McD-D Phantom XT914

McDonnell Phantom FGR2 XT914 was withdrawn from service in November 1992 and went to RAF Leeming, where it was positioned as a gate guardian. It was later transferred to RAF Brampton to also stand as a gate guardian.

Phantom XT914 was the Aerobatic aircraft for the 1992 display season and was flown by Pilot, Squadron Leader Archie Liggat and Navigator Flt. Lieutenant Mark Mainwaring. The aircraft wore both 56 & 74 Sqn markings.

With the eventual closure of RAF Brampton at the end of 2013 Phantom XT914 was saved from the scrap man to return to its original home at Wattisham, where it will eventually be restored and displayed as part of the Wattisham Station Heritage Museum collection.

Click here to view the official RAF Movement Record Card

Service History of Phantom FGR2 XT914
10/07/1968 First Flight
25/09/1968 Delivered to 23 MU at Aldergrove
Oct 1968 to 228 OCU at Coningsby
02/06/1970 to 14 Sqn Bruggen
20/03/1975 to 228 OCU at Coningsby
04/04/1975 to 14 Sqn at Bruggen
18/11/1975 to 17 Sqn at Bruggen
02/02/1976 to 228 OCU at Coningsby
22/03/1976 to 56 Sqn at Coningsby coded Z
29/11/1976 to 228 OCU at Coningsby coded N
05/06/1980 to 92 Sqn at Wildenrath coded T
16/12/1982 to 228 OCU at Coningsby coded N
01/08/1986 to 56 Sqn at Wattisham coded Z
18/02/1988 to 92 Sqn at Wildenrath coded AT
21/04/1988 to 19 Sqn at Wildenrath
29/04/1988 to 92 Sqn at Wildenrath
26/08/1988 to 228 OCU at Leuchars coded CV
April 1991 to 74 Sqn at Wattisham coded Z
05/10/1992 to Leeming for decoy duties
06/04/1997 to Gate Guard at Brampton
08/03/2012 to Wattisham Station Heritage Museum

General Specifications
Crew: 2
Length: 57 ft 7 in (17.55 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 4.5 in (11.7 m)
Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.9 m)
Empty weight: 31,000 lb (14,061 kg)
Max. take-off weight: 56,000 lb (25,402 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Spey 202/204 low bypass turbofans, 12,140 lbf dry thrust (54 kN), 20,500 lbf in afterburner (91.2 kN) each

Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 1.9 (1,386 mph) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
Ferry range: 1,750 miles (2,816 km)
Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,300 m)

Armament
4 × AIM-7 Sparrow or Skyflash in fuselage recesses plus 4 × AIM-9 Sidewinders on wing pylons;
1 × 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan 6-barrel Gatling cannon in SUU-23 gun pod

Operation Phantom XT914

The Handover

On 12th January 2012 Phantom XT914 was handed over.

Wing Commander Robert Cook, Station Commander RAF Brampton/Wyton/Henlow handed over the log book, Form 700 to Colonel Neale Moss OBE, Station Commander Wattisham Flying Station.

XT914 Returns

Phantom XT914 being removed from it’s plinth at RAF Brampton

Phantom XT914 being towed to the MT yard at RAF Brampton

Dismantled and on its way to Wattisham Flying Station

XT914 Back Home

On the 8th March 2012 the fuselage of XT914 arrived back at Wattisham.

With the help of Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron (JARTS) and 7 Battalion (REME) she was unloaded into the museum’s Cold War HAS.

XT914 Restoration

During the summer of 2012 members of Wattisham Station Heritage Museum fitted panels etc. which had been removed for transport. With the help of members from 7 Battalion REME. dirt and algae was removed from the aircraft.

We still require some parts to complete the cockpit restoration.