Firstly, a bit about the Group. We are a volunteer organisation dedicated to preserving F-4 airframes in the UK. The group management is comprised of a collection of ex-F4 groundcrew, aircrew and aviation enthusiasts who are supported by a growing band of volunteers, many of whom are ex-services. The Group's first project was the restoration of the cockpit section of XV490, an ex-RAF Phantom FGR.2, which is now on public display at Newark Air Museum in Nottinghamshire, UK. On completion of the work in 2016, XV490 was awarded the Grand Champion Award at that year's Cockpit Fest, beating some stiff competition from a number of other restored cockpits. Together with XV490's owner, Mike Davey, the BPAG now regularly exhibit the cockpit at events around the UK, conducting tours and performing meet and greets with aircrew, some of whom operated XV490 in service.
XV490, at home at Newark Air Museum.
The Group's next project was more ambitious and turned out to have a much higher profile due, in part, to the RAF itself. XV582 (aka 'Black Mike') is an ex-RAF Phantom FG.1 with an illustrious past. It was the first Phantom in UK service to pass 5000 flying hours and was also the aircraft that set the Airspeed Record between the two furthest points in the UK (John 'O' Groats in Scotland and Land's End in Cornwall) in 1988. Also, while in service with 111 Squadron toward the end of it's career, it gained a striking all black paint scheme in tribute to the Squadron's display team (The Black Arrows) who had been the RAF's premier display team during the 1950's and 1960's. Retired to RAF Leuchars, Scotland, in the early 1990's, XV582 was a popular static display item at the annual airshow until these events came to an end in 2013. When RAF Leuchars itself was transferred to the Army in 2015, XV582 was one of three Phantoms offered for disposal. The aircraft was purchased by a private buyer and- starting in 2016- the BPAG began the process of stripping down and disassembling it in order to move to a new location. This was completed in October 2017 when, at the request of the Royal Air Force, the aircraft was transported to RAF Cosford, Shropshire, in order to take part in the RAF100 static display at the 2018 Cosford Airshow. The BPAG restored the aircraft to display standard and it proved to be a popular attraction once again and drew attention from national press and TV during it's year long tenure. XV582 went back into the care of its owner in October 2018 and is now on display at the South Wales Aircraft Museum.
XV582 'Black Mike' at the 2018 RAF Cosford Airshow.
The BPAG currently has two new projects, both of which are notable aircraft in their own right. Firstly, F-4J (UK) ZE360 is one of only two remaining examples of the UK specific version of the J model and is the only one still in RAF colours (the second UK F-4J is on display at the IWM Duxford in US Marine Corps markings). Restoration of this aircraft is a joint venture between the BPAG and the 74 Squadron Association, who are a veterans organisation comprised of former members of 74 (F) Sqn, as they were the only unit to operate the F-4J (UK) in service. ZE360 has been kept in open air storage since its retirement in 1991 and has suffered serious deterioration due to the ravages of the UK weather and its use as a training aid for a fire fighting school. Luckily the aircraft has not been subject to any actual burning (unlike other airframes at the same site) so although it is in poor condition, it certainly not beyond saving. However, the BPAG and 74SA are under no illusions that the preservation work will be anything but long, difficult and expensive. The first step in this process was taken in September 2019 when a group of volunteers washed and cleaned 25 years worth of accumulated dirt, moss, salt and fire foam residue from the airframe, made close up inspections of the underside, wing fold areas and undercarriage as well as partially disassembling the tailcone to assess the stabilator pivot mechanism. The final duty was an application of PX-32 preservative to all non-stainless outer surfaces (including underside where accessible) to protect against further damage from weather. Conclusions from the day’s work were that- as far as has been seen- corrosion of the airframe and parts has not been found to be any worse than expected. Some areas are visibly bad and will require extra attention and the worst affected will involve refabricating. However, nothing seen so far is terminal or should jeopardize moving the aircraft. Detailed inspections have also helped in clarifying potential course of actions for final disassembly.
Plans are in place to move the aircraft to a safer, more accessible location before the end of the year. So, to that end, the next steps will be the removal of tailcone and stabilator, first stage of removing outer wing sections, leading edges, BLC ducts and wiring, plus removal of centreline tank and replacement of wheels and this work will be scheduled in the forthcoming weeks.
Cleaning the exterior of the aircraft.
Original paintwork emerges from under the grime.
Disassembling the tailcone area.
Before.
After.
A fundraising campaign is ongoing to support the work on ZE360 and anyone who wishes to contribute is very welcome. The details are below-
Account Name – Tiger360
Sort Code – 30-96-26
Acct. Number – 53212368
IBAN- GB06 LOYD 3098 9771 9963 68
Alternatively, donations can be sent via the BPAG PayPal account- phantomerchandise@outlook.com (please note that there is only one 'm' in that address).
The second of our new projects is XT597, which is one of the three FG.1 prototypes built at the beginning of the UK Phantom program in the mid-1960's. XT597 never went into active service in the RAF or FAA, instead spending its whole career as a test and evaluation airframe, firstly in the USA, which included periods conducting deck trails onboard the USS Coral Sea, USS John F Kennedy and USS Alabama and in the UK as part of the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down. It was also the last British Phantom to fly, eventually retiring to the Boscombe Down Museum in January 1994. However, with the closure of the museum in 2012, the aircraft was put up for disposal and resided at a private airfield while awaiting a buyer. So, we are therefore delighted to report that XT597 has now been purchased by Mr Mark Abbott, a senior member of the BPAG management team. Mark has naturally appointed the BPAG to manage the aircraft on his behalf and as it is private property- not a BPAG group asset- all the costs of transport and restoration will be met by the owner. The BPAG will be providing the workforce and the facilities for the preservation work on XT597 to be carried out and in return the aircraft will, when ready, be on display as part of the BPAG collection.
XT597 at Everett Aero during 2019.
The long term aim for the BPAG is the establishment of a permanent indoor display facility and for a couple of years we have been in talks with a major landowner in the East Midlands of the UK, who just happens to own an airfield too. He is also a pilot and aviation enthusiast. The airfield itself, a former WW2 bomber base, has been partly developed for industrial use but some of the infrastructure, including hardstandings, taxiway and much of the runway are still extant. Plans are in place for further expansion of the entertainment and conference facilities already at this location and the owner is very keen to include an aviation presence on the site. This is a long-term vision that still has a long way to go but in the interim, while these plans are in development, we have been offered a former agricultural building of around 4500 square feet for use as both workshops and storage facility. There will be costs associated with developing this building for our uses and details of this will be forthcoming.
Many thanks to you all for reading this far, hopefully you have found the info and photos we have shared of interest and will agree with us that these projects are an exciting and significant contribution to the worldwide historic preservation effort. We will keep this thread updated as progress is made and if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to ask.
