Does anyone know of an EE Lightning for sale that is ground running condition.

XR724 might be for sale at Binbrook, she looked a bit sad last time I was there though.

Thunder-and-Lightnings have a note that XS919 is for sale, or rather, "the owners ... happy to consider offers to take her off their hands." Not sure how much work you would need to get her into ground running condition.

As far as Im aware, there are no lightnings for sale that could be considered for running, 919 is far from ever running again, corrosion is rife and the asking price seems a little OTT to me considering the cost of dismantling, moving and rebuilding her which would be at least another 5k

Engines, pipes, ATBG's, starters,reheat pumps, special seals etc etc etc etc are all very hard to come by in what you might call 'running' condition, these jets are not toys

Remember most lightnings in museums have been 'cut' though their wings for road transport, this renders them useless for running again as the wings are 'wet' you would need to find an 'uncut' set of wings. Ummmmmm

Then you gotta re wire it, as most 'roaded' lightnings had their noses removed which means cutting though the looms as they are wired from end to end, no joints, have you seen the size of the looms on a Lightning ?

All aircraft are now 20 years plus mostly stood outside in the UK's climate

724, as far I know is not for sale, Charles Ross and the Lightning assosiation are the men to get in touch with, good luck with that one

'Running' is a large sweeping statement that comes with 10's of thousands of pounds of outlay, thousands of hours work, litterally tons of spares, special tools and ground equipment all with people who know exactly what they are doing

I know all this, belive me ;)

The only runners in the UK are our two at Brunty, 728 and 904, XS458 at Cranfied, XR724 at Binbrook and the F53 at Gatwick which being brought back to life slowly (10 years of work so far with a dedicated weekend team)

Best you can hope for is to talk to Wheelgate who own 919 and maybe get a static exhibit that needs tons of TLC

If you want to see Some Lightning 'action' come along to our twlight reheat run at Brunty on 28th Nov

Lightning Preservation Group Based at Bruntingthorpe Airfield near Leicester (http://www.lightnings.org.uk/)

Cheers;)

So are either of the Bruntingthorpe Lightnings for sale?

You are joking I assume. :eek:

Having met the LPG peeps on a few occasions, I think it is a safe bet to say after 21 years of sacrifice including blood, sweat and tears, they will be remaining in the hands of the LPG and staying in the very nearly completed RAF Wattisham QRA shed that they have rebuilt by themselves.

Pop along on the 28th Nov and ask if they are for sale. :ugh:

Checkflaps. :E

No I am not joking, I am looking for a Lightning so unless you ask the question how would I know?

I can assure you 110% neither of our two Lightnings at Bruntingthopre are for sale, and wont ever be, not after half a life time of TLC, our own cash and countless hours spent rebuilding the QRA hanger to house them both

Seriously I honestly do not know of any Lightnings for sale apart from XS919, which Im affraid is not a candiate for ever running again, she would however after alot of work make a nice static exhibit, but no more than that, she is to far gone

Some pics of her taken back in May 2008

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a273/320psi/P1010035-5.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a273/320psi/P1010039-3.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a273/320psi/P1010040-3.jpg


And how she once looked Aug 87, the Last Last Lightning show, where she flew in the Last diamond nine formation

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a273/320psi/LPG/Binbrook/11.jpg

The only others in the world are the four in SAfirca and the AALO's T5 XS422 at Stennis USA, which is slowly being worked on for flight

Maybe get intouch with Mike Beachyhead the AALO or the Lightning assosiation at Binbrook:)

Cheers

320PSI
Thanks already investigated XS919 was cut up during transportation so no good for running.

Yeh ok.
There are so few left now that havent been cut at some time

Good luck with your quest :ok:.

Are you serious about 'running' ?

Runnable Engines are virtually impossible to find now, along with so many other important parts within a Lightning

Try the Lightning lads at Binbrook, Charles Ross is the man to speak to :)

320PSI
Did you fix them or fly them?

I fix them, own them along with my fellow 11 LPGers and build Q sheds (well one Q shed) ;)

I also antidet run them, so know 'abit' about what goes on ;)

I have the scars to prove it ;)

Whats your 'history' ?

Leeming 1980-1984 CFS, watched one on div take the rag, sat there for months due damage, it left the hangar eventually. Standard departure, radar xxxxx passing !!!!! xxxxx confirm heading? neg vertical climbing !!!!!
only way to go.
Now I sit there at 450 and above with pax :bored:

Sound interesting, very 'Lightning' ;)


If you ever want to come to Bruntingthorpe to 'talk 'lightnings', see the Q shed and have a close look round our aircraft, you are more than welcome anytime.:)

Just PM me when you want to come over, we are always there at the weekends.

If we time it right, might even get to see us run one of them ;)

Here they both are, earlier this year before we got the front and side cladding on the shed, windows went in last weekend, back doors next

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a273/320psi/P1011198-1.jpg

Will do, did fly into there between 97 - 99 in biz jet when JP had his race track for corporate days, had a good look around, I think the Vulcan had just gone inside the hangar about then but do remember the Lightnings sat outside with other aircraft, never did see them run.

320psi,

Keep it up Mate.
By the way - XS919. Did Tremblers operate the F6?

I think I'm correct in saying that Russell Carpenter's beautifully looked after T5 XS458 at Cranfield is currently the only 'running' Lightning in which both engines are fully operational, including re-heat. I believe that Brunty ones have an engine each at present don't they?

Lightning-T5 home (http://www.lightningt5.com/)

He does monthly 're-heat runs' and for a fee, allows someone to accompany Dennis Brooks, the current pilot, in the cockpit.

I was allowed to film recently in the cockpit, whilst chief engineer Jonathan Maynard did an engine check with static re-heat, a great experience.

Next Saturday, 17th October there are two 're-heat' runs during the day at Cranfield.

Postfade, Im not sure where your getting your info about us and our aircraft from but I can assure you both Lightnings at Brunty are servicable, all four Avons and reheats work at the Mo, as they have since they were delivered to us ;)
Along with everything else, in a 'Lightning' kind of way ;)

Both were fast taxied together at our July open day this year, piloted by Dennis Brooks and John Ward


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a273/320psi/brunty0289.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a273/320psi/lpg2.jpg




And XR724 at Binbrook is complete and runnable with some work ;)

Lightning mate, dont think so, could stand corrected though ;)

By the way - XS919. Did Tremblers operate the F6?

Yes, albeit very briefly.

3 x F.6's (XR747 'X', XR752 'Y' & XS895 'Z') were borrowed from 23 Sqn in the spring of 1974 to help see out the final 6 months or so of Lightning service with 111 during the transition over to the F.4.

There's a photo of XS895 in 111 markings in Ian Black's book.

Sorry for the 'duff gen', 320psi...they do look good together in that photo.
Wish I'd been there.
DT

And XR724 at Binbrook is complete and runnable with some work http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/wink2.gif

320
Thank you for the info do you have contact details to see if XR724 is for sale, if so please pm me.
fastjet45

PM sent ;)