Phantom Development
Preliminary design of what was to become the Phantom began in the summer of 1953 as single-place, long-range, attack aircraft-designated F3H-G. Prior to 1953, McDonnell had produced more than 1,000 carrier-based jet aircraft -- the FH-1 Phantom (the Navy's first jet-powered, carrier-based aircraft), the F2H Banshee, and the F3H Demon. In 1953, however, the company lost a new carrier-based fighter competition.
Determined to continue to design and produce carrier-based aircraft, McDonnell prepared numerous studies and layouts of a full-scale mock-up of an aircraft which was believed to most nearly represent the Navy's desires. The company proceeded with this design, designated AH-1, while negotiating with the Navy in an attempt to prepare detail specifications.
There was no military requirement for such an airplane, but the Navy detailed the fleet air mission desired. The aircraft was to be deployed from a carrier, cruise out to a radius of 250 nautical miles, stay on combat air patrol and attack an intruder when required, and return to the carrier with a total deck cycle time of three hours. It was also to be armed with air-to-air missiles instead of guns.
McDonnell reconfigured the AH-1 design by removing the guns, changing the fire control system to be compatible with air-to-air missiles, and removing all external armament stations except one at the centerline for a large external fuel tank. At this time, Sparrow missiles were in the development phase, and the airplane was configured to carry four, semisubmerged in the bottom of the fuselage. This was the first such installation of missiles in a fighter. More powerful J79 engines were substituted for the earlier J65, with corresponding changes in the duct area. Other features would make the airplane the Navy's first Mach 2-plus carrier-based aircraft. During this period, the Navy was undecided on a single or double place aircraft, but McDonnell prepared configurations of both and the Navy selected the two-place version.
In August 1954, McDonnell submitted a formal development proposal to the Navy, and in October received a letter of intent for the fabrication of two prototype and one static test aircraft.
The configuration continued to change up to the signing of the detail specification in July 1955. By this time, the primary mission of the Phantom was all-weather fleet air defense, but the attack capability of the original design was retained, making the Phantom a logical choice for the U. S. Air Force Tactical Air Command later on.
Less than three years later, on 27 May 1958, the prototype, now designated the F4H-1, made its first flight from Lambert St. Louis International Airport.
In 1958, the McDonnell F4H-1 and the Chance-Vought F8U-3, a competing aircraft for the same mission, were flown by Navy Preliminary Evaluation pilots at Edwards AFB. Upon completion of this competition in December 1958, the Navy awarded McDonnell a limited production contract.
On 29 December 1960, the Phantom joined the fleet when Number 28 left St. Louis for delivery to squadron VF-121 at the Naval Air Station Miramar, California.
The Phantom was also qualified for land based operations, and within a few years several versions were procured for the U. S. Air Force. The latest USAF F-4E model is shown in the accompanying illustration.