A few more pics for the lovers of Mr Mac’s super machine. These are all ex Navy F-4Ks which came to the RAF after the Government decided that carriers were far too expensive, and all aircraft with wings that did’nt rotate should come to the Air Force.
The F-4K was decidedly different to the RAF’s F-4M. It had an extending noseleg to increase the angle of attack for catapult take offs, a rapid reheat system, so that if you missed the arrestor wire you had enough thrust to get airborne again on a “Bolter” and NO internal battery. The last was a real pain for us groundcrew. Even a simple thing like checking the fuel contents required getting hold of external 28V DC power. This in the RAF meant a bloody big diesel Houchin which had to be dragged to the aircraft. No Fun!! The first shot is XV574 of 111 Sqn, Leuchars, taken at Kinloss in 1987. Note the black fin and spine. The next two shots were taken at Waddington in 1988 at the Tactical Fighter Meet. XV570 of 111 Sqn, with a less ornate colour scheme, and XV590 of 43 Sqn with a similar, not very inspiring scheme.
KeithMac
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By: Merlin3945 - 16th December 2002 at 21:36
RE: Photo’s Phor Phantom Phans
Thanks for that pic again Ken.
You just stirred my memory of a great day had by all. Just a pity I ran out of film before I had finished taking photos.
Merlin
By: geedee - 16th December 2002 at 17:56
RE: Photo’s Phor Phantom Phans
Seems to be the poor old Phantoms lot nowadays, picture props. This is our resident bird at RAF Akrotiri taken last year at the family day. Likewise the paint is getting a bit faded and tatty but she’s outside getting frazzled throughout the year.
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By: ken_murray - 16th December 2002 at 16:08
RE: Photo’s Phor Phantom Phans
here is a shot of Black Mike taken at the 2002 Battle of Britain air show at Leuchars in September (I posted this before)
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By: f4phixeruk - 14th December 2002 at 14:33
RE: Photo’s Phor Phantom Phans
Black Mike is still at Leuchars and is dragged out every Air show so that little Johnny or Jemima can have their photo taken in the front seat. At this years show I noticed that the paint is beginning to show signs of ageing. It would be nice if next year they used an F3 for the photo’s and put the Lighning, Phantom, and a F3 together in a static display.
By: Dazza - 13th December 2002 at 23:24
RE: Photo’s Phor Phantom Phans
Great pics Keith, keep em comin, Sparky, 111 Squadron’s all black bird was XV582 ‘BM’, also known as ‘Black Mike’, as Arthur mentioned it was painted up to mark the retirement of 111 Squadron’s FG.1s.
Regards, Dazza.
By: Arthur - 13th December 2002 at 21:05
RE: Photo’s Phor Phantom Phans
Yeah, it was their retirement-bird. IIRC it flew a nice pharewell-tour along all RAF Phantom and former-Phantom bases in 1989.
By: sparky - 13th December 2002 at 20:34
RE: Photo’s Phor Phantom Phans
Did 111 sqdn have an all black scheme on one of their Phantoms at one time?
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December 13, 2002 at 6:53 pm