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Called in to look at this.
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 1:49 pm
by madthemad
Having worked with Lightnings at Binbrook I took this today and memories came flooding back.
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 5:54 pm
by gus
Nice.
My all time favourite jet aircraft. I would love to see one fly again.
Gus
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 7:16 pm
by madthemad
The only place you can see them fly is South Africa I think. Not allowed here in UK. But I think at Bruntingthorpe they do engine runs on the taxiway. Look up English Electric Lightning Appreciation Group on Google.
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 12:24 am
by tanneman
Cape Town Airport is where the company is based. They fly the 2 seat trainer.
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:22 am
by SP250
And it has just been re-commissioned and flown again since a couple of years ago when they were grounded.
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 1:36 pm
by el-nicko
If I'm not mistaken, That's Castlairs' 'gate-guard' at Trebrown, Liskeard . Took an Agusta A109E Power in there (my instructor was P1) for servicing once. I seem to remember a power-line was strung at about 100ft or so above the valley floor from one side to the other. Made the approach 'interesting'.
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:07 pm
by Grip Fast
I remember them being scrambled from RAF Leuchars when I were a lad. In the middle of the night, it was a scary but exhilarating noise. Occasionally we they would release a photo of a Russian Bear they had intercepted over the North Sea; usually with a Russian waving back from one of the windows. Serious war games.
They were impressive at the annual air display, climbing vertically from the end of the runway until out of sight - just the noise left as evidence of its existence.
The coolest jet aircraft ever (IMHO).
Anyone know what mark that is in the picture? Dredging the deepest corners of my aircraft-spotting youth, I think it's a mark VI (fins on the underbelly bulge).
Edit - except they were designated F.6 not mark VI - I had to look it up (could I be turning into James May?)
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 1:34 pm
by Merecat
I remember seeing an F mk6 probably from 11 Squadron do a high speed pass at Biggin hill in the days when you could drop in to the valley and pop up over the hedge.
Thats exactly what he did. Over the road, round a double decker bus and down the centreline at about 500kts. Then lit the burners, stood it on its tail and climbed vertical, topping out at 18000ft
Awsome piece of kit
