Lightning
At Wattisham, my number two forgot to put his wheels down on final approach. ATC asked him to confirm his landing lights were on!! This was confirmed and a very short landing ensued! The aircraft remained upright and he walked away from it. I believe tha aircraft was only declared Cat 5 because the Sqn was due to fold in a couple of months. Otherwise it could have been repaired and returned to service!The Lightning was a very strong airframe and a delight to fly!
In mitigation it was his fourth sortie of the evening and the AOC kindly took this into consideration and reduced the subsequent punishment!
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Wheels-up in a Lightning
LM
OC 5 (Wg Cdr ****) managed a spectacular wheels-up in a lightning at Binbrook c. 1984. It was totally un-intentional. The SOP used to be after every low approach or (very rare) roller was to raise the gear. However, this was causing unacceptable wear to the uc hydraulics as the Lightning "soldiered on" - and so the SOP was changed to leave the gear down.....
So when going downwind doing the normal V/A's selecting UC instead of lowering the gear raised it. As runway caravans were done away with on all airfields except those with flying training there was no one specifically looking as the ac turned finals.
Aircraft damage was minimal apart from a flattened ventral and it stayed straight and upright. I think it was either a T5 or and F3...
MB
OC 5 (Wg Cdr ****) managed a spectacular wheels-up in a lightning at Binbrook c. 1984. It was totally un-intentional. The SOP used to be after every low approach or (very rare) roller was to raise the gear. However, this was causing unacceptable wear to the uc hydraulics as the Lightning "soldiered on" - and so the SOP was changed to leave the gear down.....
So when going downwind doing the normal V/A's selecting UC instead of lowering the gear raised it. As runway caravans were done away with on all airfields except those with flying training there was no one specifically looking as the ac turned finals.
Aircraft damage was minimal apart from a flattened ventral and it stayed straight and upright. I think it was either a T5 or and F3...
MB
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Hey-Ho, well I did say to the best of my knowledge.
I was unaware of both of the above events - or possibly had forgotten. Aging brain, and I was doing other things at the time both events occurred.
However, surprising they stayed upright with minimal damage. If both were small Ventral types, I would expect the tail end to 'land' first and such an event usually resulted in a Cat 3 at least.
lm
I was unaware of both of the above events - or possibly had forgotten. Aging brain, and I was doing other things at the time both events occurred.
However, surprising they stayed upright with minimal damage. If both were small Ventral types, I would expect the tail end to 'land' first and such an event usually resulted in a Cat 3 at least.
lm
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I witnessed,at Geilers, a 92 sqn F2 (late 67/early 68?) having a sink back on take off and sliding in a spectacular shower of sparks , then a tail high banner of flame the length of the runway as he ground off first the ventral fin then the tank to slide to a stop straight and level .
The Boss then took off on the good side before they closed the runway as they were due to relieve Battle flight at Gut.
The crashed a/c was recovered and converted to an F2A later I believe . (According to Lightning ,Birth of the Legend , S. Scott)
The Boss then took off on the good side before they closed the runway as they were due to relieve Battle flight at Gut.
The crashed a/c was recovered and converted to an F2A later I believe . (According to Lightning ,Birth of the Legend , S. Scott)
Last edited by neilf92; 21st Feb 2011 at 09:15.
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LM
quote
"...slide to a stop straight and level."
I suppose that if he was on the runway then he would be level then..."
In this instance I'm not sure but think it didn't even drop a wing on coming to a standstill it was that level - hence my remark.
quote
"...slide to a stop straight and level."
I suppose that if he was on the runway then he would be level then..."
In this instance I'm not sure but think it didn't even drop a wing on coming to a standstill it was that level - hence my remark.
Last edited by neilf92; 10th Nov 2009 at 18:38.
OC 5 (Wg Cdr ****) managed a spectacular wheels-up in a lightning at Binbrook c. 1984. It was totally un-intentional. The SOP used to be after every low approach or (very rare) roller was to raise the gear. However, this was causing unacceptable wear to the uc hydraulics as the Lightning "soldiered on" - and so the SOP was changed to leave the gear down.....
So when going downwind doing the normal V/A's selecting UC instead of lowering the gear raised it. As runway caravans were done away with on all airfields except those with flying training there was no one specifically looking as the ac turned finals.
Aircraft damage was minimal apart from a flattened ventral and it stayed straight and upright. I think it was either a T5 or and F3...
So when going downwind doing the normal V/A's selecting UC instead of lowering the gear raised it. As runway caravans were done away with on all airfields except those with flying training there was no one specifically looking as the ac turned finals.
Aircraft damage was minimal apart from a flattened ventral and it stayed straight and upright. I think it was either a T5 or and F3...
This happened at Binbrook on 29th Sept 1977, and involved F.6 XR752, and was the F.6 to do a wheels up landing. The F.6 travelled almost 6,000ft down the runway on it's bellytank and fell over onto it's port wingtip at the end. It was Cat 2 and repaired at a cost of £99k and was back in the air on 25th Jan 1978.
There is a photo existing of it sitting on the tarmac with the long scrape visible behind along the runway. I would scan, but not sure of copyright issues as it's from a book?
Thread Starter
Reheat could be selected on either engine or both together. The latter was the normal way.
The throttles would be advanced to the maximum dry (no reheat) position, and engine parameters given a short time to stabilise.
Reheat was then selected by moving the throttles (or just one) outboard through the gate and then fully forward into maximum reheat.
In the trade this was known as "rock 'em outboard baby".
Sometimes, however, one wouldn't light up, which made a formation burner take-off very interesting, especially if you were the lead ship. See a few posts back re. Spiky Newman.
LM
The throttles would be advanced to the maximum dry (no reheat) position, and engine parameters given a short time to stabilise.
Reheat was then selected by moving the throttles (or just one) outboard through the gate and then fully forward into maximum reheat.
In the trade this was known as "rock 'em outboard baby".
Sometimes, however, one wouldn't light up, which made a formation burner take-off very interesting, especially if you were the lead ship. See a few posts back re. Spiky Newman.
LM
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Unless, there were two similar incidents involving 5 Sqn CO's....
This happened at Binbrook on 29th Sept 1977, and involved F.6 XR752, and was the F.6 to do a wheels up landing. The F.6 travelled almost 6,000ft down the runway on it's bellytank and fell over onto it's port wingtip at the end. It was Cat 2 and repaired at a cost of £99k and was back in the air on 25th Jan 1978.
There is a photo existing of it sitting on the tarmac with the long scrape visible behind along the runway. I would scan, but not sure of copyright issues as it's from a book?
This happened at Binbrook on 29th Sept 1977, and involved F.6 XR752, and was the F.6 to do a wheels up landing. The F.6 travelled almost 6,000ft down the runway on it's bellytank and fell over onto it's port wingtip at the end. It was Cat 2 and repaired at a cost of £99k and was back in the air on 25th Jan 1978.
There is a photo existing of it sitting on the tarmac with the long scrape visible behind along the runway. I would scan, but not sure of copyright issues as it's from a book?
Originally Posted by seac
There was a T5 that landed gear up on a Friday afternoon at Binbrook , I know because I dug it out. Not sure if it was OC 5 , but 1984 sounds about right , although the memory is dim !!
But it’s listed as a starboard main leg collapse after touch down in wet weather, rather than a full blown wheels-up landing?
T.5 XS457 on Friday 9th Dec 1983.
A similar incident happened again to another T.5 six months later, when XS416 suffered a starboard main leg gear collapse on landing on 19th July 1984, after which T.5’s were flown for a few weeks gear down, until the problem was rectified.
Thread Starter
Hello everyone.
When I started this thread, the title was:
"Did you fly the Lightning.........?"
I will now amend it to:
"Did you fly the Lightning.........?"
LM
When I started this thread, the title was:
"Did you fly the Lightning.........?"
I will now amend it to:
"Did you fly the Lightning.........?"
LM
In answer to Argonautical, the 1 and 4 had a different reheat selection system (not sure about the 2) to the 3, 5 and 6. Whilst each engine could be put into reheat individually, there was a complicated system of 'piano keys' to get into and out of reheat, and the reheat was staged - not fully variable as in the later marks. Check on the inadvertent ride of - I think - Taff Holden (Engineering Officer) at Lyneham. Seem to remember that on most take offs on the 6, where a burner failed, the reselection was past V1 and so off we went; so 2 reheats were not a prerequisite to getting airborne. And yes Lightning Mate - flew Lightnings between 65 and 87 - but for not all that time!!
Last edited by CharlieJuliet; 11th Nov 2009 at 19:55.
LMI knew they would get to you but it did take three pages before the thread creep started to get out of hand!
Maybe you should start a new thread for computer nerds who "think" they fly the Lightning!
Real lightning pilots know how the reheat works!!
Newly qualified on type, boss’s briefing on arrival at the squadron; “you will be considered average or below until you have at least one engine fire per year”.
One week later, first F3 solo, at night – above average.
During that first week, as JP, took over the squadron inventory – responsible for 12 a/c and various bits and pieces. Following morning, only 11, and also many missing bits and pieces; it’s surprising what’s on board an aircraft when it’s dropped in the N Sea.
They were the days of single engine low level where fires were likely during relight.
Best flying education going – and you had to learn quickly.
One week later, first F3 solo, at night – above average.
During that first week, as JP, took over the squadron inventory – responsible for 12 a/c and various bits and pieces. Following morning, only 11, and also many missing bits and pieces; it’s surprising what’s on board an aircraft when it’s dropped in the N Sea.
They were the days of single engine low level where fires were likely during relight.
Best flying education going – and you had to learn quickly.
Nuts to you slimy reptile, I mean Newt.
The thread title is actually only Lightning.
And if Lightning pilots are too big-headed to answer polite questions about the aeroplane that they were very fortunate to fly, then that is pretty poor show.
Thanks to the others who replied as it confirms something I thought I saw as an ATC cadet at Kinloss in the 60s where one took off, came streaking back into the airfield, engaged reheat on the top engine and then went vertical right over the control tower.
A Shackleton pilot was heard to mutter "Over grown vacuum cleaner"...
The thread title is actually only Lightning.
And if Lightning pilots are too big-headed to answer polite questions about the aeroplane that they were very fortunate to fly, then that is pretty poor show.
Thanks to the others who replied as it confirms something I thought I saw as an ATC cadet at Kinloss in the 60s where one took off, came streaking back into the airfield, engaged reheat on the top engine and then went vertical right over the control tower.
A Shackleton pilot was heard to mutter "Over grown vacuum cleaner"...
Argonautical
You come on a thread you know nothing about and are rude to the people who just want to keep the thread as close to the title as possible!
Mods please engage and shoot this idiot down!!
"FOX THREE"
You come on a thread you know nothing about and are rude to the people who just want to keep the thread as close to the title as possible!
Mods please engage and shoot this idiot down!!
"FOX THREE"