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McDonnell Douglas RF-4B Phantom II
By Marc "Devil Dog Of The Web" Iseli / Updated Dec. 2025
When McDonnell pitched their shiny new fleet defense fighter to the Navy, they tried to sneak in a recce version on the side, like tossing a can of Spam into your buddy’s seabag. The Navy brass shrugged and stuck with their beloved Attack/Fighters, probably because it looked cooler in the recruiting posters. Enter the Marine Corps, always ready to adopt the orphaned gear nobody else wanted. We ordered nine of these unarmed RF-4Bs to start, eventually hoarding 46 like they were cases of contraband beer. The nose got a Texas Instruments AN/APQ-99 radar (which sounded impressive at happy hour) and three camera bays, so we could snap grainy photos of Soviet trawlers and the occasional Laguna Beach hotties.

RF-4B Phantom Specifications
Length: 58' 3" 17.7 m
Height: 16' 3" 4.9 m
Wingspan: 38' 4" 11.6 m
Wingarea: 530.0 sq ft 49.2 sq m
Empty Weight: 27,897 lb 12,651 kg
Gross Weight: 43,907 lb 19,912 kg
Max Weight: 54,600 lb 24,761 kg

Propulsion
No. of Engines: 2
Powerplant: General Electric J79-GE-8 (A/B 17,000Lb/7,711Kg)
Thrust (each): 10,800 lb 4,943 kg

Performance
Range: 1,610 miles 2,592 km
Cruise Speed: 575 mph 925 km/h 500 kt
Max Speed: 1,485 mph 2,391 km/h 1,292 kt
Climb: 40,800 ft/min 12,435 m/min
Ceiling: 62,000 ft 18,897 m

Alright, you glorious Rat Phixers and Phlyers, if we ever survived a TAD, a Det, or a BOHICA, who haven't, and you didn’t think I was the biggest gaff off in the squadron. Got a sea story, or some grainy photos your ex didn’t set on fire, and they’re only slightly illegal? Send ‘em by email, snail mail, or safety wire it to a carrier pigeon. I collect ‘em all, just nothing that would incriminate me.
80svmfp3@gmail.com

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