Thundercity

[northernmonkey]

Gentleman, after many moons of dreaming and wanting I'm finally in a position to be able to afford a trip to thundercity.

I am searching genuine advice on whether to opt for the lightning experience or the Buccaneer. Of course the lightning appeals and the hasty decision tells me to strap one on and let a grown up take me to the moon. I can't help but feel like ten grand will be over very quickly and that I could get more for my money with a flight in a Buccaneer.

I've dismissed the Hunter, for no reasson other than they don't make me as erect as the others.

Thoughts and ideas please gents.

[mike rondot]

Fly in the Lightning, it has two sticks. Both offer a fantastic experience, but in the Buccaneer you are guaranteed to be a passenger whereas in the Lightning you might get to fly it.

[northernmonkey]

But is the whole thing not going to be over very very quickly......

[Flying Lawyer]

But is the whole thing not going to be over very very quickly......
Thunder City offer various low level Lightning options which give you more airborne time but if you go for the climb to 50,000 feet experience (which most people do) they say it's about 40 minutes chock to chock.

I was going through 'Shall I, shan't I? It's an awful lot of money for 40 minutes but, on the other hand, it would be an experience of a lifetime etc etc' in Cape Town last year, and just about convinced myself it was worth the money, when the decision was made for me - there was a two month waiting list.

I settled for sitting in one and letting my imagination run riot. :)
Maybe one day.


Is it ten grand now?
In April 2005, they were charging (in Euros) the equivalent of about £7K.

[GeeRam]

Just got to be a ride in a Frightning..........:ok:
Just to wet the appitite, Thunder City managed to get all 4 x Lightnings up in the air for the very first (and maybe only time) just this weekend at the Yesterplaat air expo........:D :D
http://p.airliners.net/photos/middle/3/4/7/1114743.jpg

[Olly O'Leg]

I'm an FJ mate currently on GR4, so simliar (ish) to the Buccaneer. My Dad has an entry in his Air Cadet logbook from a Summer Camp he did in Germany - Lightning T5 0:15!!! He had the option of a duration flight or, in his words "Go f***ing mental". He chose "mental" and never regretted it. Did the famous Lightning take-off to some stupid height and basically glided back in a spiral descent - I'm sooooooooo jealous!!! :ok: :ok: :ok:

[northernmonkey]

If I'm honest 40 minutes is more than I expected.

I imagined tarmac to neptune in a couple of minutes then gliding home in another ten minutes. Thrilling and awesome as it seems can the money be better spent?

Is a buccaneer in the weeds just as much fun?

[woodring]

It is 36 years since my one and only flight in the 74 Sqn T5 ,but I still remember every second ,especially some really low passes over islands in the Mallaca straits. I have no experience of the Buccaneer,but I have never felt such exileration as that 25 minute trip. I actually got the chance to take control for a while and it was fantastic. Everything I had hoped for, and more.
Thanks S/L Craig ,wherever you are.

[Flying Lawyer]

Forgot to say -

It's best to book to fly soon after you arrive in Cape Town so you've got a chance of an alternate day if the weather's bad on the booked day.

Warning: They want full payment at time of booking but, if the flight can't take place at all because of weather, only refund you 80%! :eek:

20% of ten grand is a lot to lose.
I suppose they've got so much demand, they can get away with it.

[mutleyfour]

Cant wait to see the phots of that trip...you selling one of your houses mate?

[Olly O'Leg]

I know exactly the thought process going on in your head - "I can get much longer in the Buccaneer than in the Lightning - is it really worth that much?" And for me, the answer is "Yes". I can tell you now that, being someone who was privileged enough to have an early passenger flight in a Typhoon, comparing it to the GR4 from a purely "fun" standpoint, the acceleration, vertical climb and performance totally and utterly beat the GR4. If you want to experience a fast-jet flight then go for the Buccaneer (the Cat Deeley of jets - nice, lovely and really good-looking). If you want the ride of your life then go for the Lightning (kind of Jenna Jameson, no-holds-barred, something you'll remember FOREVER!). :eek:

[mutleyfour]

If you want the ride of your life then go for the Lightning (kind of Jenna Jameson, no-holds-barred, something you'll remember FOREVER!). :eek:

Or if you REALLY want the ride of your life ask Top Gear if you can borrow the Vampire?

[northernmonkey]

Olly, exactly right mate I appreciate your comparison....

A ride in Jemma Jameson at the time would be fantastic, but when you climb off and look over at the sleeker, more ladylike model would you not regret the rough ride and crave a spin on the nicer more elegant chick, knowing she has more stamina and would give you a longer more satisfying ride.

Wish you'd compared to Bucc to someone other than Cat Deeley, I want to hit her with a showel and saw her feet off.

[Olly O'Leg]

Yes, agreed, but as with Jenna, there's a damn sight more video evidence showing the Lightning giving chaps a better time than in the Bucc!

Imagine the other way around. You climb off Cat after a long, fantastic session, you look over at the outrageously filthy Jenna and you think "Bugger, if only........."

[northernmonkey]

Not disagreeing, am swinging towards the dirty whore who will innevitabley let me pot brown :D

Its just a lot of wonga for not a lot of time, but I guess thats not the reason I'm going, and I've never ever heard anyone say anything negative about a jolly in a Lightning

[Olly O'Leg]

Absolutely right fella. And from someone who gets to stonk around in a GR4 for a living, if I had the cash, I'd go Lightning if only to say "That was me...." Unfortunately, I have an expensive missus, which precludes such frivolity..... :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{

[Olly O'Leg]

Oh, and before you ask, she ain't Jenna or Cat!!!! :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{

[Jackonicko]

Done both, paid for neither (both were still in service).

Side-by-side, with a stick, or stuck in the back with no chance of seeing how it flies? One gives you a real FJ experience, the other's a bit like another flight in a 737 with a better view.....

I'm exaggerating, but given the choice, I'd go Lightning, Hunter, Bucc in that order.

[brickhistory]

Done both, paid for neither (both were still in service).
Side-by-side, with a stick, or stuck in the back...........

Oh, you're back talking about the aircraft again, sorry. Got distracted......:O

[Focks 2]

Have you considered a trip to Zhukovsky Northernmonkey? For 10 grand you could take a MiG-25 up to approx 80,000 feet, and at a rather brisk pace at that! Certainly something to tell the grandkids. If its got to be Thundercity, I'd take the Lightning. :)

[Olly O'Leg]

I saw her in "Jenna Loves Zhukovsky 2" and Jenna won every time.......

[northernmonkey]

Have you considered a trip to Zhukovsky Northernmonkey?

Yes mate, but they say its a max of 6'2 so I'm out there.....

Its also combined with a holiday, had to convince Mrs NM that its not just about me.

Olly, I was banned about three yeas ago for my rantings about Tornado pilots wives...... best not go there :E

Bone question but going to ask in anyway....... if I opt for the lightning, is 40 mins realistic or is that just optimism, I'm expecting more like 20mins, and a boner a cat couldn't climb up with crampons

[Conan the Librarian]

I also visit a Nikon forum where I found this thread. The pictures speak for themselves.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=20174165

Conan

[Solid Rust Twotter]

http://avcom.co.za/phpBB2/files/aad027_885.jpg

http://avcom.co.za/phpBB2/files/aad026_915.jpg

http://www.skycam.co.za/images/bac-formo230906.jpg

http://www.skycam.co.za/images/whz1722-230906.jpg

[ORAC]

Well that has to be God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, so who flies as No4? D*mn the CAA, none flying here in the UK.... :{

[Gainesy]

Go for the Shack, braai down the back at half-time, quick kip, game of crib, write a few postcards, take a few piccies of floaty targets various, beat the sh1t out of Green Point lighthouse and then back for a few(!) scoops .:)

But I doubt thats the sort of thing you had in mind.:p

[ORAC]

Did 2 or 3 trips down the North Sea in the back of the Shack for PI sorties off CY. Then the loooong, slow trog back to LM again. Still, the bomb runs on the ferries with eggs were a giggle....

Much preferred my couple of Lightning trips out of BK though, much shorter, but much more fun... :p

[AlanM]

Mate - just do the Lightning..... I have only done the Hunter and you could even do that in the UK. Don't end up being like those who never got to fly on Concorde and wished they did!!

http://www.pbase.com/kbmphotography/image/26059454.jpg

[mutleyfour]

Do the lightning NM, and then show us your pants upon your return!

[northernmonkey]

I rubbed myself down in lurpak last night and looked at my top trumps cards...

Lightning gave me more of a stir, and after reading the repsonces on here my mind is as good as made up.

Bone question time, and one that will undoubtedly get me a mocking, Assume you sit in the back of the Bucc? And is there any truth in the runour that thier maybe aan F-104 joining Thundercity shortly?

Thanks for all your input chaps, its been most helpful

Do the lightning NM, and then show us your pants upon your return!

I'll do better than that I'll post them to you :E

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Shucking Great Facklebomber isn't part of TC but was flying this weekend in CT.

Couple more to make you dribble in your shorts....

Hope TC gives the photog a freebie for all this great advertising.
http://avcom.co.za/phpBB2/files/aad060_119.jpg

http://avcom.co.za/phpBB2/files/aad059_171.jpg

http://avcom.co.za/phpBB2/files/aad058_164.jpg

[STANDTO]

Jenna might give you a go for ten grand!


"Yes mate, but they say its a max of 6'2 so I'm out there"

I thought there was a height issue with ejecting from a lightning.

I always thought I would be going for the Bucc. However, you are only here once. Mental has to win every time

[Ali Barber]

The flight to South Africa will be the "hours" trip, so it has to be the Frightening! One USAF visitor to Binbrook had a passenger ride and ended up getting diverted to Wattisham. By the time he got back on his second passenger ride, he had accumulated over an hour. We unpicked the zeros from a 1,000 hour badge and presented it to him!

[Hammer Head Too]

I got 37 minutes in the early eighties at Binbrook........... It's got to be the Lightning NM. Everything about those few minutes are etched on my memory forever ! Just do it Mate:) :) :) The smile won't go away for a long time.
HH2

[Solid Rust Twotter]

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/576/medium/IMG_8800_M_L_.jpg

[Solid Rust Twotter]

More from Avcom shot by Rare Bear. Drool inspiring...

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/500/medium/IMG_7115m_Large_.jpg

[mutleyfour]

Come on then NM, put us all out of misery, whats it to be?

[Heliport]

northernmonkey

I can't help but feel like ten grand will be over very quickly


If you meant ten grand in pounds it's worth looking at this thread > Link (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=245692)

[GeeRam]

Two of the 4 x Lightning pilots on this day were of course Mike Beachyhead himself in one of the T.5's and Thunder Cities Test Pilot Dave Stock was in one of the F.6's.
However the other two pilots that flew the other T.5 and F.6 look a tad familiar though....:ok:
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=143841