Question re Lightning photo

[tony draper]

A while back someone posted a black and white photograph of a Lightning(on the military forum I think) nose diving into a plowed field, with a farmer on a tractor looking on in amazement,. .I had a my old hard in the machine yesterday and I came across it, (I don't recal copying it but obviously I must have).. .Does anyone know the details of this crash, I recal the pilot ejected ok, and I think the photo shows his seat and canopy cover coming down also.. .Got a mate who loves the Lightning almost as much as he loves the Vulcan, would like to send him pick plus details.. .Thanks in advance.

[spekesoftly]

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!

(Interestingly enough, George was also a former member of the 'Black Arrows' - including that 22 ship Hunter formation that looped at Farnborough in 1958)

[ 23 January 2002: Message edited by: spekesoftly ]</p>

[Gainesy]

Mornin Mr D.. .The pic was taken by a bloke covering a ploughing contest for Farmer's Weekly ( the airline pilot's journal). Write to Brian Miller (Mktg/PR mate) at Martin-Baker I,m sure they'll fix you up with a copy if you ask nicely.. .Martin-BakerAircraft Company Ltd.,. .Higher Denham,. .Nr Uxbridge,. .Middx. .UB9 5AJ

And keep your old hard out of the machine its pervy <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

[bonajet]

Hello Tony . .I've just emailed you a small jpeg file to your blueyonder address - not the best quality but you can send it on with comments!

[Wunper]

The ultimate bang seat marketing photo is on page 103 of John Jewels book "Engineering for Life" the Martin Baker story. Its copyright Martin baker 1979 printed by Cotwold press Oxford

Tractor reg number XAR658 for the reggie spotters!

Wunper <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[Vfrpilotpb]

Just for the Agricultural types,

The tractor was a Fordson Major, and the plough was made by Aveling Barford, and in those days the driver would have been paid £5.10.6d per week for a 50 hour stint, Mild beer was 7-1/2 old pence per pint and larger had still to be thought of in the UK, a portion of fish and chips was 9d and only the American forces had Anoraks, Oh what glorious days we have missed!

[newswatcher]

I think there is some confusion here, spekesoftly has it with XG332, a P1B version. The two incidents are described on this excellent site: . . <a href="http://homepages.solis.co.uk/~qbranch/index2.htm" target="_blank">http://homepages.solis.co.uk/~qbranch/index2.htm</A>

extracts follow:

XN723; C/N 95096 ff J.L. Dell 11-7-61 Samlesbury. To Boscombe Down for appraisal 6-2-62; to Rolls Royce, 2-4-63. Crashed at Hucknall while with Rolls Royce, due to fire in No 2 engine bay. Mr D. Withnal ejected safely.

XG332; C/N 95021 ff J.W.C. Squier 29-5-59 Samlesbury. Used throughout flying life by the BAC and de Havilland for Firestreak and Red Top trials. Crashed at Hatfield on Red Top programme, 13-9-62. Pilot, G. Arid ejected but injured on landing. This aircraft is featured in the famous photograph of the pilot’s ejection watched by tractor driver. Total flights 214, hours flown 138h 52m. Last flight 13-9-62.

There is a picture "online", but as it is in Dutch, I am not sure of the copyright situation! So I will post the site rather than the image:

<a href="http://www.hangout.no/foto/0112lightning_skydive.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.hangout.no/foto/0112lightning_skydive.jpg</A>

[spekesoftly]

Hi newswatcher, thanks for the confirmation, that tractor clinched it! Just for the record, the Lightning website you mention has a typo - G. Aird. (not Arid) <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> - of that I am certain <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[poetpilot]

you could have a great caption competition with that!