Voodoo 70270

David, the Voodoo to which you refer was obtained as a source of spares to support the one acquired from Alconbury. Anyone who was closely involved in the move of these (as I was at the time) will know that this particular airframe had been very heavily utilised in its role of supporting BDRT.
Be under no illusion it was going to be scrapped and had already had the rear fuselage and wings removed with the aid of a bulldozer – I know because I saw it happen, it was only a last minute intervention which stopped its move to Molesworth and an agreement to move it to the Museum. It has never been classed as a ‘display’ airframe under the terms of a USAF loan and I can assure you everything of consequence, other than the ejector seats was removed before it was loaned to the fire service.
For interest I have included a couple of Photos just after it arrived at the museum to illustrate its condition, also a couple from Molesworth showing what would have happened to it ( and did to the third F101 in the country) one of these shows the remains of the tail of 70270.
Lets not forget the museum paid to move this at considerable cost, the decision to strip it and make use of the cockpit by loaning it to the airport fire service as an emergency trainer was not taken lightly.

F-4C-15-MC Phantom II 63-7414

The Phantom is built with a single main wingbox structure which goes from one wing fold to the other – the fuselage sits on top of this. Unfortunately on 63-7414 this is in three bits as the wings were cut off by the USAF parallel with either side of the fuselage…..
Further whilst in BDRT use an over enthusiastic trainer, in attempting to simulate cannon fire in the wings, used explosives which basically blew out the top and bottom wing skins on both sides and the middle spar, leaving holes some 3ft in diameter in both wings.
This means a MAJOR re-engineering job to put it back together safely so it could stand on its wheels again.
It was acquired at a time when it seemed to be the only Phantom the Museum would get a sniff at – a year later RAF Upper Heyford was closing and we managed to get the ‘Mig killer’ transported in one piece down the M40.
As far as the USAF Museum are concerned 63-7414 is now a ‘spares’ airframe although long term it may end up reduced to a cockpit section for display

I’m not sure the RAF Museum / Cosford have any clue that anyone wants to take photographs. One of my other reasons for going was to take some of the Sabre , which is inside hangar 1, unfortunately they have a cover draped over the cockpit canopy. 😡
Quite ironic that they take so much trouble over an aircraft which is indoors when they leave the Valiant without any protection whilst its outside. :rolleyes:

Cosford 9/4/06

I’ve posted more pictures on the ‘other’ thread relating to Cosford, however I will just post a picture of the notice attched to the fence around the 707 – it gives the impression the whole aircraft is going to East Fortune rather than the front fuselage :confused:

Seaking93, thanks for the update – my mistake, re-reading the post on MSF which was titled: ‘Sea Harriers to Shawbury updated’ it now become clearer he was refering to Yeovilton movments ! ie leaving, not Shawbury arrivals….
I thought ZD582 had developed faster than light travel for a moment.

Cheers

The Harrier GR3 used was XV760, which used to be on Yeovilton gate painted as a FRS1. When the FA2 was placed on the gate they took it away to BAe Dunsfold (I think) and grafted on the nose of XZ493 and this now sits in Yeovilton Museum so painted.
The original cockpit of XV760 also still exist with a collector in Surrey.

The picture of XJ481 was taken whilst it was at Southampton Docks as part of the Ocean Village complex development, this was on the site of the former Ocean liner terminal as previously posted. I have a similar shot but taken after it was entombed in wire fencing – all around it was building site !
It moved from there to Fleetlands (Gosport) with the museum before moving again to Yeovilton.