Footage of Russ Pengelly's Lightning aerobatic displays?

[Jetset Jimbo]

Dear all,

I am one of the sons of Russ Pengelly, who was the RAF's Lightning aeros display pilot in the early 1970s. Sadly he was lost in 1979 flying a Tornado prototype. I have been hunting for any footage of him flying for years. It would mean a great deal to me if anyone with even the vaguest idea of where I should search could reply.

Kind regards,
Jim

[RETDPI]

Russ was the pilot for the Air-to-Air photography of the Lightning done for Farnborough ('70 ?) from an RAE Hastings. ( He and Oscar Wilde were presenting the aircraft on behalf of the RAF)
Tom Hamill of " Flight" got some lovely shots of him barrel rolling the beast around the HP's wingtip -one of which made the front cover of "Flight" IIRC. They may have more in their archives..
Some years he later told me he that was subsequently sent a shot from Bee Beaumont - of him doing exactly the same with a P1 in the '50's.

[Jetset Jimbo]

Can I assume that you knew my father from your reply? If so I'd love to hear any stories you have. I think we have the pictures you are talking about from Flight but I have written to them anyway to ask for all photos and any footage they might have.

[forget]

You've probably got this- but good picture of your Dad here - on the ground.

http://www.servicepals.com/index.cfm/pcms/site.gallery.view_image/imageID/46864/

[Algy]

Happy days! (http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1972/1972%20-%200621.html)

[Jetset Jimbo]

Nope, I haven't ever seen that picture! It's fantastic. I'll send it to my mum, she'll be thrilled. Thank you!

[Jetset Jimbo]

Yes, that's a lovely shot. We have that one hanging on the wall at home. Looks like one of 23 Squadron's Lightnings, who dad flew with at Leuchars. Thanks very much for the link to the Flight archives, I had no idea there was an online archive.

[Yellow Sun]

JJ,

You have probably seen this site: 89 Entry RAF College (http://www.w4u.co.uk/~w4u.co.uk/public_html/89/89a.htm), but here it is in case you have not. You might wish to try through there.

Rgds
YS

[Jetset Jimbo]

Thanks very much - I hadn't seen this site before. I'm not sure what my father thought that haircut was about though! :)

[Yellow Sun]

Jetset Jimbo,

I have sent you a Private Message.

RGDS
YS

[lsh]

I believe that Al Pengelly was his brother?
Was a pilot on 230 when I joined them in '89.
He was pretty handy with a Puma!
lsh

[concordejohn]

I worked with russ while i was stationed at wattisham,he was a brilliant pilot and a gentleman.I was on the TFF from 1970 thru to 1972.I was fortunate enough to be selected to be the airframe mechanic to accompany lightning xm139 for the Parish air show.I have a good photo of the team incl russ taken just before we left RAF Wattisham.It was a sad day for me ,and,iwould imagine,for all the tff team when they heard of his sad,fatal accident.He got very close to heaven when he performed hie vertical climb at the airshows.he's reached there now and i'm sure resting peacefully.regards,john titmarsh.

[Mercury man]

I knew your dad when he was a school chum
to show I know him you’re grandad was called hector brother alan

[Wander00]

Jimbo, you have brought back memories of Cranwell 55 or so years back, I was on 88 Entry A Sqn, your Dad (and one Jerry Pook) on 89 A, so saw quite a lot of him.uy. Really nice guy Oddly, by then out of the RAF I was at a local government trade union conference at Blackpool when he had his fatal accident. which saddened me greatly. Best wishes to you and all your family

[GeeRam]

Russ Pengelly flying F.1A XM177 at Farnborough Airshow, probably 1972.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/750x525/7186l_491d49b0799988ad771d55f958cb69210dd8975e.jpg

[Haraka]

https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1972/1972%20-%200621.html

The reference in #5 above shows Russ at Farnborough in '70 with a 23 Sqn Lightning. We set this up together one night in the Mess as I was coordinating the arriving aircraft Air to Air photography at the time.
I was standing by Tom Hamill as he took the sequence, 8000 ft over Hampshire with the Hastings ( RAE Southern Squadron's WD480) freight door off.

[teeteringhead]

I do recall a good dit concerning (at a distance) Russ and his brother Alan (whom I did know). Alan was refreshing on the Wessex OCU (OK - HOCF) in the early 70s before going to Sharjah as QHI, while I was converting, also en route for Sharjah.

Al was in the crew room, trying to 'phone Russ at Colt (??) - military 'phones were trickier in them days. Al eventually got through to Russ' squadron, and although we could only hear half the conversation, it still had us ROFLOAO as I beiieve it would be put now.

AP: Could I speak to Flt Lt Pengelly please?
.................
AP: This is Flt Lt Pengelly.
................
AP: No, I want to speak to Flt Lt Pengelly.....
................
AP: But I am Flt Lt Pengelly..

and so on and so on for what seemed ages. Perhaps you had to be there, but the helpful explanatory words "it's my brother" never seemed to come out .........

[Mercury man]

Dear all,

I am one of the sons of Russ Pengelly, who was the RAF's Lightning aeros display pilot in the early 1970s. Sadly he was lost in 1979 flying a Tornado prototype. I have been hunting for any footage of him flying for years. It would mean a great deal to me if anyone with even the vaguest idea of where I should search could reply.

Kind regards,
Jimd
to the son of russ I new you’re dad and brother Alan I was a good friend of dad
when he was in school my family was a friend of hector and Alain you’re gran and grandad Alan and I were in the atc I lost contact with him when mum and dad shifted from Plymouth to exmouth

[Mercury man]

Can I assume that you knew my father from your reply? If so I'd love to hear any stories you have. I think we have the pictures you are talking about from Flight but I have written to them anyway to ask for all photos and any footage they might have.
i would like to hear from you Russell was a good friend when we were in school

[Jetset Jimbo]

i would like to hear from you Russell was a good friend when we were in school

Hello!! Sorry for my very very slow reply. Life has been full of ups and downs and I've not been on the site for a long time. Mum still lives in Tavistock, did you ever meet her? Drop me a PM and we can swap emails.

[Cornish Jack]

Didn't know Russ but flew with Alan on D Sqdn at Boscombe. Alan's lucky result from the winter trials Gazelle 'nasty' (particularly the aftermath) well makes the point that Test flying is a hazardous pursuit!

[tjackson]

I served on TFF at Wattisham from 1970 till it folded and 'the boss' took a place at ETPS. I flew with Russ Pengelly in one of our Chipmunks as well as servicing the lightnings. I was deeply saddened to hear of his demise. He was a very gifted pilot and a gentleman. I have a lot of photos of the crew and your Dad, if you want to get in touch.
Trev Jackson
Chief Technician
RAF Rtd

[Treble one]

Have you contacted the Lightning Preservation Group Based at Bruntingthorpe? Not only do they have to taxiable F6's (and a static F3) they have access to hours of Lightning flying videos and sell DVD's too. They also have a page on Facebook where they occasionally share flying from their archive collection..

https://lightnings.org.uk/

[dook]

I know someone who might have some video - I shall keep you informed.

[dook]

I have had no luck I'm afraid.

[Markrhodes]

Hi James,

I saw your story about the flight in SA. My father grew up in Cape Town and I’m pretty sure was flying with your dad at Leuchars. His name is Rich Rhodes. He and my mum always talked fondly of your father and the sadness of his loss. My father was also a Lightning display pilot and test pilot. I’m not sure if he has any footage but he will certainly have some good stories for you! His email is [email protected] if you want to ping him an email.

Kind regards,

Mark

[John-L]

James, I was in 90A so knew your dad reasonably well. Flew Lighrnings and was also a tp. No photos, but I do have something to say, but it's not for here: [email protected]