Phantom F4 Brought Back To Former Glory

The official unveiling of the FAA Phantom GR9 - formerly a gate guard at RAF Leuchars – took place recently at the Ulster Aviation Society Hangar at what was once RAF Long Kesh.

It was a fantastic event attended by various Lord Mayors and Lord Lieutenants, RAF members past and present and there was also a reunion of 22 Maintenance Unit. They were based at Aldergrove and carried out most repair work and maintenance of the RAF and Royal Navy's Phantom fleet. 

The Pilot who flew this particular Phantom, Chris Bolton, was also at the unveiling event. He flew the Phantom which is now on display 11 times between 1974 and 1978 and has fond memories flying it in Hong Kong and Singapore, however he wasn't too keen to fly it in bad weather or at night! 

The restoration work is a credit to the Ulster Aviation Society who spent years on the project and the unveiling event was the biggest in their long history,

The Phantom joins a host of other former military aircraft which have been restored by the Society and are on display at their hangar including a Blackburn Buccaneer S2B, a Hawker Sea Hawk FB5 and Westland Wessex HC2.