Planetags McDonnell F4H-1F 143391

A piece of the Phantom’s earliest history

Own an authentic connection to the beginnings of the Phantom II with a McDonnell F4H-1F BuNo 143391 PlaneTag. Crafted from genuine material from this historic aircraft and individually numbered, each tag preserves part of the sixth production Phantom, an aircraft that helped prove the design was ready for carrier operations.

Before the F-4 became a familiar sight around the world, BuNo 143391 played a crucial role in its development. This collectable celebrates the aircraft that helped set the Phantom legend in motion.

Proving the Phantom at sea

Built as an F4H-1F, BuNo 143391 was among the first production Phantoms. Rather than joining an operational fleet squadron, it worked in the early development programme, allowing engineers and Navy pilots to assess its handling and suitability for aircraft carrier service.

On 15 February 1960, it became the first Phantom to successfully complete carrier suitability trials aboard USS Independence (CVA-62). During testing, it made 17 arrested landings and 18 catapult launches, demonstrating the performance and handling needed for life at sea.

From test aircraft to aviation landmark

Those successful trials helped pave the way for the Phantom’s entry into operational service. The F-4 Phantom II went on to become a defining military aircraft of the Cold War, serving with the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and allied nations. More than 5,000 were built over the following decades.

Later, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Jack G. Wilson acquired BuNo 143391 with the aim of restoring it. Further research confirmed its place in history as both an early production Phantom and the aircraft responsible for the type’s first successful carrier suitability trials. Although restoration ultimately proved impractical, its significance endured.

Today, authentic PlaneTags preserve material from this pioneering aircraft. Add one to your aviation collection as a tangible reminder of the testing that helped turn a new design into a worldwide success.

Aircraft characteristics

• Manufacturer: McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
• Model: F4H-1F Phantom II
• Serial number: BuNo 143391
• Crew: Two, comprising a pilot and radar intercept officer
• Mission: Carrier-based all-weather interception and carrier suitability testing
• Sensors: AN/APQ-50 Modified/APQ-72 radar and AN/AAA-4 infrared search-and-track system
• Wingspan: 38 ft 5 in
• Length: 56 ft 0 in
• Height: 16 ft 3 in

Aircraft performance

• Range: 2,300 miles with external fuel
• Maximum speed: 1,485 mph
• Ceiling: 62,000 ft
• Empty weight: 28,000 lb
• Maximum take-off weight: 54,600 lb
• Rate of climb: 28,000 ft/min
• Engines: Two General Electric J79-GE-2 afterburning turbojets