underneath the fuselage plus 370 US gallons in each of two tanks that could be carried underneath the outer underwing pylons, bringing total fuel load to 3334 US gallons (up to block 40) or 3195 US gallons (block 41 and beyond).

Armament: Armament consisted of a single 20-mm M61A1 cannon with 639 rounds in an undernose gondola, plus four AIM-7 Sparrow semi-active radar homing air-to-air missiles in semi-recessed slots in the fuselage belly and two to four AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red homing air-to-air missiles carried under the wings on the inboard pylons. A total offensive load of up to 16,000 pounds could be carried on the centerline and four underwing hardpoints.

MCDONNELL DOUGLAS F-4E PHANTOM II:

wingspan 11.77 meters - 38 feet 8 inches wing area 49.24 sq_meters - 530 sq_feet length 19.2 meters - 63 feet height 5.02 meters - 16 feet 6 inches

empty weight 13,760 kilograms - 30,330 pounds loaded weight 28,030 kilograms - 61,795 pounds

max speed at altitude 2,415 KPH - 1,500 MPH / 1,305 KT service ceiling 16,580 meters - 54,400 feet combat radius 1,265 kilometers - 785 MI / 680 NMI

The F-4E was enhanced during and after its production. One of the particular limitations of the Phantom was that it had been designed basically as an interceptor and strike aircraft, not a dogfighter, and maneuverability had suffered as a result. The lack of maneuverability proved troublesome in combat, particularly since under certain aggressive flight conditions, the F-4 could go into a spin that generally required immediate ejection if the aircraft was below 3,000 meters (10,000 feet). This unpleasant behavior came as something of a nasty shock, since flying the Phantom under peacetime conditions was very straightforward, one pilot calling it "idiot-proof", and it had an admirable flight safety record.

In response to the maneuverability problems, a program named "Agile Eagle" was initiated, in which the Phantom was fitted with various experimental aerodynamic modifications. The solution in the end was to fit the wing with leading-edge slats, which extended automatically when the aircraft's AOA exceeded six degrees, and retracted when the AOA went back to four degrees. Installation of the slats required removal of the BLC system.

The leading-edge slats were introduced into F-4Es beginning in mid-1972 and were retrofitted to older aircraft. Beginning the next year, 1973, F-4Es went through a structural strengthening program after an F-4E was lost due to a wing structural failure.

The Northrop "Target Identification System Electro-Optical (TISEO)" camera system was also introduced in late F-4E production and retrofitted to older aircraft. TISEO involved a steerable, stabilized telescopic camera mounted on the left wing, and was used primarily to inspect targets before engaging them. TISEO imagery was displayed on the WSO's radarscope. The camera could be slaved to the AN/APQ-120 radar, and apparently there was an upgrade that allowed it to be linked to the navigation system to target flight checkpoints as well. Of course, it was a daylight / clear-weather only system. Most export F-4Es were not fitted with TISEO.