Phantom Photos

As long as you don’t exchange bits with the Iranians.

Which is precisely the reason those that are scrapped are scrapped completely with no bits being saved (Unlike when the bulk were withdrawn and scrapped, although I understand that some disquiet arose after parts were sold on by scrappys – a friend has a tail fin in his garage)

hat happened with XV586 moving down to yeovilton i know she was still dismantled at leuchars in july but the trail seems to have gone cold?

She was still at Leuchars in August.

Anon.

clinging on……. Just

http://gallery.aerophotos.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=15529

XV499 and XV586

Are yorkshire air museum still trying to get hold of XV499? and what happened with XV586 moving down to yeovilton i know she was still dismantled at leuchars in july but the trail seems to have gone cold?

I agree Anon but i think we should save as many British phantoms as possible as they are unique in their breed with the Spey engines and history.

At last count it is estimated that over 1500 phantoms (of 5195 made) still survive but only 168 British phantoms were built and not many survive and some of them are in varying conditions but as always you cant save them all.

curlyboy

Site link has more pics of her including the Harrier which is sadder

More here

http://www.urbexforums.co.uk/showthread.php/13284-R.A.F-North-Luffenham-Lincolnshire.-April-2011.

Phantoms

It’s turning into a bit of a sad thread, this one – mainly about dead or dying Phantoms. The number of UK Phantoms continues to diminish year by year and no one seems to be able to do a darned thing about it.

That pic of Robin Olds, what a hero he was. I’d had an idea that I may have been able to visit an F-4 Phantom II Society event in the US some time and meet him, or at least to have been in his hallowed company. The very epitome of a fighter pilot in both look and deed – and he flew one of the mistresses of my life; the Phantom.

Anyway, I’ve probably had a little too much wine in the company of some of my good friends today and am feeling a little sentimental. The sight of the N. Luffenham Phantom shows she isn’t improving with age. It’s not as if they do very much with these old birds and they are left to tease us in their dereliction of both condition and duty.

New Year’s round the corner so, my resolution for next year is to hold out that forlorn hope that it might be possible to save a whole British (or US, I don’t mind) Phantom. I think that perhaps I should have tried harder with XT852.:(

Anon.

Festering away, by site info, taken Aug 2011

http://www.urbexforums.co.uk/showthread.php/14571-RAF-Luffenham-08-11

Nice little Phantom vid…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyogtZp3kIk&feature=related

& this is one of the best Phantom photos EVER…

Here’s a pic of her dad….

On approach at Marham.

wonder what happened to the two German ones that were in the training school, they had test and delivery mileage on them only, under 100 hrs each if memory serves me right.

Ahhh Jever, one of my favourite detachments..

Here some live one’s, taken at Wittmundt last october.

Phantom x 2

A small contribution, XV408 at Fairford 2009 before transfer to Tangmere, no FAA F4K, but an alternative Navy pic, F4B? at Point Mugu NAS CA, with the Navy Air Weapons Test Centre Oct 1993.
Gerry R

As long as you don’t exchange bits with the Iranians.

F4 preservation.

What is the situation in the event of some person restoring a F4F cockpit section? No government approval, but a love of the bird?

Regarding the West Freugh Phantom; the Museum of Flight at East Fortune examined the idea of acquiring it for display when the curator wanted a Phantom, but the Marine Corps F-4S at Yeovilton was a more attractive option, being relatively complete (no engines) and in good condition for static display. The museum staff had to jump through hoops for the US DoD to get hold of the Marine aircraft. I remember seeing the document had reference to acquisition of the type by national collections only and that it was on permanent loan and if the museum intended in disposing of it the US DoD was to be notified.

Here’s the Marine F-4 during assembly:

Installed in the hangar after being washed and T-cutted by me and a volunteer. The local carpenter was building kick boards:

The fwd cockpit. There was a press release on the aircraft’s unveiling to the public and local press turned up for photo shoots. I sat in the cockpit with another stooge pointing out stuff to me. Front page of local papers…

Here’s a few Leuchars ones; Luftwaffe Rhino:

Black Mike:

Gate Guard before painting; one side in Tremblers and the other in 43:

The other side after painting:

Lastly, F-4 in the Southern hemisphere; the RAAF received 24 on loan until the arrival of their F-111s. This one in the RAAF Museum is an ex-USAF F-4E:

Contract for infrastructure defence support in Falklands, Gibraltar and Ascension

The CFE treaty is effectively dead and we do not now recognise it . As for Phantoms -there is no chance of saving another ‘J’ as the last suitable machine is now in the burn area at Manston.

With these Phantoms we need a realisation that they corrode at a terrible rate -the grey Phantom at Boscombe must be the next to die . I predict that they will continue to be scrapped as they become surplus.

852 et al

It’s not the MoD that are the real problem, Salad Fingers, it’s the US and the overall Western Power’s scheme to reduce the numbers of combat aircraft in line with the CFE treaty (I’m sure Alertken will be able to give us a much more erudite explanation, if he is able).

It’s a very blunt instrument and whilst, as far as I am aware, all the targets for combat aircraft reduction were met the treaty is still in force and the Phantom takes the hit.

I don’t know whether, when the actual lists of aircraft to be destroyed/permanently disabled, were drawn up, the aircraft were individually “named” so that, as they became surplus or due for disposal they had, having been nominated on the list, to be destroyed.

The Woodvale Phantom was destroyed around ten years ago, Seafuryfan. Again, polite requests even for (small) parts was turned down. I recall getting a phone call on the morning of its removal that work was under way. by the time I got to Woodvale about 2 hours later the thing had gone. I collected a carrier bag full of all that remained of the jet which lay around on the plinth where it had been.

I have some photos somewhere of the scrapping given to me by a local photographer. I’ll dig them out and post them some time.

Yes, RAFM deserve a great deal of credit for bending the rules but there’s only so much even they can do. It’s extremely frustrating and bitterly disappointing when good and historic airframes appear to be needlessly destroyed – even when the terms of any treaty have been carried out and the aircraft very obviously decommissioned.

By the way, the Alcock and Brown Phantom nose at Cosford is not from the original Phantom aircraft that carried out the Atlantic flight.

Anon.

RAFM credit

To give the RAFM credit- they do have an excellent F4 on display- XV424 which is an historic airframe having been the Alcock and Brown(e) aircraft. Its well displayed and in authentic colours- as it was the day it was withdrawn. They also have a Gulf War Bucc on display. I do think they should charge for entry to generate more funds but thats my opinion. Ive not visited Cosford but i know they have an ex RN FG1 nose on display which seems odd. Also RAF Coninngsby have XT891 on display the first RAF proper FGR2 so thats a good choice. If i had a wish list i think cosford should have an FGR2 in the air to ground/recce role as an example of how the RAF originally used the F4. But they should also have an F4J in RAF mms not just the one at Duxford. I think 2012 should be the year they try and save the F4 at Leeming!- Happy new year

Its all too late now 852 has been shredded and probably turned into pans by now. Sadly it looks like the F4 world will shrink further in 2012 with the MPA aircraft due for the chop- At least the RAFM aircraft is kept in excellent condition and very accessible to the public. someone should tell the MOD the cold war is over and the chances of an RAF F4 flying again are remote

I have wondered why the ultimate western cold war fighter is not kept as a complete example at The cold war building at Cosford that has a nose section and that is it!!

Some people say the RAFM do not want anymore phantoms but i say they need at least one (and a complete Buccaneer as well) F4 and since there is some gate guards still about it is not all bad news although the Falklands one might be a bridge too far?

curlyboy