When I wasn't on Lightnings....
Nipva
Thanks for the answers. Sortie time is greater than I would have thought given what I've read here, expecting .4 to .5 to be an average. With the averages you mentioned, it was more than a point defense MiG21 type of aircraft.
Thanks for the answers. Sortie time is greater than I would have thought given what I've read here, expecting .4 to .5 to be an average. With the averages you mentioned, it was more than a point defense MiG21 type of aircraft.
West Coast,
All depends on the mark of Lightning. The F2A (used in Germany) had only fuel in the belly tank the canons were integral. It could do up to 1hr 15m at low level (its primary role) and up to 1hr 55m at high level. Obviously no targets attacked. I have a 10 minute flight in my log book flying an F3 Lightning, with both practice missiles expended against 2 Jaguars. This was a short range airfield defence mission. as soon as missiles were expended you had to land ASAP to refuel and (practice) rearm.
All depends on the mark of Lightning. The F2A (used in Germany) had only fuel in the belly tank the canons were integral. It could do up to 1hr 15m at low level (its primary role) and up to 1hr 55m at high level. Obviously no targets attacked. I have a 10 minute flight in my log book flying an F3 Lightning, with both practice missiles expended against 2 Jaguars. This was a short range airfield defence mission. as soon as missiles were expended you had to land ASAP to refuel and (practice) rearm.
The Mk2a had the large ventral and two top guns. It still had fuel in the wings!!!!! The missile pack could be replaced with a gun pack ( no effect on fuel load) to give the four gun fit. It could do over two hours on a border patrol! How do I know..... over 700 hours and I have fired all four guns in the range at Leewarden!😎😎😎😎😎😎
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Did you hit it?
Newt,
You were obviously an hours hog. 'Farmer S' did over 2 hours, at high level, but absolutely nothing happened, like on most border patrols, and he diverted to Hanover I believe at the end of his mission, to get a few more minutes. I hope your 700 hours were not all flown at endurance speed!
You were obviously an hours hog. 'Farmer S' did over 2 hours, at high level, but absolutely nothing happened, like on most border patrols, and he diverted to Hanover I believe at the end of his mission, to get a few more minutes. I hope your 700 hours were not all flown at endurance speed!
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I recall a pair of Saudi Lightnings having trouble landing at Tabuk because of a sandstorm in the early 80s. They stayed in the vicinity of the airfield with an engine shut down hoping for the storm to clear. It didn't clear so they pointed away from habitation and ejected. I think they managed something like 2 hrs 10 mins but I suspect the absence of a controlled landing prevented them from claiming the record :-)
EAP
EAP
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EAP
I was there at the time,I was chatting to my father in law to be outside the Lightning Sim, with a sandstorm on the horizon, we were surprised to see 4 jets launched. By the time I had legged it back to my abode viz was zero, just thick red sand. Two jets were talked down by the tower the other two refused the offer.Eventually the only option was Martin Baker. The reason for the whole thing? Brownie points for providing an escort for the local prince returning in his B707 from a shopping spree in Riyadh.
I was there at the time,I was chatting to my father in law to be outside the Lightning Sim, with a sandstorm on the horizon, we were surprised to see 4 jets launched. By the time I had legged it back to my abode viz was zero, just thick red sand. Two jets were talked down by the tower the other two refused the offer.Eventually the only option was Martin Baker. The reason for the whole thing? Brownie points for providing an escort for the local prince returning in his B707 from a shopping spree in Riyadh.
They look horrible painted
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Wattisham Q Sheds
Wattisham 1970, Bomber Comm....oops Strike Command V Force dispersal exercise and three Vulcans inbound when it was realised that in order to get to the ORP they would have to taxy past the Q sheds.
Problem! MPBW (precursor to the DOE) had recently erected a VERY large sign to the side of the taxiway carrying a warning about the possible sudden appearance of two shiny jets crossing your path and that weren't going to stop for you. So what? well as I said the sign was VERY large and would not have permitted the passage of a Vulcan wing. As a result Baseball (SATCO) scrambled yours truly in Rover 1 to lay said sign flat in the grass. Again, and, in accordance with sods law, yet another problem. In their wisdom, MPBW had not only built two sockets for the signpost legs, they had concreted them in!
A quick call on Pye to inform the tower of such and a reply from Baseball (Sqn Leader Jack Harrild, a man much respected by the tower staff) ordering me, in no uncertain terms, to move the offending sign.
With the first Vulcan already streaming his brake chute and the other two not far behind, I used the largest signpost retrieval tool I could in the time available - Rover 1!
Apparently there was amazed and amused laughter in the tower when, having taken out one leg of the offending signpost, I had to execute a swift reversal in order to attack the second leg.
The day was saved. Three Vulcans defending the nation and ready to go within 4 minutes, 1 Land Rover radiator replaced and the charge of deliberately damaging one of her majesties vehicles dropped on the orders of SATCO.
Problem! MPBW (precursor to the DOE) had recently erected a VERY large sign to the side of the taxiway carrying a warning about the possible sudden appearance of two shiny jets crossing your path and that weren't going to stop for you. So what? well as I said the sign was VERY large and would not have permitted the passage of a Vulcan wing. As a result Baseball (SATCO) scrambled yours truly in Rover 1 to lay said sign flat in the grass. Again, and, in accordance with sods law, yet another problem. In their wisdom, MPBW had not only built two sockets for the signpost legs, they had concreted them in!
A quick call on Pye to inform the tower of such and a reply from Baseball (Sqn Leader Jack Harrild, a man much respected by the tower staff) ordering me, in no uncertain terms, to move the offending sign.
With the first Vulcan already streaming his brake chute and the other two not far behind, I used the largest signpost retrieval tool I could in the time available - Rover 1!
Apparently there was amazed and amused laughter in the tower when, having taken out one leg of the offending signpost, I had to execute a swift reversal in order to attack the second leg.
The day was saved. Three Vulcans defending the nation and ready to go within 4 minutes, 1 Land Rover radiator replaced and the charge of deliberately damaging one of her majesties vehicles dropped on the orders of SATCO.
Last edited by ACW342; 31st Jul 2017 at 16:10.
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ISTR a similar 'panic obstacle clearance' at Waddo. Wasn't it the Britannia that only had about 10" clearance under the prop tips? And we were festooned with 12"+ snow flags all along the taxiway?
Nutloose:
Where's the speedo in that cockpit?
Just watching the altimeter increasing as she went vertical @ Mach 1 would be enough to hypnotise most people - yuck what a claustrophobic environment.
Where's the speedo in that cockpit?
Just watching the altimeter increasing as she went vertical @ Mach 1 would be enough to hypnotise most people - yuck what a claustrophobic environment.
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The famous dual-indicator strip 'speedo' at the top of the panel showing IAS and Mach on separate scales. The 2 scales moved independently, reflecting the change of Mach number with altitude.
Note 0,4, 0.5 etc. including finer graduations approaching M1.0
PS ... never on Lightnings, but I did have MS Flight Sim
Note 0,4, 0.5 etc. including finer graduations approaching M1.0
PS ... never on Lightnings, but I did have MS Flight Sim
Last edited by MPN11; 1st Aug 2017 at 17:00.
