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British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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tc2324
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by tc2324 » Sun Aug 11, 2019 9:44 pm

Absolutely no chance of them getting airborne I`m afraid, although getting various systems to run is always an option.

We need to investigate once restoration has begun.
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by Vulcanone » Sun Aug 11, 2019 9:56 pm

Even if the CAA said yes. There is that small issue of the country that built it saying definitely no.

And it took an act in Congress to get the Collings Foundation F-4D flying.

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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by tc2324 » Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:17 pm

Hi all,

The team would like to pass on our thanks to those of you who have donated so far, it really will make a difference in helping to save the last British Phantom J(UK).
We have of course received a lot of likes, good lucks and great jobs from various forum and Facebook page members. We are always appreciative of well wishes as it means that, by all accounts, the support for our endeavour is there.

However, as you can see from the photos below and the amount of work required, it`s donations that are going to help us achieve our aims. As per my plea in the previous post, if you can spare the cost of a coffee/pint/McDonalds Big Mac, (delete as applicable), and donate it to this worthwhile aviation project, it would mean so much more than a like or good luck or a best wishes.

Imagehttps://flic.kr/p/2gZXceV

Imagehttps://flic.kr/p/2gZXcdc

Imagehttps://flic.kr/p/2gZXccv

Imagehttps://flic.kr/p/2gZXcaw


The funds raised so far stand at approx £2400 which means we are at present approx £3600 short of out minimum £6k target for the transportation costs. Why a £6k minimum target you ask? Well, here`s a basic breakdown of the costs exclusive of VAT...,

Two days of crane hire = £1900
Two days of Low Loader Hire = £1500
Two days of Rigid Truck hire = £1300
Timber Wing Transport Frames = £250
Bolts = £50
Approx 30 strong pallets = £TBD

So yes, the challenge and expense if huge and that just to get her to safety before the real hard work begins.

Donation account details
Account Name – Tiger360
Sort Code – 30-96-26
Acct. Number – 53212368

You can also donate via BPAG`s PayPal account at......

phantomerchandise@outlook.com

I`ve also added some more ZE360 information on the ZE360 Restoration page, link as follows....,

http://74sqdn.tk/ze360-restoration-page/


In other BPAG Phantom news, I`ve also been sent the following photo`s of 597 taken at the end of last week.

ImageDSCF5326

ImageDSCF5327

ImageDSCF5328


Thanks for looking and more soon. (Don`t forget considering donating either)
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:31 pm

Good afternoon everyone.

Apologies for being slightly late to our own party and many thanks to our associate tc2324 for keeping you informed of developments while we have been busy elsewhere. This will be a long post, so apologies in advance but we have a lot to get through.

It has been a while since we have spoken to you all, and the honest reason for this is that following the events of last November, the BPAG went into a long period of assessment in which we examined our aims, ambitions and motivations for both ourselves as individual human beings and as a group. The loss of ‘Black Mike’ was devastating, particularly for some of the group management who are ex-111 Squadron and have strong emotional ties to the aircraft. However, two important results have come from this situation.

Firstly, that XV582 is safe, under cover and on display to the public. Although, unfortunately, it can no longer be central to our future plans, we are proud of the achievement of rescuing the aircraft and the work that went into moving it to Cosford and preparing it for display. The amount of effort and resources that the group put into the project are already well documented and we are happy that the BPAG will forever be associated with the story of ‘Black Mike’ as a matter of historical fact.

Secondly, we have come through our period of doubt much wiser, with our resolve strengthened and our enthusiasm for preservation efforts undiminished. We would like to thank all our followers and friends as well as colleagues within the restoration movement for the support and encouragement they have given us during this difficult time. This really has given us the will to move ahead. So, speaking of which…

The Tiger 360 Project.
As outlined in the posts above, we have begun the preservation effort of ZE360 and we are fortunate to have the support of the 74(F) 'Tiger' Squadron Association on this project. The 74SA was formed in 1992 to support former members of 74 (F) Squadron and to maintain the spirit of fellowship, goodwill and charity that the squadron was noted for during its time in frontline service. The Association also organises the official squadron reunions and is presided over by Air Marshall Cliff Spink, with Air Vice Marshall Boz Robinson and Group Captain Dick Northcote as Vice President and Chairman respectively.

ZE360 is an ex-74 Squadron aircraft, which escaped the scrapman and was retired to RAF Manston in February 1991. This airframe is one of only two remaining complete examples of the UK F-4J (the other one being on display at Duxford in its previous US Navy markings) and when the planned restoration is finished it will be the only complete F-4J (UK) on display in RAF colours anywhere in the world as well as being a great tribute to the brave men and women of 74 (F) Squadron. A very worthy goal we feel, and one that the members of 74SA, with their experience and knowledge of the type in service, will play a crucial part in achieving.

However, as you can see from the images already shared, the aircraft has suffered greatly during its years of outdoor storage. Its role as a spare parts source and the coastal location have not helped either. Therefore, the BPAG are under no illusion at all that this will be a long, difficult and costly restoration but it is a challenge we are willing to meet.

The airframe has already been purchased from the MOD and is now owned by the BPAG (with the help of a considerable donation from 74SA). We completed two visual surveys prior to applying for the aircraft and can now, as the owners, make our first, more intrusive examination which will take place in the coming weeks. This will give us our first indication of the condition of the internal structure and will identify any particular fragilities that will need special attention during the process of moving the aircraft to a new location (more on that below).

XT597- The Boscombe Raspberry Ripple.
One of the frequent comments we receive on social media is along the lines of “You guys should save 597, its just sitting at Everetts doing nothing, rotting away. It’s disgraceful etc etc…”. We usually reply by saying that we fully agree that such a historic airframe, that played an important and vital part in the UK Phantom story, is deserving of preservation. What we couldn’t say until now was that we already had a chap on board, waiting in the wings with cash in hand, who was ready to buy XT597 as soon as the time was right. It has been incredibly frustrating keeping tight lipped about this for nearly two years.

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.
This aircraft will also be making the move to a new location soon (again, more on that below).

A New Home & BPAG HQ.
Something else that has been ongoing for a couple of years are talks with a major landowner in the East Midlands, 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 is, however, a complication. This building is currently located around three miles from the airfield site and will have to be dismantled, moved and erected again- at our expense- before it can be used. The hardstanding for the building foundation is already in place and we will be charged a peppercorn ground rent for a minimum period of five years.

This is a very generous offer and is a bright potential future for the BPAG and our projects. The major stumbling block will be, of course, the costs of moving a whole building, which would be prohibitive if it were not for an ace up our sleeve- Mr Mark Abbott (the aforementioned owner of XT597) is also the owner of a large construction firm based in the North of England. This will give us access to expertise, skills and resources at favourable rates. Mark has already assessed the site and the building and has put the cost of the relocation at around £35,000.

If we can raise this amount, the next goal would be to welcome visitors to the site, where the aircraft and the restoration work can be seen. We have many former F-4 air crew and ground crew among our volunteers and we can envisage meet and greet events, talks, photo opportunities and many other chances for people to get up close and personal with the legendary Phantom and the people and personalities around them. We should add that the long-term aim, of both ourselves and the owner of the site, is to have a much larger building capable of displaying many more aircraft and artifacts. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves for now.

We are, at the moment, unfortunately in a position where we cannot reveal the exact location until strictly necessary. Although frustrating, this is the owner’s prerogative and is tied in with ongoing planning strategies for development of the whole site. However, plans and paperwork for the new workshop building are in order. All we need is the funding.

Costs & Fundraising.
The estimated total required to fulfil the plans detailed above is around £41,000. This is a large sum of money and a big hill to climb but it is really just a series of smaller steps. We also admit that there will be much scepticism about our plans and some doubt that we can realise them. Also, understandably, some potential contributors may wish to wait until full details of the new site are made public before committing. We will therefore be undertaking the fundraising in phases that will allow everyone to see that progress is being made in planned steps and the goals of each phase have been reached and this will go some way to potentially encourage investment in the next phase.

Therefore, Phase One will be the estimated costs incurred in moving ZE360 from Manston to the new location. Both ZE360 and XT597 will be kept in open air storage on hardstanding while fundraising for Phase Two is ongoing. Obviously, engineering work can be undertaken outside (weather permitting) and neither aircraft will be any worse off than where they are now (although theoretically, ZE360 may benefit slightly from being away from the corrosive effects of the coastal air). As is common knowledge, many restoration projects are carried out from open storage, so this is fairly standard procedure.

So, a summary of the basic costs for Phase One is as follows (all prices ex-VAT)-
Two days of crane hire = £1900
Two days of Low Loader Hire = £1500
Two days of Rigid Truck hire = £1300
Timber Wing Transport Frames = £250
Bolts = £50
Approx 30 strong pallets = £TBD

This means that moving ZE360 to safety will cost around £6000. The Tiger 360 fund, after only four weeks of fundraising, currently stands at £2810 which is 47% of the Phase One target. Many thanks to those of you who have contributed already, it is very much appreciated and has given a strong start to the Tiger 360 Campaign. As mentioned above, the owner of XT597 will be funding the costs for that aircraft privately.

As an aside, there have also been investigations made regarding obtaining XT905, the final F-4 airframe currently for sale and an estimated previous total of £50,000 which included potentially securing this aircraft too, was quoted on social media. Although this is not entirely out of the picture, due to the immediate demands of the ZE360 and XT597 projects this now very much on the back burner and the total has been adjusted downwards to the amount mentioned above.

Questions.
Earlier on in this thread, someone asked why there are two bank accounts? The answer to this is simple. We know (because they told us) that some supporters only wish to contribute to the effort to restore ZE360. Therefore, we opened an account that is intended to fund the ZE360 project only. You can donate to this using the following details-

Account Name – Tiger360
Sort Code – 30-96-26
Acct. Number – 53212368

If, however, you wish to donate to the general BPAG account, which funds all the Group’s activities, you can contribute here-

Account name- British Phantom Aviation Group
Sort Code- 60-83-01
Acct Number- 20349518

And that, in a nutshell, is why there are two bank accounts. However, if you prefer the convenience of PayPal you can contribute through the BPAG merchandise address, which is phantomerchandise@outlook.com If you wish your payment to go exclusively to ZE360, then include a note to that effect with the payment and it will be routed to the Tiger 360 account. Lastly, if you would prefer a little more for your money, you can purchase any of our merchandise from the BPAG online store. All merchandising profits go to fund BPAG activities and projects. You can find the store here- http://www.phantomerchandise.co.uk

The next question related to what would happen if we do not raise the amounts needed? Well, as previously mentioned, XT597 is being privately funded, so that does not apply. ZE360 is 47% toward its Phase One target and with the help of people like yourselves we are confident that this will be fulfilled soon. Therefore, we will be at a stage in the plan where both aircraft will be safe, at a more useful and accessible location (albeit stored outside) and we will be able to fundraise further. As anyone in the preservation world will tell you- nothing is certain. You can only take a plan one step at a time and it takes a certain amount of bravery to continue with an outcome unguaranteed, but dozens of groups do it. Uncertainty and constant hand to mouth funding arrangements are the norm. In that respect we are no different to any of the other preservation efforts going on around the country. Where we are different from some is that, in the short term, we have a chance of some permanence and in the longer term- as outlined above- there is a larger vision, one where there may be hope to other groups who may be struggling with locations and circumstance. That may be a long way down the road, but it has been talked about by people who have more power and influence than we have and can make things like that happen. But to get there, we must start here, where we are today, with the support of people like you.

Next, and obviously with past events in mind, someone asked about security in relation to donated monies. Both the Tiger 360 and BPAG accounts are now protected with double signatory requirements. Expenditure is approved by the BPAG management and requires the authority of the two nominated signatories. No other BPAG members have access to the group account. The situation that arose in the past was a deliberate action by a single person who managed to gain sole access to group funds. It is impossible that this can happen again.

Finally, a couple of persons have enquired about the members of the BPAG management team- who they are and what their qualifications may be. The management committee includes-

Paul Wright (Chairman)
After joining the RAF in 1980, Paul Wright went straight into three years apprentice training as an Airframes and Engines Technician. He was posted to Phantoms in 1983 firstly with 228 OCU and latterly with 111, where he first worked on 'Black Mike', which was the last Phantom to fly with the squadron. He can also count experience on Hawk and Tornado types among his qualifications. After leaving the service, he worked for Short (on Tucanos), followed by a few years in general aviation and then a lengthy period as an independent contractor on "…anything from airliners to oil rigs to power stations, ships and trains. Whatever needed fixing...". Now resident in Leicestershire, he has been the BPAG Technical Director since 2016 and Chairman since 2018.

Tony Clay (Secretary)
Raised on the East London/Essex border, Tony’s lifetime interest in military aviation was sparked by photos of 74 Sqn Lightnings taking off from RAF Tengah and a rather impressive high-speed, low-level display by an F-4 at Duxford Airshow in the mid-1970’s. He subsequently joined the Air Cadets in the 1980’s and it was an air-to-air experience with two F-4J(UK)s that really started a fascination with the famous 74 Squadron and the Phantom itself. After many years as a uniformed member of air cadet staff, he left the organization in 2000 and joined the 74(F) ‘Tiger’ Squadron Association, becoming webmaster in 2015. Tony also took on the role of liaison between DESA, the 74 SA and the BPAG during the ZE360 procurement process in 2019 before later also becoming both BPAG Secretary and ZE360 Project Manager.

John Bell
John Bell is the BPAG Lead Airframes Tech. He undertook a three-year Airframes and Propulsion apprenticeship after joining the RAF in 1983 and was posted to 111 Squadron on Phantoms, where he was one of the last technicians to work on 'Black Mike' before converting to the Tornado. After leaving the RAF, John was involved with the technology side of the graphics industry, firstly as a Field Service Engineer, then Production Supervisor and finally spent three years as a Development Engineer. His current position is Lead Production Engineer for furniture manufacturing company Herman Miller. He is feted among the BPAG for spending his whole holiday entitlement for two consecutive years working on 'Black Mike'.

Mike Davey
Liverpool native Mike Davey is a well-known aviation enthusiast and restorer who has amassed an enviable collection of airframes, parts and memorabilia. At various times throughout his working life he has been a qualified heating engineer, plumber, college lecturer and commercial pilot but his connection with Phantoms goes back to a fascination with an F-4B model kit when he was 10 years old. He is the current owner of three Phantom cockpit sections, including XV490 which was restored with help from the BPAG. It naturally followed that Mike should become involved with the group and he is now a vital member of the team. Obviously a man with long term goals, Mike admits that his various Phantom related projects will keep him busy for the next 10-15 years.

Caroline Paige
Caroline joined the RAF in 1980, after gaining her Private Pilot’s Licence whilst an Air Cadet. She flew two tours on F4 Phantoms as a navigator on 111 (F) Sqn, intercepting 34 Soviet aircraft from QRA scrambles and completed three tours of Air Defence in the Falkland Islands. After a Tactical Weapons Unit role at RAF Chivenor, she volunteered for battlefield helicopters, initially on Wessex HC2. She then helped establish the Rotary Wing Operational Evaluation and Training Unit, becoming a tactics instructor and platform protection specialist. She helped introduce the EH101 Merlin HC Mk3 into service and completed ten tours with Merlin in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Caroline retired from the RAF in Nov 2014 and now teaches tactics to European military helicopter crews. She is also an inspirational speaker and author of True Colours: her autobiography on becoming (in 1999) the first openly transgender officer in the British Armed Forces.

Mark Abbott
Mark's introduction to the Phantom began aged 6 years old. His father was a Senior Aircraftman at RAF Bruggen during the 1970s and the family later added postings to Coningsby and Wildenrath to their travels. Despite being spellbound by the noise and charisma of the F-4, surprisingly this never lead to a career in the Air Force. None the less, the Phantom was always a presence in his childhood and is still an enduring passion to this day. Mark is the proud owner of XT597 (the 'Raspberry Ripple' Phantom FG-1) which is being managed and restored by the BPAG. He is also playing a fundamental part in the planning and development of the new workshop facility.


We are also very often advised, aided and abetted by former F-4 Navigator and successful author and journalist Dave Gledhill. Obviously a very busy man, we are still waiting for Dave to submit his biog…we also have a growing volunteer force of engineers and enthusiasts without whom our activities would be considerably more difficult. Many are ex-services and have valuable knowledge and experience of the F-4 and we are indebted to them for taking the time and effort to share this wisdom with us. We are always interested in hearing from anyone else who would like to be involved, however, and would like to invite potential volunteers to get in touch at bpagvolunteers@gmail.com and tell us a little bit about yourself.

So, in conclusion, we hope that this somewhat lengthy explanation of where we are at and what our intentions are has proved helpful. Something we have learned from dealing with the MOD and the business/commerce world is that nothing happens quickly. We would also love to share ideas and plans with you as they develop but sometimes for reasons of privacy, business confidentiality or the requirements of a bigger picture this is not always possible until an appropriate time. For this we apologise and hope you understand the reasons why. We will, of course, be as transparent as we can at all times. The plans outlined above have been in the pipeline and under discussion for quite a while and now we find ourselves finally at a point where they will become attainable- with the right amount of support. We would kindly ask that you consider donating toward what has the potential to be an exciting future.

Both ourselves and tc2324 (aka 74 Squadron Association admin/ZE360 Project Manager/BPAG Secretary Tony Clay) will be keeping this thread updated and if anyone has any further questions, please feel free to ask.

Many thanks to you all.
Last edited by BPAG on Wed Nov 24, 2021 1:32 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Mon Sep 02, 2019 8:19 am

BPAG Chairman Paul Wright conducts a walkaround of Tangmere's FGR2. We think 21.30 is our favourite part.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTT2np3-cbY
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by iainpeden » Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:34 am

That's cruel.
A mate of mine who used to be a Phantom techie has numerous scars from walking into sharp bits or skinning his knuckles on hard to reach bolts.

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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by tc2324 » Wed Sep 04, 2019 6:36 pm

Hi all,

The Restoration page on 74`s Association website is progressing well with new information being added. We now have a more photo`s of ZE360 when serving with both the US and UK forces. We also have a few flight logs posted from ex `J` aircrew and a basic blog has been updated supplying you with some key dates of what happened when.
Don`t forget we are still fundraising to relocate ZE360 to her new home and you will find details on how to donate on the restorations header page.
I will always be interested to hear from anyone out there that can add to the restoration page so please do feel free to contact me.

http://74sqdn.tk/ze360-restoration-page/
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Mon Sep 09, 2019 7:41 am

Image

Please support the Tiger 360 Campaign. Phase One requires £6000 to move the aircraft to a safer, more accessible location. We are currently making very good progress toward that total, so many thanks to everyone who has contributed so far.

Donations can be made by bank transfer-
Account Name – Tiger360
Sort Code – 30-96-26
Acct. Number – 53212368

Or via PayPal to phantomerchandise@outlook.com (please note only a single 'm' in that address)

The Tiger 360 Campaign is a joint venture by the British Phantom Aviation Group and the 74 Squadron Association.
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by tc2324 » Tue Sep 10, 2019 7:06 pm

As most of you may know the F-4J`s that were assigned to 74 Sqn were ex US Navy or Marine machines with most having taken part in op`s over Vietnam.

While it is uncertain at this time whether ZE360 was one of those Vietnam vet`s, I did come across the following shots of her while serving with the VF-103 `Sluggers` aboard the USS Saratoga in 1976.

She bares the last 4 digits of her US BuNo 5574.


Image

Image
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Mon Sep 16, 2019 12:24 pm

The latest issue of Aeroplane Monthly contains a report of both the XT597 and ZE360 acquisitions. In the shops now.

Image
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Thu Sep 19, 2019 9:28 am

TIGER 360 UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 2019.

The British Phantom Aviation Group and 74 Sqn Association are pleased to announce that the Phase One funding target has been reached. Our thanks go out to everyone who has donated, purchased merchandise or otherwise contributed to the Tiger 360 Campaign. The success of this first part of the funding drive means that the costs of recovering ZE360 and transporting it to a new safe and accessible location have been met. The date of this operation has yet to be decided and will very much depend on the pace of progress with disassembly and the method of separating the fuselage/wing sections. We do, however, hope to have the moving process complete before the end of the year. Once again, thank you to all our contributors, you have collectively ensured that there is a future for ZE360.

Also, on 17th September 2019, a team of volunteers from the British Phantom Aviation Group and the 74 Squadron Association began the preservation work on ZE360 at Manston, Kent. Although, prior to the purchase, two visual inspections had been made, this was the first opportunity to actually get hands on the aircraft and would hopefully offer some early indications of the true state of the bodywork and structure.

Image

Before any of this could begin, however, the whole aircraft was cleaned, scrubbed and rinsed to remove as much fire foam residue, moss, dirt and salt deposits as possible. This revealed much of the original paintwork, some of which was still in good condition, but also uncovered some further corrosion of small areas of the paneling and fasteners, all of which was noted and logged for future attention.

Image

Image

Image

Inspections were also carried out of the underside, wing fold areas and undercarriage. Partial disassembly of the tailcone allowed access to stabilator pivot mechanism, which appears to be in good order. Upper panels unfortunately proved not to be removable at this time which prevented wider inspection.

Image

Image

Image

Final lengthy duty of the day was an application of PX-32 preservative to all non-stainless outer surfaces (including underside where accessible) to protect against further damage from weather.

Image

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 we have 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.

Image

Next set of goals will involve-
Removal of tailcone and Stabilator.
First stage of removing outer wing sections, leading edges, BLC ducts and wiring.
Removal of centreline tank.
Replace wheels.

This work will be scheduled in the forthcoming weeks. Many thanks to our members and volunteers- Nigel Hodgson, Adrian Vines, Clive Bindt, Tony Clay and Paul Wright for giving up their free time to further the preservation effort. Thanks also go to DFTDC at Manston for tolerating a crew of civilians on their premises.
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Fri Sep 20, 2019 9:49 pm

Image

The British Phantom Aviation Group is proud to announce that XV490 will be appearing at Jet Fest 2019 at North Weald Airfield on 28th & 29th September.

Following last year's successful inaugural event, JetFest 2019 promises to be bigger and better. Attractions include a large number of vintage jets on display, both static and flying, open cockpit opportunities as well as a chance to meet and greet with pilots and groundcrews. Aero Legends will also be conducting Spitfire flying all weekend, plus there will be opportunities to fly in Harvards and Tiger Moths

The BPAG will be ready to show you around XV490 and exclusive Phantom merchandise will be available. Come and see us and catch some of the F-4 magic for yourselves. Hope to see you there!
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:53 am

The full line up for JetFest'19 (now incorporating VintageFest, ChipFest & BullFest!) has been released. JetFest'19 takes place this coming weekend at North Weald. XV490 will be onsite and open for cockpit visits and the BPAG merch stall will also be in attendance.

Line up is as follows-

JetFest:
Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin (G-BYCT) S&F
Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin (G-DLFN) S&F
Aerobility PA28-161 (G-BSYY)) S
Aerobility Tecnam P2002 JF S
Aerospatiele Gazelle (G-CBSI) S
Aerospatiele Gazelle (G-CBSK) S
Aerospatiele Gazelle (G-ZZLE) S
BAC Omani Strikemaster MK82A (G-SOAF) S Flying TBC
BAC Saudi Strikemaster MK80A (G-RSAF) S Flying TBC
Bell UH-1 Huey (G-HUEY) S&F
Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B XW550 (Cockpit Section) S
Folland Gnat T1 XR537 (G-NATY) S
Folland Gnat T1 XR992 (G-MOUR) S&F
Folland Gnat T1 XS104 (G-FRCE) S
Folland Gnat Tmk1 XR538 (G-RORI) S&F
HAAF Westland Scout AH1 – XT626 (G-CIBW) S - Saturday Only
Hawker Hunter T.8.C (WV322) S
HPH 304S Shark (G-CLSH) S
Hunting Jet Provost MK3 (G-BKOU) S&F
Hunting Jet Provost T.4 XR673 (G-BXLO) S (F-TBC)
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk3A (G-BWOT) S&F
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk3A XM424 (G-BWDS) S (F-TBC)
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk3A XM479 (G-BVEZ) S (F-TBC)
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk5A (G-BWGF) S (F-TBC)
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk5B (G-BWSG) S (F-TBC)
Hunting Jet Provost T52 (XS228 or G-PROV) S (F-TBC)
Hunting Jet Provost T5P XS230 (G-VIVM) S (F-TBC)
Indian Air Force Folland Gnat F.1 E296 (G-SLYR) S&T
LIM 5 (Mig 17F.Fresco) S
McDonnell Douglas Phantom Cockpit section (XV490) S
Royal Air Force Puma HC2 (tail number TBC)S - Saturday Only

VintageFest:
Beagle Auster Terrier 2 (G-ASCH) S
Beagle B121 Series 2 'Pup' (G-AVLN) S
Beagle B121 Series 2 'Pup' (G-AZFA) S
Beech 18 (G-BKGL) S
Boeing Stearman A75N1 (G-BTFG) S (TBC)
Boeing Stearman N2S-3 Kaydet‘07539 - 143’(N63590) S
C47 Dakota 'Drag Em Oot' (N473DC) S
Cessna BirdDog (G-JDOG) S
Civilian Coupe G-ABNT S
Consolidated PBY Catalina (G-PBYA) S Flying TBC
De Havilland Dragonfly G-AEDU S
De Havilland Hornet Moth G-AHBL S
De Havilland Tiger Moth DH82 (G-PWBE) S&F
De Havilland Tiger Moth DH82 G-ANFM) S
De Havilland Tiger Moth DH82 K4259 (G-AMNO) S&F
De Havilland Tiger Moth DH82a (G-AOZH) S&F
Douglas C54 Skymaster S
Douglas DC3 Dakota KP220 (G-ANAF) S&F
Miles Falcon G-AEEG S
North American T6 Mk.IIb Harvard FT391 (G-AZBN) S&F
North American T6G Harvard 49-3209 (G-DDMV) S&F
Percival Prentice (VR259) S&F
Piper Cub (G-BBLH) S
Piper Cub (G-BILI)S
Piper Cub (G-BOXJ) S
Piper Cub (G-BROR) S
Slepcev Storch (G-BZOB) S (Friday and Saturday only)
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX TD314 (G-CGYJ) S&F
Supermarine Spitfire MkIXT NH341 S&F
Taylorcraft Auster AOP.9.0 WZ706 or (G-BURR) S (F-TBC)
Taylorcraft Auster J1N(G-AHCL) S
Thruxton Jackaroo (G-AOIR) S&F
Yakovlev Yak-52 (G-YOTS) S

ChipFest:
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-AOJR) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-APLO) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-APYG) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-ATHD) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BARS) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BBMN) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BBMO) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BBND) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BCEY) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BCGC) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BCPU) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BXDN) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BXGL) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BXGP) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-DHPM) S
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-HDAE) S
De Havilland Chipmunk 1350 (G-CGAO) S&F
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BYHL) S&F
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BWVY) S (Sunday Only)

BullFest:
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-DOGG) S
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-BHXA) S
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-BPCL) S
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-BULL) S
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-CBAN) S
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-CBEH) S
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-CBFP) S
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-CBGX) S
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-CBID) S
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-GGRR) S
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-GRRR) S
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-KDOG) S

OtherFest:
Vans Aircraft RV-7 (G-MRVL) S
Vans Aircraft RV-7 (G-RVTT) S
Vans Aircraft RV-8 (G-CEGI) S
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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Thu Sep 26, 2019 9:30 am

Attending JetFest'19 this weekend? Want to help the ZE360 preservation effort and grab yourself a piece of aviation history? These rare Phantom parts are pieces of Vandy 1, the Black Bunny 153783 (aka F-4JUK ZE 352) and have been cut, edges smoothed, washed, dried and bagged. In return for a minimum contribution of £25 to the Tiger 360 Campaign, you will receive one of these parts, a Certificate of Authenticity, a Part Information Sheet- which tells you what the part is and whereabouts on the aircraft it came from- and a slip with practical information.

Please note: these parts are not for sale, they are given free when a contribution exceeds a certain figure (£25). We would like to thank Mike Davey, owner of ZE352, for donating these genuine parts to aid our fundraising campaign.

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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Mon Sep 30, 2019 10:19 am

The BPAG were honoured to have a VIP guest visit XV490 at JetFest'19 last weekend. Former Red Arrow & Tornado Display Team member and current Aero Legend and BBMF pilot Flt Lt Antony Parkinson MBE, who is also ex- F4 aircrew with over 1000 hours on type. 'Parky' tells us that he is almost certain that he has time on XV490 in his log book. We await confirmation with great interest but, in the meantime, many thanks to him for taking half an hour out of his busy day to talk all things Phantom with us.

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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Thu Oct 03, 2019 9:39 am

At 5am on 2nd October 2019, XT597 left Bentwaters Park at the start of a 200 mile journey to a new home in the East Midlands. The aircraft has sat, unclaimed and unwanted, at the Suffolk site for seven years but has been on the BPAG’s wish list since 2017. We are therefore delighted that this wish has finally become a reality.

XT597 is now proudly owned by Mark Abbot, a senior member of the BPAG management, and due to his commitment the first step in preserving this historically important aircraft is complete. We would like to thank Mark for his faith in the BPAG in appointing us to undertake the restoration work. The aircraft is now safe, at a private airfield, and an announcement will be made regarding the location and access for visitors and supporters as soon as the arrangements are in place.

This project has been a long time coming, but we are looking forward to making a start on the preservation work at the earliest possible opportunity. More news to come as and when we can. Thank you all for your interest.

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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by tc2324 » Mon Oct 07, 2019 4:59 pm

New information and photo`s have been added to the 74(F) Squadron Association restoration page for your ZE360 viewing pleasure including data recently received from the National Air and Space Museum.

http://74sqdn.tk/ze360-restoration-page/



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If you haven`t already, please don`t forget to consider making a donation, details on the page.

Thanks in advance.
74 `Tiger` Sqn Association Webmaster

Tiger, Tiger!

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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Wed Oct 16, 2019 9:24 am

An unusual and rare recent donation to the BPAG was an original McDonnell Douglas press kit from 1966 featuring shots from the rollout ceremony of the F4-K. Here's an a few examples. Many thanks to Andy Morris for passing these on to us.

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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Thu Oct 17, 2019 9:03 am

XV490 recently played host to authors Philip Keeble and Dave Gledhill at the launch of Per Ardua:Training An RAF Phantom Crew. This new book describes how Cold War aircrew assimilated the skills needed to fly and fight the F-4 Phantom and follows every stage of a process that was long, arduous and beset with obstacles. Available now from Fonthill Media. More details here- https://www.fonthill.media/products/per-ardua

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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG » Wed Oct 23, 2019 8:31 am

The second Manston work party had a busy time over the weekend- vegetation cut back from under and around the aircraft to facilitate access to underside of fuselage and wing areas, then inspection and assessment of both, including centre line tank. Progress made on tailcone area (despite corroded fasteners being a major headache) including disconnecting the brake parachute operating cable- a awkward job with limited access- and aileron removal started. Finally, all hinges treated with penetrating oil.

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