Does anyone remember the Phantom that was doing high AUW trials in 74 or 75?
It suffered a burst tyre at high speed in the take-off run and departed the runway to the north. The crew were unhurt but set up the world record for the 100yds in full flying kit.
The port undercarriage leg had collapsed and was pushed through the upper wing surface. I don't know what hidden damage there was, or whether it flew again but, to the uninitiated, it didn't appear to be beyond repair.
I can't remember if it was an RAF or RN aircraft, but I do recall that Hawker Siddeley supplied the crew. That struck me as an odd arrangement at the time, but a lot of odd things happened in R&D.
N o t a