Absolutely THE best looking surviving FG.1! Its in my bucket list to come over to ireland to see this airframe in person, will defo do so probly next summer
Brought back fond memories of going to RAF Leuchars for the Battle of Britain airshow. Loved watching the Phantoms and Lightnings of 43 and 111 squadrons "beat up" the airfield! Phantastic job on saving this beautiful F-4!
What a great video tribute to a legendary aircraft. I grew up in America loving the F-4 and still do to this day, thanks to all of you who saved this beautiful RAF phantom for posterity! I hope to return to visit the UK someday and this is definitely on my list.
As a young ATC Cadet I was lucky enough to sit in the cockpit of a QRA Phantom at Leuchars back in the '80's. Was an experience and a half.....we entered the HAS via the QRA bunker having just gone through the nuclear shelter. Lovely aircraft and a fave from my first toy model in the '70's
Congratulations guys! Awesome job! And so thrilled to see you put her in 892 colours!!! Looking forward to coming up to see her when everything reopens again! Once again, well done to all your volunteers & staff!
Oh my, a herculean effort by all concerned and the standard of finish is a fitting testament to all your hard work. In flight it was a brute to watch but close-up it is a beauty. Your members are magicians ! A definite visit planned now I have retired.
Outstanding work by all involved, well done! Although I could've done without seeing the clips of the 'graveyard' at Wattisham again, brings me out in a cold sweat every time!
Utterly Phantastic work, guys! You have done so much to be proud of! Well done for keeping another piece of the Phantom history alive! I cant wait to come and see her in the flesh!
Phantastic work, I hope the UAS is very proud of her. I remember the phantoms' using my Grandfather's farmhouse as a nav aid to enter Otterburn range when flying nap-of-the-earth, 60' above me, could almost touch them! Down the road at RAF Boulmer they have Phantom XV415 as their gate guardian. I can remember the EE Lightning they had in the 70's & 80's, another legend.
Hats off to you guys. She'll never fly again, that's for sure - but you've ensured she'll around for years to come, to enthral future generations. Pity that no-one had the capability to restore one like the Vulcan - but the stumbling blocks thrown in the way by the CAA would have made it an impossible task probably. You did your best - Well Done!
In 1978 I lead an Aircraft Maintenance Team at RAF St Athan. The "Navy" Phantoms came off HMS Ark Royal into St Athan for servicing prior to service with the Royal Air Force and they were "tired" to say the least !. With a planned servicing time of 120 (working) days, it was a tall order to achieve. XT864 came to my team of 12 Airframe Technicians and became part of our lives for months to come. Unsurprisingly corrosion became a major hurdle to us. ( I had photos of XT864 strapped to the bows deck of Ark Royal with waves breaking 20 or 30 feet over the airframe ! so it was not a surprise that salt water had done it's work. With planned overtime and weekend working we were able to launch this aircraft on its first Airtest on day 132. My team of 11 + me had no lives in that time. BUT what an aircraft !
You were lucky to get this. We tried for XV409 for the museum but the MoD wouldn't relent claiming that under the original sale it had to be destroyed. It was complete with engines but the airframe was pretty corroded. However, we do have the engines and the cockpit. The RAF and RN museums have some but I think the only other one in a private museum in the UK is a ex-USN one F4-J(UK) that wasn't part of the original sale.
I was with the commercial part of the Falkland Islands Government. I used to get a wide variety of tasks including trying to acquire XV409. I have retired now so not directly involved. Do you want contact info for the FI Museum and National Trust?
Because they are now obsolete, they are 50 years old have no fatigue life left. you might as well ask why they don’t race a 1970 Lotus F1 car against a 2020 car.
Phabulous work.
Where can this beauty be seen nowadays?
In hangar 2 at Maze Long Kesh, Lisburn, Northern Ireland. Google our website www.UlsterAviationSociety.org/
Phantastic job done! My deepest respect to all of you!
There's only one new word to describe this - 'Phantomenal'! Well done - and a great film of a great achievement.👍
Absolutely THE best looking surviving FG.1! Its in my bucket list to come over to ireland to see this airframe in person, will defo do so probly next summer
excellent work, what a beauty the naval phantom
Brought back fond memories of going to RAF Leuchars for the Battle of Britain airshow. Loved watching the Phantoms and Lightnings of 43 and 111 squadrons "beat up" the airfield! Phantastic job on saving this beautiful F-4!
What a great video tribute to a legendary aircraft. I grew up in America loving the F-4 and still do to this day, thanks to all of you who saved this beautiful RAF phantom for posterity! I hope to return to visit the UK someday and this is definitely on my list.
As a young ATC Cadet I was lucky enough to sit in the cockpit of a QRA Phantom at Leuchars back in the '80's. Was an experience and a half.....we entered the HAS via the QRA bunker having just gone through the nuclear shelter. Lovely aircraft and a fave from my first toy model in the '70's
Congratulations guys! Awesome job! And so thrilled to see you put her in 892 colours!!! Looking forward to coming up to see her when everything reopens again! Once again, well done to all your volunteers & staff!
Congrats - we need more people with your dedication and determination to preserve our history.
Phantastic work, only true phantom lovers could be so devoted. Cheers from a Phantom phreak from Brazil
Amazing chaps, and can't ask for more being ex Royal Navy when you re-painted her in FAA colours.
I sat in a ex navy f4 Phantom at Raf Cosford back in 2019 it was a beauty
Oh my, a herculean effort by all concerned and the standard of finish is a fitting testament to all your hard work. In flight it was a brute to watch but close-up it is a beauty. Your members are magicians ! A definite visit planned now I have retired.
Get yourself down here Andy and see them in the metal, wood and linen. You won't be disappointed if you can appreciate it thru the screen.
Excellent video I was at st athan when these were still flying on majors, first job as a SAC……….. cleaning the arrestor hook!!!
Well done indeed! She is beautiful! Cheers to all!
Outstanding work by all involved, well done! Although I could've done without seeing the clips of the 'graveyard' at Wattisham again, brings me out in a cold sweat every time!
Utterly Phantastic work, guys!
You have done so much to be proud of!
Well done for keeping another piece of the Phantom history alive!
I cant wait to come and see her in the flesh!
Phantastic work, I hope the UAS is very proud of her. I remember the phantoms' using my Grandfather's farmhouse as a nav aid to enter Otterburn range when flying nap-of-the-earth, 60' above me, could almost touch them! Down the road at RAF Boulmer they have Phantom XV415 as their gate guardian. I can remember the EE Lightning they had in the 70's & 80's, another legend.
Phabulous Phantoms! Just love those smokey ole J-79s!!
This one has Spey engines.
Well done , a phantastic effort by all! A great documentary that shows the difficulties faced to bring 007 to NI.
007 … I saw that Phantom launch and recover hundreds of times on the Ark ... Flight Deck Handler HMS Ark Royal R09
Loved the Phantoms when they were at Leuchars. Treble 1 squadron and 43 squadron. These were the days.
Beautifully narrated by JB! Very nice documentary!
Awesome work you did. Stunning. Great!!! (From a GAF officer)
Thank you kindly!
Excellent work, guys. Well done.
Hats off to you guys. She'll never fly again, that's for sure - but you've ensured she'll around for years to come, to enthral future generations. Pity that no-one had the capability to restore one like the Vulcan - but the stumbling blocks thrown in the way by the CAA would have made it an impossible task probably. You did your best - Well Done!
We only have one engine for it. Flight restoration is a little too out of our capability and funding (we don't have the runway either).
Excellent work.
In 1978 I lead an Aircraft Maintenance Team at RAF St Athan. The "Navy" Phantoms came off HMS Ark Royal into St Athan for servicing prior to service with the Royal Air Force and they were "tired" to say the least !. With a planned servicing time of 120 (working) days, it was a tall order to achieve. XT864 came to my team of 12 Airframe Technicians and became part of our lives for months to come. Unsurprisingly corrosion became a major hurdle to us. ( I had photos of XT864 strapped to the bows deck of Ark Royal with waves breaking 20 or 30 feet over the airframe ! so it was not a surprise that salt water had done it's work. With planned overtime and weekend working we were able to launch this aircraft on its first Airtest on day 132. My team of 11 + me had no lives in that time. BUT what an aircraft !
We'd love to see those storm-ravaged photos some time, John... hello@ulsteraviationsociety.org
Loved to see that plane when i was a child great to see it going to a great home used to go to airshow
Biliiant. Simply brill
Brilliant well done.
Chris Bolton was it’s pilot on the Ark Royal I understand
Phantastic...
Brilliant !
To the guy asking why some of the airframes couldn’t be donated to museums - SALT agreement simply put.
I have a model of XT864 sat next to me on my desk. It's in its 892 NAS colours.
Phablous Work ´-
Iconic
I have been there before and seen the phantom
Phan dabby dossi........well done team.....19.....29......92.
Just wondering, is any of the planes an helis flyable?
Wish they could make one fly again 🍺
You were lucky to get this. We tried for XV409 for the museum but the MoD wouldn't relent claiming that under the original sale it had to be destroyed. It was complete with engines but the airframe was pretty corroded. However, we do have the engines and the cockpit. The RAF and RN museums have some but I think the only other one in a private museum in the UK is a ex-USN one F4-J(UK) that wasn't part of the original sale.
Are you with the Falkland Islands Museum, Tim?
I was with the commercial part of the Falkland Islands Government. I used to get a wide variety of tasks including trying to acquire XV409. I have retired now so not directly involved. Do you want contact info for the FI Museum and National Trust?
But they gave us SeaKing Mk3 XZ593
Too bad it'll never fly again.
Why is the damn British Gov't allowing those fantastic aircraft to rot,while spending a rediculous amount of cash on a toy like that F35?!
Because they are now obsolete, they are 50 years old have no fatigue life left. you might as well ask why they don’t race a 1970 Lotus F1 car against a 2020 car.