Lightning v Spitfire

[mmitch]

Interesting post on Key Historic about a trial between a Spitfire XIX and a Lightning in 1963.
Spitfire and Lightning? - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums (http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=121686)
mmitch.

[Lightning Mate]

A well-known trial.

The Lightning F3 did not have guns (I did my first tour on it) and the missile could not lock to the relatively low temperature Spitfire exhaust.

Lesson - never build a fighter/interceptor without a gun.

edit: I expect newt and BOAC will be along shortly......

[newt]

Always have a gun LM!

:ok:I suppose a close supersonic pass might have had some effect if only on the pilots ability to keep his underpants clean!!

[Lightning Mate]

In your case newt you could do a barrel roll around him and he'd die laughing. :E

[newt]

Very funny LM:D

In your case you could do a perfecty executed QFI type 45 deg banked turn and roll out in his twelve o'clock!:\:\:\

[Lightning Mate]

Thirty minutes to respond mate.

Sharpen up. :)

[CoffmanStarter]

Ah ... But can you fly a Lightning with two prosthetic legs :E

[Lord Spandex Masher]

Would they give it a shorter take off run?

[Herod]

...or would it need a jump start?

[cuefaye]

Just goes to show - a useles piece of combat kit. But my, it was sporty, and provides the likes of LM and Newt with a plethora of wibble stories to humour themselves with :zzz:

Now, about the combat-proven Buccaneer -------------------

[sevenstrokeroll]

how many looked at the topic/subject and thought of the P38 Lightning before the BACLightning?

and all fighters should have a gun...and I would prefer more than one...and enough ammo to sink a supertanker.

[reynoldsno1]

ISTR the Beaufighter had TEN guns ....:ok:

[chiglet]

Don't forget that during 1963 in Singapore/Borneo the active RAF fighters were Javelins [60/64 Sqn] and Hunters [20 Sqn] both with cannons.. As a scopie at 487SU Kuching, I was invoved in a couple of Javelin scrambles, against P51s.

[newt]

Now, about the combat-proven Buccaneer -------------------

We await the stories with interest cuefaye:O:O

[Monsun]

An ex RAF fighter pilot once told me that a similar trial was carried out at Boscombe Down using a Harvard as the target. The fighter might have been a Javelin. Any confirmation of this would be most welcome.

[Lightning Mate]

There's no such animal as an "ex RAF fighter pilot".

He might not fly anymore, but it's all about attitude.

That attitude stays with him for life.

Wanna fight?

[Monsun]

Not with you Duk it would spoil the memories!

[Roland Pulfrew]

There's no such animal as an "ex RAF fighter pilot".


That's true. They never become "ex" because they will always tell you that they "are". :E

[fade to grey]

Some are very modest.
We had one at squadron 2000 who was deaf as a post....bloody nice chap though.

"How many 757 captains does it take to change a light bulb....?"

[Lightning Mate]

Monsun,

Get back to the "wot" thread mate.

I know what it is but I'm giving someone else a chance.

[ex-fast-jets]

Surely those who flew Lightnings were "Interceptor Pilots", not fighter pilots................

[Lightning Mate]

I'm not taking that bait.

I was in Fighter Command.

[Lord Spandex Masher]

So was the Royal Observer Corps!

[newt]

Be careful Bomber! We know where you live!!:E:E:E:E:E

[BOAC]

So was the Royal Observer Corps- and I was with them too, so YES! I qualify.:)

[ShyTorque]

Damn - I thought this thread was about BSA motorbikes. :E

[Ubehagligpolitiker]

"You can tell a fighter pilot but you can't tell him much!"

[BEagle]

Surely those who flew Lightnings were "Interceptor Pilots", not fighter pilots................

Nope, they were SkyGods!

"When I grow up, I want to be a fighter pilot"

"Sonny, you'll have to choose!"

[brokenlink]

BomberH - I thought "Interceptor Pilots" had names like "Destiny Angel", spoke with a husky voice and were products of the late Gerry Andersons imagination?

[ex-fast-jets]

Like newt???

[newt]

Exactly:D:D:D:D:D

[Wholigan]

Bwahahahahahaha. Nice dart Bomber. ;)

[AGS Man]

But God invented Engineers cos even Fighter Pilots need heroes!

[cuefaye]

I was in Fighter Command.


Not on Lightnings you weren't. Only briefly as a 229 OCU stude. So in reality, you were never ever a fighter-pilot!

[newt]

I think you mean "never a Fighter Command pilot"

[cuefaye]

If you say so -----

[Milo Minderbinder]

I wonder if they may be trying the new Lightning against the Spitfire.......

http://defense-update.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/spitfire_lightning21-595x1024.jpg

http://defense-update.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/spitfire_lightning22.jpg

these are lifted from
Spitfire, F-35A in a Rare Photo Op | Defense Update - Military Technology & Defense News (http://defense-update.com/20120919_spitfire_f35_edwards.html)

[newt]

I do!

If you fly a fighter aircraft then you are by definition a fighter pilot!

The Lightning was a fighter so Lightning Mate was a fighter pilot!

[BOAC]

Quote:
I was in Fighter Command.
Not on Lightnings you weren't. Only briefly as a 229 OCU stude. So in reality, you were never ever a fighter-pilot! - indeed - he must really be as old as he looks. I thought Fighter Command disbanded in 1968?

[cuefaye]

newt

I'll go with Bomber - LM, and you, were interceptor pilots. But I know you revel in the myth, so enjoy!

[newt]

Not a myth at all cuefaye.

Out of interest, what did you fly in the RAF? Your profile is a wee bit sketchy on that topic!

[cuefaye]

Pointy things various - and yes, I was a fighter pilot. Beyond that, you'll work it out! And I know you - oh yes!! ;)

[newt]

So could you explain how your a fighter pilot and not an interceptor pilot?

Just out of interest of course:confused::confused::confused:

[cuefaye]

As I said, you'll work it out. Oh, and use of apostrophe old chap - awful example to the yoof!

[newt]

Right! So you have done ISS and must have got an A Grade?

Flew fighters but never did an intercept!

Go on, give me a clue:rolleyes:

Oh and must be retired otherwise you would not be posting on this thread in the middle of the working day!!

[cuefaye]

Now getting tiresome for everyone. Sorry, out!

[newt]

And I was just beginning to enjoy it:ok:

[t7a]

I'm amazed you can spell ISS Newt :ok:

Any more of this and we'll have to start on your simulator career :E

[Madbob]

Newt

If you were the driver (airframe) of an F-111 would you agree that:

a. It was pointy

b. It was a fighter

c. It was not an interceptor

If the answer was yes to all three, then maybe you have an answer for cuefaye, and where he might be coming from.

I could be wrong though.;)

MB

[Wholigan]

Nah ....... my guess is that he was RAF and did at least one exchange tour with the Navy on the Seajet. This - of course - would mean that he did intercepts (but I can't see where he denied doing them), he just claimed that newt's interceptor wasn't a fighter. I know at least 4 F16 drivers who would argue with that statement though. ;)

[fantom]

Point of order W, weren't you and I fighter pilots in the desert but didn't do intercepts?

[cuefaye]

Ok, ok, I'll rejoin this outing exercise, once ----

I didn't get an A grade in ISS (but was an A1 elsewhere:yuk:)

I didn't fly F-111, but know a lot that did

Didn't do a Navy exchange, but know of sea-things

Was a fighter pilot (like Wholi and fantom)

Did intercepts (sort of)

Know you all

And as for F16 v Lightning - c'morffit Roj

Am retired (that was clever, newt)

Other than that I'm incognito, and off to the pub for swifters :ok:

[Wholigan]

We were indeed fantom, we were indeed.

In fact, I firmly believe that being a fighter pilot is more about attitude than pretty much anything else.

[newt]

Then I suppose the F in front of F6 etc did not mean Fighter?

The primary role for the F2 and F2a in Germany was low level fighter cap and not medium to high level intercepts using ground based radar.

I rest my case:D:D:D:D:D

Now where is that whisky bottle?

[ex-fast-jets]

I do like happy endings!!

:rolleyes:

[langleybaston]

Quite enjoyable. Quite.

As Michael Caine is reputed to have said "Not a lot of people know ........"

that Barrage balloons were in Fighter Command, and my dad as an LAC RAFVR was i/c Balloon, Hydrogen, One, and Vehicle, Winch, One, which makes me a son of a fighter pilot. Coventry in the Blitz, N Africa, D Day landings and all.

Doesn't it?

[Exrigger]

Thought I would add this quote from R P Beamont from Airframe dated 25/10/1963 about the Lightning:

overall,he concluded, the Lightning, although a densely equipped radar fighter, was fully aerobatic and a fighter pilot's aircraft

Probably not relevant, but there are lots of interesting things about Lightnings in the book I have just read.