Leuchars Collection

RAF Lightning F Mk. 6 - RAF Leuchars
Royal Air Force English Electric Lightning F Mk.6 XR760 H of No.23 Squadron at RAF Leuchars Date: 1969

Panavia Tornado F3 of 111 (F) Squadron based at RAF Leuc?
Panavia Tornado F3 of 111 (F) Squadron based at RAF Leuchars dispenses chaff and flares over the North Sea

Ground crew relax in their crew room at RAF Leuchars, January 1992. left to right: Corporal Tony Grane, Corporal Paul Blevins, Corporal John Tennick, Sergeant Brian Robertsoon, Sergeant Steve West

RAF Typoon Aircraft in the Middle East
A pair of Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft taking off from an airbase in the Middle East. Royal Air Force personnel from 6 Squadron, RAF Leuchars

Royal Air Force Typhoon Aircraft from 6 Squadron
Two Royal Air Force Typhoon jets of 6 Squadron, based at RAF Leuchars in Fife, Scotland are pictured enroute to a practice bombing exercise at Cape Wrath

Avro 683 Lancaster ASR-3
A 179 Squadron Air Sea Warfare Development Unit (Aswdu) Royal Air Force RAF Avro 683 Lancaster ASR-3 Parked on Wet Apron Date: 1940s

St Athernase church (12th century), Leuchars, Fife, Scotland, UK

RAF Hawker Nimrod II, K3654, preparing for catapult launch at No.1 RAF Flying Training School, Leuchars, Scotland Date: 1938

BAC Jet Provost T. 5 XW307
British Aircraft Corporation Jet Provost T.5 XW307 66, at RAF Leuchars. Date: circa 1970

McDonnell Douglas F-4E-42-MC Phantom 69-0266
United States Air Force - McDonnell Douglas F-4E-42-MC Phantom 69-0266 (msn 3798, base code RS'), of the 526th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

Sikorsky S-61L V-277
Royal Danish Air Force - Sikorsky S-61L U-277 (msn 61-277), of Eskadrille 722, at RAF Leuchars. Date: circa 1975

Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR. 1 XW919
Royal Air Force - Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 XW919 (msn ), of 233 Operational Conversion Unit, at RAF Leuchars. (The aircraft of 233 OCU retained the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit markings)

McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II 65-0891
United States Air Force - McDonnell RF-4C-26-MC Phantom 65-0891 (msn 1508, base code RR), of the 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, at RAF Leuchars. Date: 1971

Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF. 14
Royal Radar Establishment - Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.14 WS838, at RAF Leuchars on 21 April 1970. Date: 1970

McDonnell Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR. 2 XV401
McDonnell Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 XV401 (msn 2885/9231), of No.41 Squadron, at RAF Leuchars. Date: circa 1969

McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom FG. 1 XT861
McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom FG.1 XT861 (msn 2383, base code V'), of 892 Naval Air Squadron, at RAF Leuchars. ( The base code V is odd, as Victorious never carried Phantoms)

McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG. 1 XT869
Royal Navy - McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1 XT869 (msn 2623, base code R, call-sign 002'), of 892 Naval Air Squadron, embarked on HMS Ark Royal (R09), at RAF Leuchars on 15 September 1973

McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR. 2 XV418
Royal Air Force - McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2 XV418 (msn 3036/9248), of No.41 Squadron at RAF Leuchars on 14 September 1974. Date: 1974

Gloster Javelin F(AW). 9 XH905 L
Royal Air Force - Gloster Javelin F(AW).9 XH905 L (msn ), of No.11 Squadron, at RAF Leuchars on 17 September 1966. Date: 1966

Canadair CC-144B Challenger 144613
Canadian Armed Forces - Canadair CC-144B Challenger 144613 (msn 3035, 601/CL-600-2A12), at the RAF Leuchars Battle of Britain display on 21 September 1991. Date: 1991

Ilyushin Il-76MD 01 Red
Russian Air Force - Ilyushin Il-76MD 01 Red (msn 1003401024), at RAF Leuchars on 21 September 1991. Date: 2011

LEUCHARS TORNADO JET MATT NEAL GORDON SHEDDEN
2006 Dunlop British Touring Car Championship. Knockhill, Scotland. 2nd - 3rd September. Matt Neal (GBR), Team Halfords Team Dynamics, Honda Civic racing Gordon Shedden (GBR)

Beagle Bassett CC. 1 XS772
Royal Air Force - Beagle Bassett CC.1 XS772, of the Southern Communications Squadron, at RAF Leuchars on 19 September 1969 Date: 1969

McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG. 1 XV581
Royal Air Force - McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1 XV581 E, of No.43 Squadron, at RAF Leuchars. Date: circa 1970

McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG. 1 XV571 A
Royal Air Force - McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1 XV571 A, of No.43 Squadron, at RAF Leuchars.. ( the FG.1 were former Royal Navy Phantoms, transferred to the RAF)

BAC Jet Provost T. 5 XW299 56
BAC Jet Provost T.5 XW299 56, of 1 Flying Training school, at RAF Leuchars, circa 1975. Date: circa 1975

BAC Jet Provost T. 5 XW287 80
BAC Jet Provost T.5 XW287 80, of the Red Pelicans aerobatic team from the Central Flying School, at RAF Leuchars, circa 1973. Date: circa 1973

Grumman C-1A Trader 146044
United States Navy - Grumman C-1A Trader 146044 Miss Liberty Belle (msn 74), embarked on USS Independence (CVA-62), seen at RAF Leuchars

Avril Abdrews stands in the cockpit of a £2 million Phantom jet at RAF Leuchars in
Avril Abdrews stands in the cockpit of a £ 2 million Phantom jet at RAF Leuchars in Fife, June 1973. A place with special memories for her parents

Children of pilots from 43 Squadron, the Fighting Cocks, pose for photographs on a phantom at Leuchars in Fife, August 1970

BAC One-Eleven-402AP XX919
Royal Aircraft Establishment - BAC One-Eleven-402AP XX919 (msn 91), at RAF Leuchars on 9 September 1981. Transferred to Boscombe Down on 1 April 1997; withdrawn from use at Boscombe Down

British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS. 1 XZ491
Fleet Air Arm - British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ491, call sign 711, of 899 Naval Air Squadron, embarked on HMS Invincible (base code N ), at RAF Leuchars on 17 September 1983 Date: 1983

Northrop NF-5B 909
Royal Norwegian Air Force - Northrop NF-5B 909 of 338 squadron, at RAF Leuchars Date: 1981

Royal Air Force - SEPECAT Jaguar GR. 1 XX742
Royal Air Force - SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 XX742 (msn S.39, call-sign 14 ) of 226 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Leuchars. XX742 was first flown on 21 October 1974

Kay Gyroplane Type 33-1 G-ACVA
Kay Gyroplane Type 33/1 G-ACVA (msn 1002) at the Fifty Years of Flying Exhibition, held at RAF Hendon. G-ACVA was first flown on 18 February 1935 and last flown at Perth on 16 August 1947

Royal Air Force - McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom FG. 1 XV573
Royal Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom FG.1 XV573 (msn 3065/9327) at RAF Leuchars. (The F-4K - FG.1 was the Royal Navy variant, transferred to the RAF on release from Fa service)

Royal Air Force - Hunting Jet Provost T. 4 XP634
Royal Air Force Hunting Jet Provost T.4 XP634 (call-sign 40), from RAF Linton-on-Ouse. at RAF Leuchars. XP634 was delivered on 29 June 1962 and sold for scrap on 17 August 1971. Date: 1960s

Fife KY16 0 Map
Postcode Sector Map of Fife KY16 0

BAe Systems Hawks RAF Red Arrows climb Big Nine Leuchars
RAFAT RAF Red Arrows BAe Systems Hawks climb in Big Nine formation at RAF Leuchars in September 2002 Date: 2002

Tornado ADV of the Royal Air Force landing on the base at Leuchars, Scotland

Ladys Dressing-Case, by W. Leuchars

Hawker Nimrod II K3654 immediately after launch
Hawker Nimrod II, K3654, immediately after launch from the catapult at RAF Leuchars, showing the trolley in its collapsed attitude

Hawker Nimrod II K3654 about to be launched
Hawker Nimrod II, K3654, about to be launched from a VIH type, telescopic tube catapult at RAF Leuchars

Hawker Nimrod II K3654
Hawker Nimrod II, K3654, at the point of release from the catapult at RAF Leuchars

Ladys Dressing-case, By W. Leuchars

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"Exploring the Rich Aviation History of Leuchars: From RAF Lightning F Mk. 6 to Tornado F3" RAF Leuchars, a renowned airbase located in Scotland, has witnessed countless iconic aircraft gracing its runways over the years. One such marvel was the RAF Lightning F Mk. 6, which roared through the skies with unparalleled speed and agility. Another legendary presence at Leuchars was the Panavia Tornado F3 of 111 (F) Squadron. These mighty machines stood as guardians of the airspace, ready to intercept any potential threats that dared to approach. While pilots soared high above, ground crew members found solace in their crew room during breaks at RAF Leuchars in January 1992. This space acted as a sanctuary where they could relax and recharge before returning to their vital duties. Amongst these remarkable aircraft were also notable gems like the RAF Hawker Nimrod II (K3654), BAC Jet Provost T. 5 XW307, McDonnell Douglas F-4E-42-MC Phantom 69-0266, Sikorsky S-61L V-277, Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR. 1 XW919, McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II 65-0891, Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF. 14 and McDonnell Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR. 2 XV401. Leuchars' legacy is further enriched by its association with McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom FG. 1 XT861 - an exceptional fighter jet that left spectators awestruck with its power and grace. As we delve into history's archives, we uncover Leuchars' unwavering commitment to aviation excellence and its role in shaping military operations throughout time.