British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Discussions regarding historic aircraft, restoration and preservation etc
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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by 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

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Unknown74
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by Unknown74 »

So XV582 has two reasons for being the most famous Phantoms in the Royal Air Force, not only did XV582 become the famous Black Mike but before it did XV582 set the speed record for an RAF F-4 Phantom between John O'Groats and Lands End - Wow what a special plane XV582 is/ was.

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by BPAG »

100 days to go...

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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Rear canopy fit complete. XV582 is now ready for tomorrow's photo call. Pic courtesy of Steve Brown.

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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This Sunday (1st April) is RAF100 Open Cockpit Day at Newark Air Museum. The British Phantom Aviation Group will be attending, the cockpit section of XV490 will be open, Phantom merchandise will be available and a team from BPAG (including former Phantom aircrew and author/journalists Dave Gledhill and Caroline Paige) 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

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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The May issue of Flypast magazine includes an article about XV582's speed run authored by Mike Pugh, who was navigator during the record breaking flight. In the shops now.

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Unknown74
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by Unknown74 »

I don't think I realised for some time that Black Mike was the same jet that set this record, now that's some Aircraft - Wow.

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the first flight of the F-4 Phantom, our friends over at the Aviation Skills Partnership will be hosting an event later this month, featuring guest speaker Rick Peacock Edwards (retired Air Commodore and former RAF F-4 pilot). Tickets are available now, please follow the link- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/f-4-phan ... 5582750233

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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Number 2 in the Cosford charts!

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Held off the number one slot by a mere Typhoon...that can't be correct, surely?

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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60 years of the F-4 Phantom

60 years ago today, on 27th May 1958, the F-4 Phantom II prototype (XF4H-1 BuNo 142259) took its maiden flight from the McDonnell facility at Lambert Field, St Louis, USA. In order to celebrate this anniversary, the British Phantom Aviation Group are proud to announce that we will be taking XV490, our Phantom FGR.2 cockpit section, out on the road. We will be attending various events over the summer period, with opportunities for cockpit visits as well as a chance to meet and chat with ex-F4 aircrew and groundcrew members. Exclusive Phantom merchandise will also be available at all events.

Dates confirmed so far are-

10th June, RAF Cosford Airshow
XV490 will be onsite- located only a short walk from its BPAG stablemate XV582- at this year's airshow, as part of the Open Cockpits ground display. With a large crowd of around 60,000 expected, demand for cockpit visits will be high. The BPAG team will be on hand to assist as many of those as possible to experience the legend that is the F-4 Phantom.

20th & 21st June, Lincolnshire Show
This hugely popular show is now a regular venue for XV490 and the Aviation Village is set to be expanded this year in celebration of RAF 100, which should ensure that the show is quite an event. Former F-4 navigator and successful author and journalist Dave Gledhill, who was aircrew on board XV490, will also be on site to meet the public and answer your questions.

23rd & 24th June, Newark Cockpit Fest
This two day charitable event provides a focal point for cockpit owners from across the UK and always features an impressive line up of cockpit sections, panel displays and numerous other guest contributions. Dave Gledhill will again be in attendance with XV490 and additional attractions on both days include an aerojumble and a flypast from the BBMF Spitfire.

30th June & 1st July, Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day
North East Lincolnshire Council’s Armed Forces Day 2018 will be held at Cleethorpes as part of a full weekend of celebrations of the important work done by our Armed Forces. The full, free programme of events will include activities across the resort with parades, air displays and ground events on the seafront.

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Last edited by BPAG on Mon 28 May 2018, 6:05 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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flashman8
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by flashman8 »

Is `Black Mike` airworthy?, and if so, are the USA still not allowing one to fly on the airshow circuit over here..........?
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CJS
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by CJS »

Being airworthy and it being even remotely realistic or practical to have one flying are entirely different things.

As an aside, it's great that you're in the top 2 Cosford highlights, but how they've managed to make meeting a robot number 3 is a little odd!!
"There's only one way of life, and that's your own"

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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CJS wrote:Being airworthy and it being even remotely realistic or practical to have one flying are entirely different things.


This is, unfortunately, correct. Not withstanding the fact that many of Black Mike's components are well past their fatigue life, the issues of ITAR and the policies of the CAA would definitely exclude this.

Given enough time and resources (which is an enormous challenge in itself) Black Mike could theoretically be restored to taxyable condition. However, even ground running is forbidden under ITAR at this time.

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flashman8
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by flashman8 »

so, in theory then, if Black Mike can be made flyable, we still cant see her in the air because of the agreement with the USA, so how come other countries can have them at air displays, or is it one rule for the UK, and one for other countries (Japan for example)who still fly them................
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CJS
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by CJS »

Totally different when the type is still in service. See also Indian Jaguars, Spanish and American Harriers, Iranian Tomcats etc...

Huge teams of personnel to keep them serviceable, support from the companies which designed the aircraft, a steady supply of available spares and so on (obviously one of my examples doesn't have all of this :-o ).

Compare that to a group of volunteers who need to fund raise for everything and you start to see why it's so unlikely.
"There's only one way of life, and that's your own"

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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flashman8 wrote:so, in theory then, if Black Mike can be made flyable


Just to be perfectly clear- Black Mike cannot be made flyable. Furthermore, that is not the intention of the BPAG or the aim of the Black Mike project.

To attempt to do so would be a serious breach of ITAR regulations which could result in severe penalties, up to and including imprisonment.

To theorise that the suggestion has been raised that this may be possible is incorrect. Thank you.

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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The BPAG engineering team have been busy up at Cosford this weekend, putting the final touches to XV582 'Black Mike' ready for next week's event. Burner cans refitted and looking good...

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Last edited by BPAG on Sat 02 Jun 2018, 6:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

andy759
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by andy759 »

if you don't mind me posting this pic ( theres better than my effort out there ) she looked great in the hanger at the photo shoot the other night with the smoke around her

andy

ImageDSC_7364 by andy 759, on Flickr

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Paul_Reflex
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by Paul_Reflex »

She's looking great and a credit to your hardworking team. :up: :love:

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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Paul_Reflex wrote:She's looking great and a credit to your hardworking team. :up: :love:


Thank you, that is very kind of you. The BPAG engineers have, indeed, done a great job. The work is still ongoing, too- here is XV582 looking almost ready for QRA again.

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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A note of thanks from the British Phantom Aviation Group-

"Dear Friends. It cannot have escaped your attention that the Cosford Airshow is now only days away. There are only some final small tasks to attend to on 'Black Mike', a few matters of logistics involving XV490 to confirm and a whole bunch of boxes of new merchandise to sort through and then the British Phantom Aviation Group will be ready to meet you all this coming Sunday.

This weekend's event will be the culmination of a year's worth of planning and preparation and would not have been possible without the hospitality and generosity of the team at RAF Cosford. In particular we would like to thank Peter Reoch, for inviting the aircraft and ourselves to be part of the RAF100 celebrations and for his efficiency and patience in dealing with our presence and the ever-increasing demands it placed on both his time and facilities. Huge thanks and eternal gratitude also go to WO Steve Brown, whose contributions to the engineering effort have been immeasurable and without whom, the process of preparing 'Black Mike' would have been considerably more difficult. Frequently going above and beyond what we have asked of him (sometimes at considerable personal inconvenience) his support for the project has been unwavering and his presence and abilities have played a vital part in what we have achieved.

In the seven months since XV582 left RAF Leuchars for the last time, the shelter and working facilities that RAF Cosford have provided have been a life line to the aircraft and have saved it from tough times and difficult decisions. Both 'Black Mike' and the British Phantom Aviation Group would not be where we are now without the help we have selflessly been given.

For this, we would like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt and sincere thank you.

The British Phantom Aviation Group."

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CJS
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by CJS »

:worship: :clap: :up:

certain other aircraft restoration groups - take note!
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Pat Murphy
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

Post by Pat Murphy »

:clap: :clap: :clap:

Looking forward to seeing 582 on Sunday, just hope it's not surrounded by ice cream vans and bouncy castles :grin:


So what happens to her next?

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BPAG
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Re: British Phantom Aviation Group (Official Topic)

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09.30 today. XV490 leaves Newark Air Museum, en-route to RAF Cosford. Hope to see some of you at the Open Cockpit zone on Sunday.

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