Originally Posted by
nipva
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A couple of points on your post, firstly 'normal' minimum recovery fuel pre diversion was 800lbs/side as I recall and secondly the Lightning did not have any 'overweight' landing restriction except that the F6 could not land with fuel in the overwing ferry tanks (if carried) and I doubt very much that they would have been for any activity in Aberporth Range.
I can't argue with what you say, but the Farnborough Lightning wasn't a 'normal' one; some of it's belly tank was occupied by a Mauser cannon so it was cleared to operate to lower fuel minimums.
As for being overweight for landing, maybe the pilots told us this because they enjoyed throwing it around when back in the circuit; I can remember it running if for a break just as a Buccaneer rolled; I warned the Bucc about the Lightning and the Lightning driver (Jack Frost if I recall) said 'do you have to give the game away' then there was the bang of reheat lighting he and promptly chased the Bucc as far as Basingstoke!