(Image: Rene Verjans – website)
It’s safe to say that the post-retirement prospects of decommissioned RAF fast jets and other aircraft are generally poor. A small number will be maintained in varying states of repair as ground instructional airframes and museum pieces, though the vast majority will be broken up for scrap. Perhaps the least fortunate, however, will find their way onto fire dumps, like the charred remains of this McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom, which perished in the fire pits of Manston as a training aid for the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre.
This particular Phantom FGR2, serial number XV411, was built as an air defence fighter for the UK’s Royal Air Force and first flew in early 1969. During its service life the American-built warplane served with a number of RAF units, including Nos. 2, 14, 19, 56 and 92 Squadrons. But after 92 Squadron was disbanded in 1991, the twin-seat combat jet, powered by Rolls-Royce RB182R Spey 202 engines, was assigned the maintenance serial 9103M and transferred to ground duties.
(Image: Rene Verjans – website; Phantom XV411 at Manston i)
Initially used for crash rescue training, the airframe was ultimately set alight to train the Ministry of Defence’s firefighters. Its mortal remains were photographed in 2008, by which time Phantom XV411 had been reduced to a torched and rusting hulk. Her melted hulk has since been removed and dumped in the grass nearby, presumably awaiting scrapping (see below).
Meanwhile, we reported last year that another F-4 Phantom (ZE360 – the last surviving F-4J to wear RAF markings) had taken her place in the fire area. Despite the fact that this aircraft is now unique, her fate will presumably prove as destructive as that of Phantom XV411.
(Image: Google Earth; Phantom XV411 awaiting disposal)
Like the demobbed aircraft that occupy it, the former RAF Manston also has an interesting history, constructed during World War Two as one of three massive emergency runways built along the east coast of England to allow damaged allied bombers to land safely.
The facility later passed into civilian hands as Kent International Airport before being controversially closed in 2014. The MoD’s Defence Fire Training and Development Centre maintains its small aircraft graveyard to the north of the main site, where inmates include several Panavia Tornados, Harriers, a Nimrod and others, in addition to the Phantoms.
Keep Reading: Browse more in our Aviation archives here.
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