Blocked runway early 70's
Due to very strong tailwinds we were about to break the BZN - AKR Britannia East Med speed record when we reported downwind for RWY28. Unfortunately a Lightning ahead of us suffered a burst tyre on landing and came to a stop two thirds of the way along the runway. We were told to hold overhead at 1000' while they sorted it out. Ten minutes later an Akrotiri Vulcan arrived from a low level navex and announced he was short of fuel. After a lot a phaffing around nobody could say how long it would take to clear the runway.
The Vulcan pilot threatened to divert to Nicosia if he couldn't land within the next ten minutes which, he said, would be no problem with the strong westerly wind. When ATC cleared him to land at his own discretion I positioned the Brit above the Vulcan as it was on short finals. It appeared to be almost hovering as it crossed the threshold and stopped well inside the first third of the runway - most impressive. Half an hour later they towed the Lightning off the runway and we landed on schedule.
Last edited by brakedwell; 13th Feb 2012 at 10:55.