Aviation Specials - British Phantoms
by Aviation Specials /
2013 / English / PDF
23.2 MB Download
Welcome to our tribute to one of the most loved fighter aircraft ever to serve with the British military. Featuring many unseen photographs and first-hand accounts the following pages trace the history of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in British service.
It is hard to believe that 25 years have passed since the RAF retired its Phinal Phantom in October 1992.
The British version of the Phantom was an aircraft designed essentially to a Royal Navy specification. It also had extra tweaks made to it in an attempt both win political favour and enable it to be produced in Britain so as to keep the unions happy.
The result was an aeroplane that was vastly more expensive than an off the shelf Phantom with inferior performance in many aspects. Nevertheless, the first examples were delivered to the Navys Fleet Air Arm in 1967 and the RAF accepted its production airframes the following year.
In a twist of fate the Royal Navy was eventually to find itself bereft of an aircraft carrier capable of operating the big supersonic fleet defence fighter and in 1978 the final Fleet Air Arm Phantoms were handed over to the RAF.
Considering it was an aircraft the RAF never really wanted the Phantom went on to have a distinguished air force career. It was flown operationally in RAF Germany during the Cold War, flew in defence of Cyprus during the Gulf War and provided essential fast jet cover for the Falkland Islands from the mid 1980s.
But all things come to an end, and in 1992 the last examples were flown into retirement, with the majority of them succumbing to the scrappers axe in order to meet the demands of post Glasnost arms treaties.
Today, the handful of surviving Phantoms remember the important role this big fighter had in the defence of Britain and its overseas territories.
I hope you enjoy the articles in this eulogy to the British Phantom, many of which include input from former aircrew and ground crew.
Stephen Bridgewater
Stamford, October 2017
