Originally Posted by
TheVulcan
Does anyone have any details ?
XA904 damaged landing Waddington 1961
XH 556 u/c collapse April 1966
There was a spectacular undercarriage collapse at Finningley about that time too. As the aircraft powered up the undercarriage retracted and the aircraft settled down rupturing the main fuselage fuel tank.
Fuel was welling around the entrance door so the canopy was blown and Kim Bunting, an OCU staff navigator, was first out standing on the copilot's hand as the co tried to shut down the fuel system. He followed with a boot on his head and a graceful exit down the side of the cockpit.
Allegedly he watched the rest of the proceedings from the safety of the crewroom as the student crew followed.