Although I’m delighted that the famous Phantom “Black Mike” appears to have been saved from the scrap merchant and seems set to have a good home, I’m saddened to see that little (or no) interest appears to have been expressed in XT597, the former A&AEE chase and trials aircraft that was part of Boscombe’s museum collection until it departed for Old Sarum. Tragically, the aircraft has been dumped and now resides at Ben****ers, in the hands of Everett Aero. It still appears to be awaiting a buyer, slowly rusting out on the airfield. Unlike other British Phantoms, XT597 was a particularly significant machine, having performed many pre-service trials, and having been a part of the MoD(PE) test fleet for so long. It was of course the aircraft that was decorated in spectacular markings for the Phantom’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
It is sad to see that such an interesting aircraft has been abandoned, especially when there seems to be no interest in rescuing the aircraft from a rather sorry demise. I can’t help wondering why other Phantoms have found favour with preservationists while XT597 hasn’t. For example, the campaign to save “Black Mike” is good news, but of course that aircraft is no more than a standard RAF Phantom painted black. XT597 is rather more than that, and yet…
I hope somebody comes forward to offer XT597 a good home. It would be a great tragedy if it were to remain at Ben****ers until it is fit for nothing more than the scrap man. There’s a distinct worry that sooner or later the nose will be chopped-off and all that will remain of this machine will be just another cockpit section, while the rest is consigned to history.
Is there really not one collector or museum in this country that could take-on this magnificent machine?
By: TwinOtter23 - 20th January 2015 at 16:07
An interesting photograph Al – when you compare it to the one in post #20, it looks as though it has received some TLC in Suffolk! 🙂
By: Canopener Al - 20th January 2015 at 16:01
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As stored at Boscombe prior to disposal.
By: Canopener Al - 13th November 2014 at 18:05
On what basis is history judged to have ended in 1945? There are numerous jet aircraft displayed at sundry museums in the U.K. The fact that a U.K museum has not raided its precious funds to stump up for ‘597’ doesn’t mean there is no interest -it means its an quantum leap in price from the days when 5K would buy you something quite presentable from the Ministry .
5000 pounds is unlikely to buy you anything now, certainly not presentable.. The Harrier up on the DSA website will go for a lot more than that I would wager. Fact of life as far as the MoD are concerned, and that’s really the problem.
By: WH904 - 12th November 2014 at 18:34
I was referring to the lack of response to the thread (excluding those above who have commented).
By: David Burke - 11th November 2014 at 19:44
On what basis is history judged to have ended in 1945? There are numerous jet aircraft displayed at sundry museums in the U.K. The fact that a U.K museum has not raided its precious funds to stump up for ‘597’ doesn’t mean there is no interest -it means its an quantum leap in price from the days when 5K would buy you something quite presentable from the Ministry .
By: WH904 - 11th November 2014 at 18:48
The official response from Cosford was “we have no comment”…
Predictable I suppose.
I think that on the basis of how so few of us have even commented on this thread, there really isn’t much interest in the fate of poor ol’ 597. Isn’t it a pity that, as ever, history seems to be judged to have ended in 1945? 🙁
By: WH904 - 10th November 2014 at 18:17
I’ve emailed RAFM Cosford on this matter. I will pass-on any response (if there is one)!
By: WH904 - 10th November 2014 at 18:13
As mentioned above, Cosford is the logical home for XT597. Yes, it would duplicate the Hendon example but not quite. It is more than just a stock RAF Phantom and (more importantly) it is a significant test/research aircraft, therefore it fits perfectly with Cosford’s collection. I can see absolutely no justification for spending money on Luftwaffe wreckage when XT597 is sat in a Suffolk field.
By: Canopener Al - 10th November 2014 at 00:14
That’s why I heard they were asking how to strip it down, when they found out they had won, but as they are Irishmen they are resourceful. Safely is the big question mind. We will see how they get on.
By: David Burke - 9th November 2014 at 12:23
Whatever they need to do to get it done safely ! From memory I cannot recall many other people who have moved a Canberra PR.9 by road.
By: Airfixtwin - 8th November 2014 at 19:48
I saw the Boscombe Phantom about a week ago and on numerous occasions visiting the HAS building at Boscombe Down. Regardless of how weathered it is – it didn’t spend twenty five years outside at Boscombe.
As to the tender and private treaty system- most people view it as broken – regards UAS they were let down by a contractor and managed to move the Canberra PR9 from Kemble to Northern Ireland with help from friends – I would bet they can move a Phantom.
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Pallets galore then! 😉
By: David Burke - 8th November 2014 at 08:03
I saw the Boscombe Phantom about a week ago and on numerous occasions visiting the HAS building at Boscombe Down. Regardless of how weathered it is – it didn’t spend twenty five years outside at Boscombe.
As to the tender and private treaty system- most people view it as broken – regards UAS they were let down by a contractor and managed to move the Canberra PR9 from Kemble to Northern Ireland with help from friends – I would bet they can move a Phantom.
By: peppermint_jam - 8th November 2014 at 07:55
OT slightly, but it would make sense (to me at least!) if the two teams removing BM and the gate guard from Leuchars were to combine their efforts and work side by side at the same time. Helping each other out has got to be beneficial to both teams!
As for Everett, they’re in no rush to sell, look at all the jags they still hold, so the asking price chill probably remain the same for the foreseeable future.
By: Canopener Al - 7th November 2014 at 23:33
I want to see how the Black Mike project goes to move her (I know of two of the leaders involved and some of the volunteers that will help, I wish them the best of luck) and the ulster bid I have heard some of the questions they have asked about. I seriously hope they do not kill the All Tenders / Private treaty finally with their actions.. If you bid for it, make sure you can do it. Plan , provide , direct and control.. How true.. BTW David, the frame has years of weathering, a lot more that the time it has been at Bentwaters. And I saw it two days ago..
By: David Burke - 7th November 2014 at 21:15
Cosford is part of the RAFM – why would the RAFM really want another Phantom to duplicate the Hendon example?
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th November 2014 at 20:59
The only place for this jet is Cosford, fits in perfectly with the other test airframes.
It is a sad fact that if Cosford wanted a complete phantom they would have one, I find it stupid that THE western Cold War warplane only warrants a nose section in the much vaunted Cold War building!!
And I would love to see her in the test hangar but she is not british in too many people’s eyes and they would let her become sauce pans for that reason, I do agree that Cosford would be a good home but as they would have had the pick of the MOD phantoms they clearly did not want one?
Curlyboy
By: F4MPHIXER - 7th November 2014 at 20:30
The only place for this jet is Cosford, fits in perfectly with the other test airframes.
By: Junk Collector - 7th November 2014 at 19:49
I think it is the case, most museums would have other uses for large sums of money before buying aircraft, given most have a number of airframes already. Having belonged to a smaller group, maintenance and development of buildings and displays are a constant source of money raising, the bigger the museum the bigger the overheads, so the most likely buyers will be private buyers rather than UK museums. As said above not much point taking it on in good condition then leaving it outside, better to preserve what you have first.
By: TwinOtter23 - 7th November 2014 at 18:28
I’m not so sure that there would be …
…plenty of people who would be prepared to support NAM in acquiring the Phantom through some sort of fund raising campaign.
When I last checked the GoFundMe campaign for Black Mike, they were a third of the way towards their target. I respectfully suggest that the Black Mike target is less than that would be required to acquire and move XT597. I wish them well but my instinct suggests that there isn’t the appetite for another ‘Phantom Appeal’ at the present time.
I personally believe that NAM filled most of its ‘big jet targets’ with the Viggen and the Jaguar. Plus having just come back from a meeting with the architect regarding the planning application for the new Education Room / Café project, I believe that building has to be NAM’s main fund raising priority! 🙂
It’s also worth considering that even if someone waved a magic wand and purchased / moved XT597 to Newark it is highly likely that it would still be outside – because at the present time the undercover space at NAM seems to be operating on a minimum of a ‘one in, one out basis’!
By: WH904 - 6th November 2014 at 23:31
Canopener I don’t think anyone has ranted against Everett Aero, at least not as far as I can see.
TwinOtter – I would imagine that there would be plenty of people who would be prepared to support NAM in acquiring the Phantom through some sort of fund raising campaign. But to do that, I guess someone would have to establish NAM’s position.
As mentioned above, my worry is that XT597 seems to be regarded as “just another Phantom” and it seems to have been forgotten while other less-significant Phantoms recieve attention. It’s a very odd and very disturbing situation.
I can’t help returning to my earlier comment about Cosford. Surely, Cosford’s collection of test/research aircraft is the obvious place for this aircraft. Why the hell isn’t it in there? Or does the RAFM only have a fetish for spending money Luftwaffe wrecks these days?
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November 1, 2014 at 11:20 pm