RAF showstopper search

An iconic participant in a once-essential Courier Country air show is the subject of Thomas Brown’s latest flight of fancy.

The Perthshire resident is on the lookout for photos of a particular model of a famous American combat jet – he hopes Craigie readers can help out – and provides a potted history of both its time in service and its postretirement career when it wowed aviation enthusiasts over Fife’s north-east coast.

Tam writes: “In the final years of the RAF Leuchars air shows up to the last display in 2013 one aircraft which was a favourite for photographers was an all-black F-4K FG1 Phantom XV582. It was affectionately known both at Leuchars and the RAF as Black Mike.

“In the final years up to the closure of the base, Black Mike languished in a hangar on the base with an unsure future, but fortunately it was to be saved by the British Phantom Aviation Group, dismantled and taken south to a new home.

“I was interested in this aircraft. It was such a reminder of the Phantom years at Leuchars operated by Treble One and 42 Squadron and many will recall the hangar at the base in Phantom times with ‘HMS Ark Royal’ upon it.

“But Black Mike was that bit special. Its history was, it spent most of its life between 1969 and 1989, I believe, at Leuchars.

“It flew both with 42 and 111 squadrons and it was engaged on QRA (quick reaction alert) duties. But XV582 entered aviation history when on February 24 1988 it made a record-breaking flight from Land’s End to John o’groats in 46 minutes and 44 seconds, by my information at a speed of 777.2mph.

“It was not always painted black. It assumed that colour in honour of a former display team flying Hawker Hunters called the Black Arrows.”

The Bankfoot wordsmith ends his sentimental journey back to the glory days of RAF Leuchars’ esteemed air show and its glorious Phantom with a typically poetic flourish.

He concludes: “Black Mike became a favourite. I remember it so well I am sure

there must be those who have a photo of her.

“Such a memory / we all did so like/ For it was so special / Leuchars’ Black Mike.”

Meigle Cricket Club’s centenary dinner at Enverdale House Hotel, Coupar Angus, September 1976. Back: Mr and Mrs J Drummond, Mr and Mrs H Peters, Mr and Mrs PM Drummond. Front row: Mr and Mrs AA Bain, MR and Mrs W Scott and Mr and Mrs DW Phillips.

An F-4K FG1 Phantom of 892 Naval Air Squadron in the 1970s. Do you have any photos of an aircraft of the same type – dubbed Black Mike – that was based at RAF Leuchars?