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EE Lightning – nuclear Bomber!?

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EE Lightning – nuclear Bomber!?

Old 27th Apr 2019, 19:20
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EE Lightning – nuclear Bomber!?

Read in Chris Gibson’s Secret Projects.
Desperate times lead to desperate measures …..
In the early 1950s the prospect of a formation of Soviet nuclear armed bombers heading our way lead to the idea of strapping a nuclear bomb to a Lightning to deal with them. No idea whether this was to be a kamikaze type mission though carrying a 2000lb Red Beard isn’t going to help its interception range.

In the end nuclear warheads became smaller and the idea was abandoned in favour of using the Bloodhound missile as the delivery method.
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Old 27th Apr 2019, 19:35
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From a Lightning pilot:

mmmmmmmmmm…………...
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Old 27th Apr 2019, 22:09
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In the early 50s did we perhaps have a lot of Lightnings that were surplus to requirements?
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 06:57
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The Lightning did have an unused ‘NWS’ (Nuclear Weapons Switch) on the stick-top !
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 07:34
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Was it actually a 'bomb' being considered, or the Genie air to air missile that had a nuclear warhead?
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 09:33
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Originally Posted by oxenos
In the early 50s did we perhaps have a lot of Lightnings that were surplus to requirements?
Oxenos,

I very much doubt it as the first Lightning squadron did not form until 1960. As to carrying a nuclear bomb, as a two tour WIWOL I cannot imagine where it could have been carried. There were no wing/fuselage hardpoints apart from the 2 missile pylons which could only mount Firestreak. Space was at a premium in the Lightning fuselage but I suppose that the radome or weapons pack could have ben substituted. There was of course space in the 'elephant ears' !
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 09:48
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A bite already
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 09:50
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safetypee,

Nice try with the NWS switch (and the wink emoji).

Never incorporated was the Nosewheel Steering but the NWS switch was fitted.

I share the comments of nipva and I am also a WIWOL of the same age.

oxenos, when did you fly the Lightning ?
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 09:57
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oxenos, when did you fly the Lightning ?
I didn't, but I do enjoy a bit of fishing. You're the second bite today.
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 17:45
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Dook! Let them have their little joke! We know that after defending our skies in the U.K. and Germany, we both went on to be single seat Strike/ Attack pilots who spent days in Q cuddling a tactical nuclear weapon! I think we deserve a bit more respect!
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 17:46
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As I recall, the largest fitting on the Lightning weapons pylon was a Sea Vixen PR modified drop tank - MPC Valley, but never flown. The objective was to identify Jindivick towed target flare break up; a Phantom with PR pod was used with IR film - without success.
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 17:53
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Originally Posted by nipva
Oxenos,

I very much doubt it as the first Lightning squadron did not form until 1960. As to carrying a nuclear bomb, as a two tour WIWOL I cannot imagine where it could have been carried. There were no wing/fuselage hardpoints apart from the 2 missile pylons which could only mount Firestreak. Space was at a premium in the Lightning fuselage but I suppose that the radome or weapons pack could have ben substituted. There was of course space in the 'elephant ears' !
Well unless my old lot (with hoses) were along to support them, they might have had the range to bomb the Isle of Wight...
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 18:09
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Hello Newt.

It's amazing how threads here drift away from the first post.
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 18:19
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bill fly, I think we might have upset the wiwols
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 18:27
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That should be WIWOLS in upper case.
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 18:28
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And that’s not a thing you should never do lightly! We still bite!

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Old 28th Apr 2019, 18:30
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The fishing really is very good today,. Bite after bite. Still, they are only wiwols. Sorry WIWOLS.
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 18:47
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Dook! Just look at his bio! Not even worth passing the time of day!
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 18:48
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Not even worth passing the time of day!
Unless of course you were sitting in a dinghy
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Old 28th Apr 2019, 18:49
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I already have looked.
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