FGR.2 XV420 at RAF Neatishead, 2nd December 1999; author	FGR.2 XV424 at Hendon, 8th March 2003; author

XV420 served with 6, 19, 23, 29, 54, 56 and 92 Squadrons, she spent some time in the Falklands with 29 Squadron and ended life with 56 Squadron, in whose colours she is displayed at RAF Neatishead, a well hidden little station that has been the subject of many rumours about its imminent closure. If the station does close, its likely XV420 will meet her end at the same time.

Pretty much impossible to get a clear shot of her normally, and even more so now that the RAF Museum are moving so many exhibits around, XV424 is displayed with a nice selection of stores and has steps so you can get a look at the cockpit. In good condition, she looks like she was wheeled in yesterday. She served with 6, 29, 54, 56, 92 and 111 Squadrons plus 228 OCU. In 1979 she was painted in a special scheme to mark the anniversary of Alcock & Brown's crossing of the Atlantic, and made a record-breaking commemorative dash across the Atlantic on the 21st of June that year. Information current as of 08/03/2003.

FGR.2 XV470 at RAF Akrotiri, 2000; Chris McKee/F4 Aviation	FGR.2 XV474 at Duxford, 22nd April 2005; author

Serving with 2, 14, 17, 43, 56, 92 Squadrons and 228 OCU, XV470 ended her active life with 56 Squadron and remains in their colours as a BDRT airframe at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Despite the bright sun in that part of the world her paintwork seems to be holding up well at least.

Acquired by the OFMC because of the late Mark Hanna (himself an ex-F-4 pilot of course), the original intention was to fly her in private hands. Sadly that plan seems to have been a bit ambitious, and with Mark's untimely death it's now unlikely we'll ever see a flying F-4 in private hands in the UK. XV474 served with 2, 17, 19, 23, 31 and 56 Squadrons, and was the first RAF F-4 to appear in the air defence grey scheme. She's currently stored in the open at Duxford while work on the new Airspace hangar extension is underway. Information current as of 22/04/2005.

FGR.2 XV497 at RAF Waddington, 27th June 2002; author	FGR.2 XV498 at RAF St. Athan; Kev Darling

Saved from scrapping by 23 Squadron, XV497 was repainted in a Falklands colour scheme by them and roaded from Coningsby to Waddington to be put on display outside the 23 Sqn HQ within RAF Waddington. Reintroduced to public display at the 2002 airshow, she was opened up for visitors to have their photos taken sitting in the cockpits. Still earning her keep after all these years! Her official role is that of ground instruction. 23 Sqn could do with some instruments to complete the cockpits so if you have any spares going, get in touch with them.

Having served with 23, 29, 54, 56 and 111 Squadrons, XV500 was retired to display duties at RAF St. Athan and is for some reason painted up as 'XV498', and wears 23 Squadron's Falklands colours!

FGR.2 XV499 at RAF Leeming, 6th September 2003; Neil Pearson	F.3 155529 at Duxford, 17th April 2005; author

Entering service with 6 Squadron, XV499 moved to 29 Squadron in 1974, then onto 41 Squadron in 1975. After work in 1976 to give her the RWR fit on the tail fin, she re-entered service with 92 Squadron, but moved on to 19 Squadron in 1978, spending only a year with them before being passed to 23 Squadron. Back to 29 Squadron in 1983, she didn't spend long there either, joining 228 OCU in 1984. She finished active life with 74 Squadron and on retirement was flown to RAF Leeming for use as a weapons loading trainer (WLT) - and occasional air day static participant. She was due to be scrapped but has managed to hang on, unharmed, for over three years after her date with death - so maybe there's hope for her yet. Neil reports that she was in reasonable shape bar faded paint but her fate is currently unknown. Information current as of 11/01/2004.

Duxford's Phantom F-4J was built in 1967 and entered service with the US Navy in March 1968. While based aboard the USS America this aircraft operated for ten months in the Vietnam war zone and in November 1972 alone flew 88 hours of combat missions. It was subsequently transferred to the Royal Air Force as ZE359 in 1984, serving with 74 Squadron, and at the end of its RAF service was flown to Duxford in 1991 and restored in USN colours for display in the American Air Museum. Information current as of 17/04/2005.

NOSE/COCKPIT/OTHER SECTIONS

FG.1 XT863 at Cowes, 2002; Max Kingsley-Jones	FG.1 XV591 at Cosford, 8th June 2002; author

Displayed as an advert at the Cliftongrade scrap yard are the mortal remains of poor old XT863. Originally entering service in 1969 with the FAA and 767 NAS, the aircraft moved to 892 NAS in 1972 finished her naval career in 1978. Transferred to the RAF and serving with 111 and 43 Squadron, this was the aircraft that sported full colour roundels and a red/white/blue rudder during the early 1980 - subject of many a model kit! Information current as of 2002.

First taking to the skies in June 1969, XV591 entered service with 892 NAS the next month. Passed to the RAF in December 1978, she re-entered active service with 111 Squadron in early 1979 and stayed with them until a structural fault was discovered in December 1987, at which point she was grounded forever. The fuselage was dumped and the wings and tail used for BDRT at Abingdon. Thankfully the nose at least was saved and is now on display at the RAF Museum at Cosford, in a colour scheme representing XV424 on its Alcock and Brown commemorative transatlantic flight in 1979. Ironically the real XV424 is actually on display at the RAF Museum at Hendon - in a stock 56 Squadron scheme!