Lightnings In Action

[Flying Lawyer]

Lightnings flying at the weekend (video)

Lightning 4-ship

Filmed at an airshow only two days ago.

English Electric Lightning - but not likely to be seen flying over England again, unfortunately.
Well done the South African CAA.



It's a fairly big file. If you're not on broadband, it's probably best to save to your hard disk first.

[WG774]

And the award for preserving some of Britain’s most historically relevant jets goes to…

…South Africa!

Many thanks for posting the clip!

Jolly good show by the crew at Cape Town Jets

[You want it when?]

Excellent, great to see them flying. Only need to find another five and a true diamond nine is back.

Thanks for sharing.

Is'nt the web wonderful - filmed two days ago and already round the world eat your heart out CNN.

[MikeeB]

It's clear to see why they are not allowed to fly in the UK from the video...............isn't it?

Thanks for the link. Just makes me want to go to CT more and more......

[VATCO]

Lightning

Thanks for that brings back lots of memories from various airshows a few years ago.

[kevmusic]

Originally Posted by MikeeB

It's clear to see why they are not allowed to fly in the UK from the video...............isn't it?

Yep. The air in the UK is obviously different.

[markcliff4d]

Good Video

Great to see these flying legends.
Remember seeing them daily flying around the Norfolk (UK) sky , based at RAF Coltishall which is now virtually closed or it will be in December.
Mark

[Fishtailed]

Check out the video that has just appeared on

www.macksaviation.com

Very interesting, in many ways!
Anyone know the pilot?

[MacksAviation]

Direct link to the 3 videos is here:

http://www.macksaviation.com/lightning.php?show=Warton

I hope your comments about being 'very interesting in many ways' is nothing for me to worry about .....

Original video was sent to me as none copyright and the owner wanted it to be viewed by as many other Lightning fans as possible.

Thanks

[Fishtailed]

Mack,
very interesting in the aircraft and the people involved, nothing else.

[Gainesy]

Macks,
Part 1 downloads OK but Pts 2 & 3 will not download.

[MacksAviation]

Downloads should work I think the popularity has been hitting the server quite hard just keep trying

[Croqueteer]

How about the Shack? That sounded much better!

[Mike7777777]

Part 2 is an exceptional video, a proper display! How close was the Lightning to stalling?

Is part 1 meant to be a silent movie Or do I blame Bill Gates!

[om15]

Just for interest, I took this photo at Exeter on 23 December 1992, this was a low pass prior to landing of XP693, this aircraft together with XR773 flew down from Warton for storage at Exeter Airport, and for the next few years endured the Devon weather, and I am very glad to see them in the air again.
I believe that this may well have been the last Lightning flight in UK airspace, is that correct? I spent a couple of years as A/fitt/A on the Mk 3, Mk6, Mk53 and Mk55 in the 1970s, very good to see the videos.
Best regards,
om15.

[Fishtailed]

How close was the Lightning to stalling?
Mike77etc, not as close as he was to the ground, I would say!!!

[BOAC]

The 'stall' in a Lightning was difficult to define as the 'stall' buffet began early and lasted a long time. The aircraft could easily be flown in heavy 'stall' buffet as Pete Chapman's outstanding Mk3 aero display showed, and as long as you kept the yaw as close to zero as possible it would remain manoeuvrable in the buffet and not bite. Generally a base turn in the circuit would be flown in 'light' buffet.

However, screw up and....................

[Fishtailed]

BOAC, where do we get to see Pete Chapmans outstanding Mk 3 aero display, is it on a video anywhere?
The clip on the Warton video wasn't a display as such, just youthfull? exuberence it appears! Exciting for the photographer, eh.

[BOAC]

I don't know of any videos of it. He was at the Lightning OCU with me in the early 70's when he was 'performing'. I'm pretty sure he went to Cathay and would have retired by now. Someone may know where he is and maybe of any video.

IIRC his display finished with a reheated final turn to landing.

[320psi]

Quote OM15:I believe that this may well have been the last Lightning flight in UK airspace, is that correct?

Hi, just to correct you, the last Lightning flight in the UK was our XS904 flown by Peter Orme from Warton to us at Bruntingthorpe on Jan 23rd 1993

Here's a few shots

Peter signs her out for the last time


Taxy out


Lift off


One final low fly by


Arrival at Brunty


Only a few feet to go


And down and the end of Lightning flights in the UK






Peter climbs out for the last time





And 904 joins 728 with us.


904 is at presnt in good health all systems servicable and due to run in anger at the May 27th open day, 728 is poorly at the moment, we are working hard to bring her No2 reheat back to health ready for May.
The QRA hangar is static at the moment as we spent up on the concrete back in Oct 06, this years open days will hopfully raise more cash to get the roof on.

Here they both are taxing back from a pairs run in 2005


Great to see that clip by the way, got a few stills from a visit awhile back if your interested

Andy B (LPG)