Latest Updates

Last weekend saw the BPAG back at Manston. The Universal Stand was stripped and hydraulics, rams and screw & worm drives inspected. On the aircraft itself, most of the last remaining  pipe work and cabling were removed from D22 bay, D42 L&R accessed & engine side mounts released and D54 L&R also opened and side mounts surveyed. The generator bay, RAT and chaff dispenser compartments were also accessed. The chaff dispenser tray is missing as is the RAT itself, but the example we salvaged from XV411 should be a direct replacement. Finally, ZE360 has a new AOA probe  courtesy of Peter Partridge, who kindly sourced and donated a replacement. Thanks go to our volunteers for their time, energy and assistance and to Polar Helicopters and Manston Airport for their continuing support.

In order to facilitate the removal of ZE360’s engines, prior to the wing/fuselage split, the BPAG have recently purchased a vital piece of ground equipment, similar to the item in this photo. The Universal Stand has, as its name suggests, a variety of uses. In the case of the F4-J it was used with adaptor frames to remove and fit engines, which is exactly what we will need it to do in the very near future.

We are now urgently searching for a pair of adaptor frames (the yellow items in the pic). Should anyone out there have any knowledge of the whereabouts and/or availability of these items, please feel free to get in touch. Thank you.

4 years ago today, XV582 ‘Black Mike’ arrived at RAF Cosford in the hands of the British Phantom Aviation Group, ahead of its appearance at the 2018 Cosford Airshow.

To celebrate the anniversary of this occasion, all ‘Black Mike’ t-shirts and hoodies are 50% off in the BPAG webstore. This offer is for a limited time only. Check them out here- http://www.phantomerchandise.co.uk/

21st of September saw a special event at Duxford’s American Air Museum, when three former 74(F) Squadron commanding officers reunited for a signing ceremony to raise funds for the ongoing restoration of Phantom F-4J(UK) ZE360. The 74(F) ‘Tiger’ Squadron Association brought together retired Air Marshall Cliff Spink and former Group Captains Dick Northcote and Graham Clarke to add their signatures to a run of limited edition reproductions of an original painting by Rob Johnson depicting ZE360 and ZE359 overflying RAF Wattisham.

A small number of these prints are still available and standard, non-signed versions will be offered soon. Contact Tony Clay at webmaster74tigersquadron@yahoo.com for more details.