Originally Posted by
MightyGem
The place was Hatfield, 13/9/62, and the pilot was George Aird, a civilian test pilot with Hawker Siddeley Dynamics. The Lightning became uncontrollable after an engine bay fire had weakened a tailplane actuator, and the pilot was forced to eject from low level. Unfortunately he landed on some greenhouses, breaking both legs in the process!
He must had made a full recovery, since my old man later knew George Aird as the Hawker Diddeley chief test pilot. Very helpful guy apparently, particularly since the purpose of the engineering tests was not always well explained.
Mart