Hi,
I am trying to find out how many (and if possible which) Phantom FGR.2s were retrofitted with the slatted stabilizer usually only found on the ex RN FG.1s I have only seen one photo of an FGR.2 with the slatted stabilizer which was of XV420
Anyone know more any details or have anymore pictures?
Cheers,
Mike
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th September 2011 at 20:02
Identity
Mike- XV420 is seen here with 56 Squadron the code BT on the tail is for Barry Titchen the then OC 56 Squadron- i think they also had XV470 BD which was Barry Doggets aircraft the next WgCdr Oc 56 Squadron- My friend was talking of an OCU aircraft at Leuchars ( 64 reserve squadron) when he told me about the F4 “L” story Im guessing there was more than 1 so fitted- i’m just surprised that it was allowed as I’m guessing the approach speeds could have been reduced by a couple of Kts. Rgds SF
By: _Mike_ - 16th September 2011 at 19:30
Finally two months ago i was chatting to a friend who was a pilot on the OCU who told me about the little know Phantom F4 “L”. He assured me that when he was on 228 OCU they needed a new Stabilator for an aircraft and the only one available was off a scrapped FG1- so once fitted they dubbed it the F4″L” as it wasn’t a K and it wasn’t a M.
If I am correct 228 OCU had 64 Sqn as it’s shadow identity. However XV420 served with 6, 19, 23, 29, 54, 56 and 92 Squadrons.
So is XV420 this ‘F-4L’ or is a there another FGR.2 that had the tailplane changed over?
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th September 2011 at 17:24
F4 L !!!
Very strange how things happen!- three days ago i put the last words to a new book on the F4 by Haynes entitled F4 Phantom Haynes manual – all marks. In my research ( helped a lot by members of this forum i might add) i uncovered some fascinating info. First off it appears the choice of Spey engines was not quite what it seems – you’ll have to read the book- Then i found out more about XT852 at West Freugh- apparently they offered it to museums but no one wanted it!!!- amazing how after an aircraft is scrapped everyone says they tried to save it ( A1 Ltg!!). Finally two months ago i was chatting to a friend who was a pilot on the OCU who told me about the little know Phantom F4 “L”. He assured me that when he was on 228 OCU they needed a new Stabilator for an aircraft and the only one available was off a scrapped FG1- so once fitted they dubbed it the F4″L” as it wasn’t a K and it wasn’t a M. I didn’t put the story in the book as i had no photographic proof – and to be truthful i thought it unlikely the RAF would have fitted a slotted stabilator to a “M” without Boscombe down getting involved- Obviously i was wrong….
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September 15, 2011 at 9:42 pm