One for F-4 Phantom Phans – Mini Phantom Phest at The Newark 2016 Cockpit Fest

To simplify matters I’ll just reproduce the Press Release for the occasion. Anyone who flew or fixed XV490, or was just involved with, or fans of, the Phantom will be most welcome, too:

British F-4 Phantom cockpit project takes a step back to the Cold War.

Back in 1982, at the height of the Cold War, a Royal Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom FGR2, serial number XV490, was stationed close to the East German border ready to defend the West against the Russians should they have decided to invade Western Europe.
92 Squadron was based at RAF Wildenrath, and XV490 would have been sat at readiness, waiting for its crews to scramble on a war footing at a moment’s notice. At other times it was training the pilots and navigators in practice interceptions or carrying out “mud-moving” – or ground attack – sorties. To this end, it wore grey and green camouflage to prevent enemy gunners or attacking bombers from seeing it clearly against the forests and fields of West Germany.

Today, more than a third of a century later, the cockpit of this aircraft resides at the Newark Air Museum in Nottinghamshire. Its camouflage colours have long gone, replaced by a Barley grey colour scheme. On return to the UK at the end of the Cold War, all UK Phantoms were painted grey to carry out their new role in the high-level Air Defence of Great Britain. Based at RAF Wattisham, XV490 eventually ended its days, in 1992 on the scrap dump, though by then wearing the colours of the RAF’s 74(F) “Tiger” Squadron.

Earlier this year, the owner of the cockpit section, Mike Davey, decided to return the cockpit to one of its earlier camouflage schemes and was looking for a suitable squadron to represent with its markings. A photograph of XV490 from the early 1980’s was located which met all the criteria – full camouflage, colourful squadron markings and some that the aircraft had actually worn. Additionally, it also had a rectangular black panel painted on the side of the fuselage upon which were stencilled the names of its crew – Fg Off Tony Wheeler and Flt Lt Dave Gledhill.

By coincidence, (now Wing Commander) Dave Gledhill has been involved with the cockpit project for several years, having used quite a few pictures of it in his books. He gave his approval for the aircraft go back into its earlier scheme with his name on the side, it then only remained as to whether XV490’s pilot at that time, Tony Wheeler, could be located. It turned out that Tony (now also a Wing Commander) was returning from a posting to the US and he also approved the colour scheme, and his name, being re-applied to the aircraft.

It is hoped that the refurbishment and re-paint, currently well under way, will be completed in time for the Newark Air Museum’s annual Cockpit Fest event on 18/19 June. Also, we are pleased to be able to report that both Wing Commanders Wheeler and Gledhill will be present to unveil the project to the assembled visitors on the Saturday. Sportingly, they have also agreed to wear original 1980’s flight gear for the occasion and will be posing for a photo-shoot, 34 years after they last flew XV490 in what was then West Germany, on a training intercept sortie.

Remarkably, both crewmen have still got their original 92 Squadron flight suit patches and these will be proudly worn on the day to add a final touch of authenticity to the proceedings. Additionally, there will be a display of UK F-4 Phantom parts and memorabilia alongside the cockpit and current and ex-RAF crews – air or ground – who either flew or worked on the jet will be very welcome to this unique re-enactment. Their stories and anecdotes will be warmly received and quite possibly recorded for a forthcoming book about the project.

There will also be a display and information table about a Phantom FG.1, XV582 “Black Mike”, which currently resides at Leuchars, Scotland. It is intended that this notable aircraft be relocated to Bruntingthorpe Airfield in the near future. Considerable monetary and logistical challenges need to be overcome but for those who are interested in the current status of this project members of the Black Mike Group will be on hand to answer questions. It is hoped that one of the crew of the aircraft from a record breaking flight undertaken in this aircraft will be in attendance as well.

Michael Davey. 0771 249 7650

May 2016

Anon.