Phantom XT905

[pg1610]

Now at Kemble awaiting restoration to display status I belive

McDonnell Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 RAF-74 Sqdn XT905 P by NTG842, on Flickr

[thevulcan]

XT597 has also now arrived at Kemble for restoration.

[Unknown74]

Remember seeing this Aircraft at Leuchars when it was with 228 OCU/ 64 Sqdn. But I can't remember wether it was one of the 2 with the blue tail?

[Davef68]

Remember seeing this Aircraft at Leuchars when it was with 228 OCU/ 64 Sqdn. But I can't remember wether it was one of the 2 with the blue tail?

XT900/CO was one, can't recall the other off the top of my head.

EDIT - a quick Google reveals XT895/CJ, but also mentions there were four blue tailed aircraft!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/markmcewan/32649687013

[iainpeden]

During the 1988 season XV428/CC carried a blue tail and additional fuselage striping as the display a/c. There's a photo of her in Robbie Shaw's book which suggests she had reverted to the basic grey scheme (inc. fin) just prior to the crash at Abingdon with the loss of the crew.
XV498/U also had a blue tail as the CO's a/c with 92.

EDIT:
If my memory is correct XV500 was painted up as XV498 with the Blue tail at St Athan after retirement (and eventual scrapping) - possibly a figment of my imagination.

[old_git]

Hope you don't mind, here are some snaps of XT900 at a very foggy Waddington Photo Call, sorry about the quality, its that damn film stuff.

Phantom GB 2 by Geoff, on Flickr

Phantom GB 3 by Geoff, on Flickr

Phantom GB 4 by Geoff, on Flickr

Phantom GB 6 by Geoff, on Flickr

Phantom GB 5 by Geoff, on Flickr

Phantom GB 1 by Geoff, on Flickr

[raptor9]

Wonderful. What a lovely brute that aeroplane was!!!. Years ago, used to fly a 17 year old who went on to fly them in the Falklands. Very jealous!!. Superb pics!.Particularly the last one. Lovely atmospheric shot.

[roughcutter]

Lovely shots of my favourite blue tailed Phantom, XT900/CO. I have carried a piece of her on my key ring for the last twenty odd years

[MR TERRY GREEN]

Lovely pictures of the Legend.

[F3]

I think that when 228 OCU/64 Sqn. stood down those of its jets with enough fatigue life left were passed onto 74 Sqn. in order to facilitate the retirement of their F-4Js, which was done with almost indecent haste. The two which were undergoing majors were carted off to the artillery ranges for use as targets. When the F-4Ms were due for retirement just a couple of yrs later a delegation from the HAF visited Wattisham to inspect them with a view to purchasing but decided there was nt sufficient commonality with their own fleet. Paradoxically the Js would have been a better proposition!

[Tanker Ray]

Back to XT905, here's a photo I took of her back in 2000 when newly assigned to the RAF North Luffenham EOD Flight, and ahead of her move to Bentwaters.
XT905A_edited-2 by Mark Young, on Flickr

Mark

[capercaillie]

Just a note on 228's blue tails, XV425/CD also had a blue tail here at Brize Norton 1990
Phantom FGR2 XV425/CD 228 OCU/64 Squadron RAF Leuchars by Paul Downes, on Flickr

XT900/CC as the 1990 display ship at Air Fete
Phantom FGR2 XT900/CO 228OCU/64 Squadron RAF Leuchars by Paul Downes, on Flickr

XT895/CJ at Abingdon show in 1990
Phantom FGR2 XT895/CJ 64 Squadron/228OCU RAF Leuchars by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Thankfully I'd just left Abingdon in 1988 just as the Phantom arrived for practice, so did not see the crash, although I did see the fire, so I cannot confirm whether XV428 still was wearing its display scheme.

Apologies for the qualities above, all scanned from print film and once again for the thread drift.

[paulk]

Hi.
When the Phantom crashed at Abingdon it had reverted back to the normal grey scheme. It only wore the scheme with the blue stripes for a very short period of time as official permission for the scheme had not been obtained. It had displayed at West Malling only a couple of weeks before Abingdon and was overall grey then as well. My abiding memory of that show was seeing its departure after the show performing the lowest flypast I have ever seen a Phantom perform. Below the glass on top of the tower over the grass!

John

[capercaillie]

Thanks for that.

[F3]

Knew the pilot, Chris Lackman who I'd met at a party, when he'd just come off Vulcans. However I had no idea he was the Phantom display pilot. The wife and I had gone to Abingdon the day of the crash and were actually driving towards the base from town while the practice was taking place so we actually saw the crash (or rather the resultant fireball above the buildings). Due to the subsequent cancellation of the display (and the F-4 was just one of several - the others being USN a/c incl a Viking which ran off the runway and ended up across an adjacent road) we went into Oxford the next day and I bought a copy of the local rag to read on the way home. When I read the name of the pilot I was deeply shocked and the wife asked me what was wrong as she saw my face turn white. Her brother - in - law, who was stationed there had the macabre task of being involved in a FOD plod to recover the body parts. He subsequently related a story of this which good taste prevents me repeating here. Lets just say that today those involved would almost certainly have been offered counselling!