By: BPAG
- 19th June 2018 at 06:52Permalink- Edited 28th November 2019 at 11:29
Its a busy week for XV490. Tomorrow and Thursday, it will be on display at the Lincolnshire Show at the Lincolnshire Showgrounds. Then, this weekend sees the annual Cockpit Fest at Newark Air Museum. Cockpit visits will be available at both events and BPAG team members will be on hand to chat and answer your questions. Hope to see you there!
By: BPAG
- 14th August 2018 at 22:36Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
XV582 emerging from Hangar 4 at RAF Cosford for a photoshoot last Sunday. Special guest of honour Michael Pugh-Davis checking out the front seat for a change.
By: BPAG
- 16th August 2018 at 15:09Permalink- Edited 28th November 2019 at 11:30
Not only is 2018 the centenary of the RAF but it is also the 30th anniversary of one of its record setting achievements. On 24/02/1988 XV582 (in its pre-Black Mike guise with 43 Squadron) set a world record for the fastest time between John O'Groats and Land's End of 46 minutes and 44 seconds. On 12/08/2018 the British Phantom Aviation Group were proud to reunite the aircrew from that day- pilot W/Cdr John Brady and navigator Flt Lt Michael Pugh- with the aircraft for the first time since that day in 1988.
By: BPAG
- 11th September 2018 at 15:51Permalink- Edited 28th November 2019 at 11:31
The British Phantom Aviation Group are pleased to announce the next event in our F-4 60th Anniversary celebrations. We will be taking Mike Davey's XV490 cockpit section to this year's North Lincolnshire Aviation Festival. Following the success of the first ever North Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Festival in 2017, Skydive Hibaldstow and the Northern Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Forum (in conjunction with North Lincs Council) are again hosting this event which takes place at Hibaldstow Airfield on Sunday 30th September. The event will celebrate and focus on the aviation history of the area, telling the story of Northern Lincolnshire’s heritage from World War One to the present day. Admission to the event is free. XV490 will be onsite and will be open for cockpit visits and BPAG members will be in attendance to chat and answer your questions. Exclusive Phantom merchandise will also be available. Hope to see you there!
By: BPAG
- 26th September 2018 at 07:28Permalink- Edited 28th November 2019 at 11:31
The British Phantom Aviation Group are pleased to announce that joining our team for this weekend's North Lincs Aviation Festival will be former RAF Squadron Leader Michael Pugh-Davies. On February 24th 1988, Michael was one half of the aircrew that set the World Speed Record for the run between John O'Groats and Land's End. The aircraft in question that day was Phantom FG.1 XV582- now better known as 'Black Mike'. However, this weekend Michael will be in the company of XV490, conducting cockpit visits and will also be on hand to chat and answer your questions. So, for your chance to meet a genuine RAF legend, make your way to Hibaldstow Airfield, Lincolnshire, this coming Sunday 30th September. Admission is free.
The British Phantom Aviation Group are pleased to announce that our online store is now open. Exclusive Phantom merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, caps, stickers and more are now available to order. The BPAG is a totally volunteer run organisation, so every penny of profit goes to fund our projects and activities and will help us plan for the future. Many thanks to everyone for their support and happy shopping to you all!
By: BPAG
- 9th October 2018 at 13:41Permalink- Edited 28th November 2019 at 12:24
The British Phantom Aviation Group (BPAG) in partnership with GJD Services are delighted to announce the latest development in the life of Phantom FG-1 XV582 'Black Mike'. One year after arriving at RAF Cosford and following its successful and popular appearance at the RAF100 celebration at the 2018 Cosford Airshow, 'Black Mike' is moving on again. The destination this time being St Athan, South Wales. XV582 was purchased from the MoD by Gary Spoors, owner of GJD Services, during 2016 and has since been managed by the BPAG, who performed the complex task of removing the aircraft from RAF Leuchars and restoring it for temporary display. However, with the tenure at RAF Cosford now at an end, the aircraft must relocate for the restoration work to be able to continue. Paul Wright, Chairman of the BPAG commented- "The facilities that GJD have at St Athan are the ideal environment for this to take place and we are looking forward to starting work at the earliest possible opportunity. At an appropriate point during the restoration we would love people to come and see what we've been up to. This will, however, be subject to the health & safety situation onsite and be at the owner's discretion.
So, watch this space" Dismantling of the aircraft began at RAF Cosford over the weekend 6/7th October and the move is due to be complete before the end of the month. In the meantime if you wish to be involved or would like to support the BPAG in any way, please feel free to contact britishphantomaviationgroup@gmail.com
By: BPAG
- 22nd October 2018 at 11:13Permalink- Edited 28th November 2019 at 11:31
21/10/2018- XV582 'Black Mike' at RAF Cosford. Fuselage and wing split, stabilator and tailcone removed and ready for transportation. Next stop- St Athan.
By: BPAG
- 19th November 2018 at 10:12Permalink- Edited 28th November 2019 at 12:27
A statement from the chairman of the British Phantom Aviation Group re: XV582 ‘Black Mike’ "It is with great sadness and regret that I have to announce that the British Phantom Aviation Group (BPAG) will be ending its involvement with the XV582 ‘Black Mike’ project for the foreseeable future. This will be effective immediately. In 2016, the aircraft was purchased by GJD Services with the explicit understanding that it was on behalf of the BPAG and that once the group had repaid its debt, the aircraft would become group property. All of the work, fundraising and PR associated with ‘Black Mike’ since that date has been predicated on that understanding, which has appeared in print and online on many occasions and has been confirmed by GJD Services in several communications. Despite the BPAG having the necessary funding in place since early this year, GJD have unilaterally changed this arrangement and on 7th November 2018, I was informed- in no uncertain terms- that the aircraft would not be transferred to BPAG, as previously agreed.
I would like to extend our apologies to those volunteers and supporters who have worked thousands of hours and given thousands of pounds in the belief that the aircraft would be owned by the group and not a private individual. This current situation is not the future you were investing in. It is not of our making and it would appear that there is little we can do to change it. For now, the BPAG will be looking ahead to focus on our ongoing work with XV490 and fulfilling our wider remit of preserving other F-4 airframes in the UK. Details of these plans will be forthcoming at the appropriate time. Paul Wright (Chairman) British Phantom Aviation Group"
Very sad to hear this, it's the preservation scene's bad side showing through again. It's more proof, if any were needed, that groups need to enter into legal agreements rather than relying on trust. Sad but true.
By: BPAG
- 28th August 2019 at 18:49Permalink- Edited 24th November 2021 at 13:31
Good afternoon everyone. 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.
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 below, 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.
Elsewhere on the internet, 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
Another 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.
We will be keeping this thread updated and if anyone has any further questions, please feel free to ask. You can also find us on various locations on the web-
By: Steve Bond
- 29th August 2019 at 12:23Permalink
Very well done indeed. It is great to see such a tremendous effort going into saving not one but two historically important Phantoms. I am sure everyone here will wish you the best of good fortune after such a difficult time.
By: trumper
- 29th August 2019 at 14:26Permalink- Edited 28th November 2019 at 12:25
What a fantastic update ,i wish you all the very best --- do you have a facebook page ? A quick google ,i think this is it https://www.facebook.com/BPAGofficial/ , maybe this needs updating to get to a much wider audience.
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 13th June 2018 at 14:37 Permalink - Edited 28th November 2019 at 11:28
One final shot from Cosford, and its a beauty. Thanks to Damien Burke for sharing it with us.
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 19th June 2018 at 06:52 Permalink - Edited 28th November 2019 at 11:29
Its a busy week for XV490. Tomorrow and Thursday, it will be on display at the Lincolnshire Show at the Lincolnshire Showgrounds. Then, this weekend sees the annual Cockpit Fest at Newark Air Museum. Cockpit visits will be available at both events and BPAG team members will be on hand to chat and answer your questions. Hope to see you there!
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 30th June 2018 at 06:14 Permalink - Edited 28th November 2019 at 11:29
An unusual sight on the streets of Cleethorpes. XV490 rolls into town for this weekend's Armed Forces Day.
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By: Wyvernfan - 30th June 2018 at 07:00 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Lovely photos.
Rob
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 1st July 2018 at 18:33 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thank you Rob. All credit to the original photographers, and our thanks to them for allowing us to use their shots.
Posts: 3,652
By: 1batfastard - 1st July 2018 at 18:37 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Hi All,
Ditto what BPAG said...:cool:
Geoff.
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 14th August 2018 at 22:36 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
XV582 emerging from Hangar 4 at RAF Cosford for a photoshoot last Sunday. Special guest of honour Michael Pugh-Davis checking out the front seat for a change.
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 16th August 2018 at 15:09 Permalink - Edited 28th November 2019 at 11:30
Not only is 2018 the centenary of the RAF but it is also the 30th anniversary of one of its record setting achievements. On 24/02/1988 XV582 (in its pre-Black Mike guise with 43 Squadron) set a world record for the fastest time between John O'Groats and Land's End of 46 minutes and 44 seconds. On 12/08/2018 the British Phantom Aviation Group were proud to reunite the aircrew from that day- pilot W/Cdr John Brady and navigator Flt Lt Michael Pugh- with the aircraft for the first time since that day in 1988.
Posts: 4,996
By: AlanR - 16th August 2018 at 18:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Very nice !
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 11th September 2018 at 15:51 Permalink - Edited 28th November 2019 at 11:31
The British Phantom Aviation Group are pleased to announce the next event in our F-4 60th Anniversary celebrations. We will be taking Mike Davey's XV490 cockpit section to this year's North Lincolnshire Aviation Festival. Following the success of the first ever North Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Festival in 2017, Skydive Hibaldstow and the Northern Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Forum (in conjunction with North Lincs Council) are again hosting this event which takes place at Hibaldstow Airfield on Sunday 30th September. The event will celebrate and focus on the aviation history of the area, telling the story of Northern Lincolnshire’s heritage from World War One to the present day. Admission to the event is free. XV490 will be onsite and will be open for cockpit visits and BPAG members will be in attendance to chat and answer your questions. Exclusive Phantom merchandise will also be available. Hope to see you there!
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 26th September 2018 at 07:28 Permalink - Edited 28th November 2019 at 11:31
The British Phantom Aviation Group are pleased to announce that joining our team for this weekend's North Lincs Aviation Festival will be former RAF Squadron Leader Michael Pugh-Davies. On February 24th 1988, Michael was one half of the aircrew that set the World Speed Record for the run between John O'Groats and Land's End. The aircraft in question that day was Phantom FG.1 XV582- now better known as 'Black Mike'. However, this weekend Michael will be in the company of XV490, conducting cockpit visits and will also be on hand to chat and answer your questions. So, for your chance to meet a genuine RAF legend, make your way to Hibaldstow Airfield, Lincolnshire, this coming Sunday 30th September. Admission is free.
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 8th October 2018 at 09:09 Permalink
The British Phantom Aviation Group are pleased to announce that our online store is now open. Exclusive Phantom merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, caps, stickers and more are now available to order. The BPAG is a totally volunteer run organisation, so every penny of profit goes to fund our projects and activities and will help us plan for the future. Many thanks to everyone for their support and happy shopping to you all!
http://british-phantom-aviation-group.myshopwired.com/
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 9th October 2018 at 13:41 Permalink - Edited 28th November 2019 at 12:24
The British Phantom Aviation Group (BPAG) in partnership with GJD Services are delighted to announce the latest development in the life of Phantom FG-1 XV582 'Black Mike'. One year after arriving at RAF Cosford and following its successful and popular appearance at the RAF100 celebration at the 2018 Cosford Airshow, 'Black Mike' is moving on again. The destination this time being St Athan, South Wales. XV582 was purchased from the MoD by Gary Spoors, owner of GJD Services, during 2016 and has since been managed by the BPAG, who performed the complex task of removing the aircraft from RAF Leuchars and restoring it for temporary display. However, with the tenure at RAF Cosford now at an end, the aircraft must relocate for the restoration work to be able to continue. Paul Wright, Chairman of the BPAG commented- "The facilities that GJD have at St Athan are the ideal environment for this to take place and we are looking forward to starting work at the earliest possible opportunity. At an appropriate point during the restoration we would love people to come and see what we've been up to. This will, however, be subject to the health & safety situation onsite and be at the owner's discretion.
So, watch this space" Dismantling of the aircraft began at RAF Cosford over the weekend 6/7th October and the move is due to be complete before the end of the month. In the meantime if you wish to be involved or would like to support the BPAG in any way, please feel free to contact britishphantomaviationgroup@gmail.com
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 22nd October 2018 at 11:13 Permalink - Edited 28th November 2019 at 11:31
21/10/2018- XV582 'Black Mike' at RAF Cosford. Fuselage and wing split, stabilator and tailcone removed and ready for transportation. Next stop- St Athan.
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 19th November 2018 at 10:12 Permalink - Edited 28th November 2019 at 12:27
A statement from the chairman of the British Phantom Aviation Group re: XV582 ‘Black Mike’ "It is with great sadness and regret that I have to announce that the British Phantom Aviation Group (BPAG) will be ending its involvement with the XV582 ‘Black Mike’ project for the foreseeable future. This will be effective immediately. In 2016, the aircraft was purchased by GJD Services with the explicit understanding that it was on behalf of the BPAG and that once the group had repaid its debt, the aircraft would become group property. All of the work, fundraising and PR associated with ‘Black Mike’ since that date has been predicated on that understanding, which has appeared in print and online on many occasions and has been confirmed by GJD Services in several communications. Despite the BPAG having the necessary funding in place since early this year, GJD have unilaterally changed this arrangement and on 7th November 2018, I was informed- in no uncertain terms- that the aircraft would not be transferred to BPAG, as previously agreed.
I would like to extend our apologies to those volunteers and supporters who have worked thousands of hours and given thousands of pounds in the belief that the aircraft would be owned by the group and not a private individual. This current situation is not the future you were investing in. It is not of our making and it would appear that there is little we can do to change it. For now, the BPAG will be looking ahead to focus on our ongoing work with XV490 and fulfilling our wider remit of preserving other F-4 airframes in the UK. Details of these plans will be forthcoming at the appropriate time. Paul Wright (Chairman) British Phantom Aviation Group"
Posts: 3,000
By: Ant.H - 19th November 2018 at 10:41 Permalink
Very sad to hear this, it's the preservation scene's bad side showing through again. It's more proof, if any were needed, that groups need to enter into legal agreements rather than relying on trust. Sad but true.
Best wishes to all at BPAG in their future work.
Posts: 88
By: Stratosphere - 19th November 2018 at 20:55 Permalink
I thought that ultmately it was US Goverment property.
Posts: 189
By: BPAG - 28th August 2019 at 18:49 Permalink - Edited 24th November 2021 at 13:31
Good afternoon everyone. 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.
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 below, 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.
Elsewhere on the internet, 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
Another 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.
We will be keeping this thread updated and if anyone has any further questions, please feel free to ask. You can also find us on various locations on the web-
Facebook- www.facebook.com/BPAGofficial
Twitter- www.twitter.com/BPAGofficial
Instagram- www.instagram.com/british_phantom_aviation_group
Webstore- http://www.phantomerchandise.co.uk
Many thanks to you all.
Posts: 1,777
By: Steve Bond - 29th August 2019 at 12:23 Permalink
Very well done indeed. It is great to see such a tremendous effort going into saving not one but two historically important Phantoms. I am sure everyone here will wish you the best of good fortune after such a difficult time.
Posts: 7,029
By: trumper - 29th August 2019 at 14:26 Permalink - Edited 28th November 2019 at 12:25
What a fantastic update ,i wish you all the very best --- do you have a facebook page ? A quick google ,i think this is it https://www.facebook.com/BPAGofficial/ , maybe this needs updating to get to a much wider audience.