ISTR during my tour at Akrotiri 1973-75 a certain F/L Ploszek having a reheat zone hydraulic union leak, that ignited and became a welding torch that attached the tail plane to the fuselage. How I heard it, the fire was brought under control but the tailplanr remained immobilised. By a feat of superb airmanship, the whiskered one used differential throttle to control pitch, and safely landed the jet back on base. I believe that the SEM to wrap all hydraulic unions in the reheat and jet pipe zones was introduced as a direct result of that incident. Whatever, he could have opted for a direct heading to sea and a Martin Baker let down. Anyone have any knowledge of the incident, I'm sure I'm not imagining it.
Smudge
