Latest Updates

The second Manston work party had a busy time over the weekend- vegetation cut back 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) and the aileron removal process was started. Finally, all hinges treated with penetrating oil.

Many thanks to all the team, two of whom had no prior aircraft experience but still acquitted themselves extremely well. So, if this is making anyone shy of volunteering then please don’t hesitate to come forward. There will always be old hands around to guide you.

Authors Philip Keeble and Dave Gledhill with XV490 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. The book is available now from Fonthill Media. More details here-

https://www.fonthill.media/products/per-ardua

This month’s FlyPast Magazine contains a report on the acquisition of XT597. Many thanks to Key Publishing and the staff of magazine for including the aircraft in this latest issue. In the shops now or available to order from the Key Publishing website-

 https://flypast.keypublishing.com/the-magazine/back-issues/

Yesterday was a special day. At 5am XT597 left Bentwaters Park at the start of a journey to a new home. 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 Abbott, 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.

This project has been a long time coming, but we can now look forward to making a start on the preservation work at the earliest possible opportunity. More news to come as and when we can.