When it comes to RAF aircraft which have benefitted from the application of special commemorative schemes, there’s one machine which still enjoys legendary status amongst Britain’s army of aviation enthusiasts, Phantom FG.1 ‘Black Mike’. 

An aircraft which had recently transferred to the care of RAF No.111 Squadron at Leuchars, XV582 was selected to receive this unique scheme as the squadron wanted to mark both the RAF service of the Phantom, and the heritage of their famous unit, heritage which included the ‘Black Arrows’ Aerobatic Display Team. 

Between 1955 and 1960, this team flew aerobatic demonstrations in their gloss black painted Hawker Hunter jets at Airshows all over Britain, including the Farnborough show in 1958, where the team captured a world record by looping 22 Hunters in formation. 

In commemoration of this, XV582 was given this smart all-over gloss black scheme, initially for just a static ‘At Home’ Airshow appearance at Leuchars in 1989, but proved so popular that she exhausted her remaining airframe hours the following year as Treble One squadron’s display aircraft. 

Known as ‘Black Mike’ because of her colour and her squadron letter, XV582 became the aircraft every RAF pilot wanted to fly, but with her Airshow commitments and low remaining flying hours, only a fortunate few managed to do so. 

Making her final flight on 22nd September 1990, ‘Black Mike’ was retired to become a static star of many a Leuchars Airshow, but always retaining her iconic status with aviation enthusiasts.