Remaining FGR2 airframe life

The F4 fleet certainly had a fair amount of life left in it. .

Speaking to Phantom aircrew at Wattisham in 1992, they were quite bullish about their aircraft. They were in better than ever condition, having only recently had the gunpod slaved to the radar and also a HOTAS enhancement to the cockpit.

Now that would really have been the UK’s ultimate jet warbird. I can hear the Vulcan boys noaning now at that comment 😀

Wonder if the CAA would have allowed it to happen though?

While Mark Hanna was alive, in the early 1990s the Phantom project was certainly being pursued, as was a civilian Hunter four-ship display team. We were actively discussing the project with sponsors.

In addition to funding 😮 The big issue with the CAA on the Phantom was its use of afterburners for takeoff. While ‘complex’ aircraft can be certified with the right support as the Vulcan project has proved, this remains I understand the biggest stumbling block for the civilian certification of this type of aeroplane.

Apparently someone at CAA Towers is frightened we’d all start melting their runways!!:diablo:

Didn’t thrust SSC have a pair of the uprated Speys that were part of the LEP for Phantom?

Now that would really have been the UK’s ultimate jet warbird. I can hear the Vulcan boys noaning now at that comment 😀

Wonder if the CAA would have allowed it to happen though?

I suspect that might have been a major part of the problem.

Now that would really have been the UK’s ultimate jet warbird. I can hear the Vulcan boys noaning now at that comment 😀

Wonder if the CAA would have allowed it to happen though?

I know that the Old Flying Machine Company own or did own a UK Phantom. Was that purchased with the intention to fly on the civil register or was it just to have an aircraft that Mark had flown?

The intention was to fly it, but I seem to recall that the costs and paperwork proved too much.

I know that the Old Flying Machine Company own or did own a UK Phantom. Was that purchased with the intention to fly on the civil register or was it just to have an aircraft that Mark had flown?

phantom windscreen

The F4 fleet certainly had a fair amount of life left in it. Not long before the fleet was drawn down, there were plans well in advance to equip the remaining aircraft with a one piece windscreen and various other upgrades to make the aircraft good for a further decade or so. But the ill-advised and short sighted “peace dividend” effect made it seem that the RAF could manage without.

I did have a picture of an FGR.2 modified with onepiece screen, not sure where that went to, might still have it somewhere.

shame there are none flying over here, thank goodness for the collings foundation huh.

At the time, the estimated life span for 56/74/19/92 was until the Typhoon came onboard. Assuming the Typhoon would have been a little earlier had the Cold War continued, this would have been around 2002/3 ish

The F4 fleet certainly had a fair amount of life left in it. Not long before the fleet was drawn down, there were plans well in advance to equip the remaining aircraft with a one piece windscreen and various other upgrades to make the aircraft good for a further decade or so. But the ill-advised and short sighted “peace dividend” effect made it seem that the RAF could manage without.

I recently found out that a majority of the RAF Phantom fleet had their wing spars replaced between 1989 and 1990.

Considering the fleet were retired early two years later how many years life did they have left?

At the time, the estimated life span for 56/74/19/92 was until the Typhoon came onboard. Assuming the Typhoon would have been a little earlier had the Cold War continued, this would have been around 2002/3 ish