FlyPast 01.2018

8 FLYPAST January 2018

NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE

Phantoms on the move and on display

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom

XV582 ‘Black Mike’ has been

delivered by road to RAF Museum

Cosford, in preparation for the RAF

Cosford Air Show on June 10, 2018.

The airframe, now owned by GJD

Services, has been the subject of a

campaign by aviation enthusiasts

to restore it to exhibition standard.

David Butterfi eld, from the British

Phantom Aviation Group, said: “We

are extremely proud and honoured

to participate with ‘Black Mike’

at the airshow. Our hardworking

team of volunteers has shown

outstanding knowledge, skills and

aptitude to make the move from

Leuchars [in Scotland] happen. We

look forward to working with Cosford

over the coming months and we are

certain that the aircraft will be a

great attraction within the RAF

static display.”

Air Show Operations Manager

Peter Reoch said: “Phantoms played

a critical role in defending the

UK’s airspace during the Cold War.

Therefore, having an example of the

type was essential for the airshow’s

RAF100 exhibition. It will be the fi rst

of many aircraft transported by road

to Cosford over the coming months

specifi cally for display at the event.”

Another Phantom in the public eye

recently was FG.1 XV586, the star

attraction at a night photography

shoot at RNAS Yeovilton on

October 26. The event was

organised by Threshold Aero in

aid of the Fly Navy Heritage Trust.

The jet received its striking 892

NAS paint scheme in 2014, having

previously been a ‘gate guardian’

at Leuchars.

Finally, staff at the Castle Air

Museum in Atwater, California,

have recently added new

markings to the attraction’s

USAF Thunderbirds-schemed

McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom

66-0289. The jet now represents

‘Thunderbird 5’, as fl own with the

display team by local veteran Capt

Steve Dwelle.

http://www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom XV582 ‘Black Mike’ arriving at Cosford in October.

CROWN COPYRIGHT VIA RAFM

Castle Air Museum’s F-4E Phantom 66-0289 in its new markings. TONY SACKETOS

FG.1 XV586 on ‘night patrol’ at Yeovilton.

STEVE BUCKBY