XV406

XV406 first flew in 1969. It began its career on trials, testing reconnaissance pods for the Ministry of Defence (Procurement Executive), then moved to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment for further work.

The museum lists service with 228 Operational Conversion Unit, the Phantom training unit, and 111 Squadron. Thunder & Lightnings adds 23, 29, 43 and 54 Squadrons; individual dates are not published. The RAF's Phantoms were built with Rolls-Royce Spey engines and British avionics, and served from 1969 into the 1990s.

When retired it became the gate guard at 14 Maintenance Unit, RAF Carlisle. In the early 2000s it was moved beside the Solway Aviation Museum site. A bureaucratic dispute left it just outside the museum's area for some time, though volunteers cleaned it unofficially.

It later became an official museum exhibit. In 2018 a restoration began to treat corrosion and repaint it in 111 Squadron colours. The pandemic limited work in 2020 and 2021, when its drop tanks were displayed beside it awaiting refitting. By late 2021 weather and birds had begun to mark the fresh paint.

Displayed outdoors in the aircraft park at Carlisle Lake District Airport, painted in 111 Squadron markings.