Lightning
Thread Starter
"Presume this is to be along the same lines as - "Did you fly the Vulcan, "Did you fly the Victor"..."
Absolutely!
Why should bomber pilots get all the limelight???..........
Absolutely!
Why should bomber pilots get all the limelight???..........
Well so did I !!
Infact, last Sunday I took "Her in Doors" to Bruntingthorpe and the boys let her sit in the cockpit! Her comment......."its a bit small for such a large one"
I think she meant the size of the cockpit in relation to the size of the aeroplane!!
But I could have been mistaken as I am getting a bit hard of hearing these days!
Infact, last Sunday I took "Her in Doors" to Bruntingthorpe and the boys let her sit in the cockpit! Her comment......."its a bit small for such a large one"
I think she meant the size of the cockpit in relation to the size of the aeroplane!!
But I could have been mistaken as I am getting a bit hard of hearing these days!
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Lightning Mate
Come to South Africa (Cape Town) on 14 November for the Overberg Airshow. With luck you should see at least one F6 or T5 (or both) flying and hear them go supersonic.
Best airshow in the World - it is on a live firing weapons range. Four years ago bombs were released at the runway start and flew by in front of the crowd and landed on the range beyond the far threshold; last time it was live missile firing - sadly from a Cheetah rather than a Lightning. This time there is to be a Gripen v something older 'dogfight'.....
News Update
Come to South Africa (Cape Town) on 14 November for the Overberg Airshow. With luck you should see at least one F6 or T5 (or both) flying and hear them go supersonic.
Best airshow in the World - it is on a live firing weapons range. Four years ago bombs were released at the runway start and flew by in front of the crowd and landed on the range beyond the far threshold; last time it was live missile firing - sadly from a Cheetah rather than a Lightning. This time there is to be a Gripen v something older 'dogfight'.....
News Update
Thread Starter
lightningmate:
Yes frequently, but usually for short periods only
Your F2As had longer duration than my F3s.
newt:
......."its a bit small for such a large one"
You sure you understood her?
Lightning Mate
Yes frequently, but usually for short periods only
Your F2As had longer duration than my F3s.
newt:
......."its a bit small for such a large one"
You sure you understood her?
Lightning Mate
Thread Starter
PFR,
I'm on Combat Air Patrol at the moment, waiting for targets of opportunity (and I'm not the only one...)
Fighter Pilots are all heart - but don't mess with one.........
LM
I'm on Combat Air Patrol at the moment, waiting for targets of opportunity (and I'm not the only one...)
Fighter Pilots are all heart - but don't mess with one.........
LM
“… I am getting a bit hard of hearing these days!”
Surprising (or not) how many WWOLS are like that; I’m getting my earpiece next week. The medic suggested claiming against HMG (I scoffed), but there are some indications that this has been done – any ideas?
A story for starters; from the days of the F1 and difficulties in lighting the reheat at the first attempt.
The ‘Wattisham wing’ was to provide a box four for a quick pass and zoom at Farnborough, with reheat being lit mid field. To cater for reheat failures, the brief was to call the failure and everyone would cancel for a cold power climb thus maintaining the formation.
On the day, the leader called for burners – his failed to light so called the failure, whence everyone cancelled … except then from the lead came the call “Its OK now I’ve got it …!”
New formation shape - ‘Leaders Benefit’.
Surprising (or not) how many WWOLS are like that; I’m getting my earpiece next week. The medic suggested claiming against HMG (I scoffed), but there are some indications that this has been done – any ideas?
A story for starters; from the days of the F1 and difficulties in lighting the reheat at the first attempt.
The ‘Wattisham wing’ was to provide a box four for a quick pass and zoom at Farnborough, with reheat being lit mid field. To cater for reheat failures, the brief was to call the failure and everyone would cancel for a cold power climb thus maintaining the formation.
On the day, the leader called for burners – his failed to light so called the failure, whence everyone cancelled … except then from the lead came the call “Its OK now I’ve got it …!”
New formation shape - ‘Leaders Benefit’.
Thread Starter
Well Tiger mate,
Lovely pic.
I don't think I know you, but I do have an original oil from 1969 by Rex Flood.
You are the only tiger to have hit the thread so far...
Lovely pic.
I don't think I know you, but I do have an original oil from 1969 by Rex Flood.
You are the only tiger to have hit the thread so far...
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There is a 74 Sqn Tiger one with a few hours graphite on board.
I had not heard of Rex Flood & sadly found this when researching:
Dated 28 Aug 09
Wildlife artist Rex Flood, who also specialised in painting aircraft, has died aged 80.
He retired from the RAF after serving at Coltishall with 22 years' service and decided to concentrate on painting. From boyhood, he had been interested in drawing animals and in 1963 started painting tiger heads, the emblem of 74 Squadron, then stationed at Coltishall. He also painted aircraft and six of his paintings were bought by the RAF Club in London's Piccadilly. Another 10 were commissioned by RAF Cranwell before he left the service in 1969, aged 40.
He lived for a number of years at Happisburgh and expanded his cultural range to include portraits of dogs, horses and increasingly birds. His attention to orthological detail was praised. The former electrical engineer's work was widely exhibited and his experience around the world with the RAF, including tours in Africa, gave the opportunity to paint elephants as well. He had lived in Yorkshire for many years, where he died. He leaves a widow, Helen (Moll).
I had not heard of Rex Flood & sadly found this when researching:
Dated 28 Aug 09
Wildlife artist Rex Flood, who also specialised in painting aircraft, has died aged 80.
He retired from the RAF after serving at Coltishall with 22 years' service and decided to concentrate on painting. From boyhood, he had been interested in drawing animals and in 1963 started painting tiger heads, the emblem of 74 Squadron, then stationed at Coltishall. He also painted aircraft and six of his paintings were bought by the RAF Club in London's Piccadilly. Another 10 were commissioned by RAF Cranwell before he left the service in 1969, aged 40.
He lived for a number of years at Happisburgh and expanded his cultural range to include portraits of dogs, horses and increasingly birds. His attention to orthological detail was praised. The former electrical engineer's work was widely exhibited and his experience around the world with the RAF, including tours in Africa, gave the opportunity to paint elephants as well. He had lived in Yorkshire for many years, where he died. He leaves a widow, Helen (Moll).
Last edited by Tiger_mate; 1st Nov 2009 at 14:05.
Thread Starter
Now then safetypee,
Which squadron was that I wonder. I note that you are four years older than me.
That's FOUR YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME, YOU HEAR?
Ahh, the famous hot streak burner ignition........
Which squadron was that I wonder. I note that you are four years older than me.
That's FOUR YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME, YOU HEAR?
Ahh, the famous hot streak burner ignition........
OK LM, I'll sneak under your CAP station with some of questions.
In 1966, at my first UAS camp, I sat in one of 5 Squadron's F6s at Binbrook. Four things still stick with me:
1. It was a long way down to the ground.
2. The cockpit was very cramped.
3. I couldn't see how you could possibly eject without losing your kneecaps. Did the seat rails slope backwards?
4. How did the tape ASI work out in practice? Was it easy to read? It looked like it had come from a mid-60s Morris 1100.
Also, is there any truth to the stories of Lightnings out-climbing the clearances from Midland Radar?
In 1966, at my first UAS camp, I sat in one of 5 Squadron's F6s at Binbrook. Four things still stick with me:
1. It was a long way down to the ground.
2. The cockpit was very cramped.
3. I couldn't see how you could possibly eject without losing your kneecaps. Did the seat rails slope backwards?
4. How did the tape ASI work out in practice? Was it easy to read? It looked like it had come from a mid-60s Morris 1100.
Also, is there any truth to the stories of Lightnings out-climbing the clearances from Midland Radar?
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
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An apochryphal story of reheat: Memories (like hearing - safetypee - see below) fade, but was it 'Spikey Newman' who led a fourship box for a reheat bomburst with the call 'Reheat...Reheat...Go!........Now!'?
Then there was the 23(F) 4-ship in which I was 'box' which tanker-deployed to Neuburg on a squadron detachment to do an arrival display (involving a reheat bombburst -oh what fun!). Got to the tow to find centre hose only, whereupon we played musical 'chicken' and arrived at Neuburg with less fuel than we would have had untanked.
SP - I claimed way back (mid-90's) thanks to a nudge from a friend who told me the 'window was closing', and after an audiogram am getting some dosh. I also claimed (and got) at the same time for a back injury following an ejection. Worth a go although I fear the new economy has tightened the straps a bit.
PS - all know about the Lightning Pilots' Website which carries news of the loss of Hank Martin and Rod Berrington?
Then there was the 23(F) 4-ship in which I was 'box' which tanker-deployed to Neuburg on a squadron detachment to do an arrival display (involving a reheat bombburst -oh what fun!). Got to the tow to find centre hose only, whereupon we played musical 'chicken' and arrived at Neuburg with less fuel than we would have had untanked.
SP - I claimed way back (mid-90's) thanks to a nudge from a friend who told me the 'window was closing', and after an audiogram am getting some dosh. I also claimed (and got) at the same time for a back injury following an ejection. Worth a go although I fear the new economy has tightened the straps a bit.
PS - all know about the Lightning Pilots' Website which carries news of the loss of Hank Martin and Rod Berrington?