British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

[BPAG]

As the Christmas break will soon be upon us, the British Phantom Aviation Group would like to take a moment to send everyone our best wishes for the season. Thank you all for your support and enthusiasm during 2017. We will return in 2018, in what is shaping up to be a exciting and eventful year. Merry Christmas to all.

[BPAG]

XV582 'Black Mike' on 24/12/2017, as the engineering team finished work for the Xmas break. Wing and stabilator refit complete, tailcone re-attached. Oleos reinflated and the airframe is back on its undercarriage for the first time since the move from Leuchars. Next up is a good wash & polish.

[paddyboy]

Well done guys

She's looking awesome already

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[BPAG]

XV582 'Black Mike' all clean and back under cover, with a few pals for company.

[paddyboy]

Doesn't she look just jaw-dropping

Top work, peeps

Paddyboy

[BPAG]

Doesn't she look just jaw-dropping

Top work, peeps

Paddyboy

Many thanks Sir. All credit goes to the BPAG engineering team, the guys and gals from GJD Services and Steve Brown, Peter Reoch and all the crew at Cosford.

[MR TERRY GREEN]

All that hard work certainly paid off.Well done everybody.

[BPAG]

143 days to go...

[BPAG]

The BPAG polishing team and the fruit of their labours. Well worth the sore shoulders and aching elbows. Many thanks and well done to each and every single one of them.

[Covey]

She looks stunning! Well done and thanks to all involved for your hard work.

[paddyboy]

She is beautiful

Well done all of you

Paddyboy

[BPAG]

Lets have a short break from posts about 'Black Mike' and instead take a moment to appreciate an earlier BPAG project. Here's the cockpit section of XV490 at Newark Air Museum yesterday, still looking great despite 18 months at the mercy of the English weather.

[BPAG]

Attention photographers...



Full details here- https://www.threshold.aero/event/raf-cosford-nightshoot

[BPAG]

[eos]

XV582, Friday 6th July 1990 at Koksijde Belgium.
Koksijde EBFN 1990#1 by Edwin Huskens, on Flickr

[C24]

Well done

[BPAG]

The British Phantom Aviation Group is pleased to announce that we will be attending Newark Air Museum's RAF100 event on 1st April 2018. The cockpit section of XV490 will be open, Phantom merchandise will be available and a team from BPAG will be on hand to chat and answer your questions. More information on the link below or contact NAM direct on 01636 707170. Hope to see you there.

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/100th_Anniv_RAF

[BPAG]

30 years ago today, on 24th February 1988. XV582- in its pre-Black Mike guise with 43 (F) Squadron- took off from RAF Leuchars in the hands of pilot Wing Commander John Brady and navigator Squadron Leader Michael Pugh and set a new UK speed record for the run between John O' Groats and Lands End. Completing the 602.01 statute mile course in 46 minutes and 44 seconds, at an average speed of 772.91mph, the route included legs at Mach 0.95 over land and Mach 1.3 over the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel.


Wing Co John Brady and Sqn Ldr Mike Pugh attend a photocall with the aircraft on the eve of the event. Pic courtsey of Michael Pugh-Davies.



XV582 pictured in flight just after the run had been completed, en-route to AAR over Land's End. Pic courtesy of Michael Pugh-Davies.



Post-flight official photo call with flightcrew and ground crew members. L-R Sqn Ldr Mike Pugh-Davies, Stephen Cassidy, Barrie Munro, Mark Flitton, Jeff Mustard, Wing Co John Brady.



The Daily Express are among the press that reports on the achievement, the next day. Copy used courtesy of Scottish Daily Express/N&S Syndication.



The Royal Aero Club in accordance with Federation Aeronautique Internationale guidelines confirms a UK Air Speed Record of 772.91mph. Copy courtesy of Jeff Mustard.



In the wake of the run, the RAF issues first day covers to celebrate the new UK record, these quickly become collector’s items. The run enters the UK version of the Guinness Book of Records as the official new UK Air Speed Record.

[paddyboy]

Paddyboy

[The Phantom]

Is nice