How low can you go
Join Date: Oct 2004
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Re: Low Lightning
I know BEags.
What kind of fool gets his kicks out of Extreme low flying?!
You'd never get that in the "Civilised Vickers Fun Bus"
Then Again........
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=51638
What kind of fool gets his kicks out of Extreme low flying?!
You'd never get that in the "Civilised Vickers Fun Bus"
Then Again........
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=51638
Senis Semper Fidelis
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Re: Low Lightning
When I was much younger I used to have some very nice breaks down at Rhosnieger on Anglesy, I stayed at the Rhosnieger Bay Hotel( now burnt down) and had the front corner set of rooms that overlooked Valley, I and my sons have stood many times and watched in awe the Lightnings streak vertically heavenwards literally dissappearing from sight, and then seeing the F4 lining up someway out to sea towards Ireland we could see their exhaust plumes well before the tiny speck was apparent many of those landed almost as if in a controlled crash!
Then driving around to the main gate area to watch the Gnats resplendant in red with white flashes getting ready for a typical RAF multi craft lift off with many of the Pilots taking a few seconds to wave at many of the children and dads who were captured by these brilliant RAF aircraft and pilots!!
many happy days
Vfr
Then driving around to the main gate area to watch the Gnats resplendant in red with white flashes getting ready for a typical RAF multi craft lift off with many of the Pilots taking a few seconds to wave at many of the children and dads who were captured by these brilliant RAF aircraft and pilots!!
many happy days
Vfr
Death Cruiser Flight Crew
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Re: Low Lightning
The Rocket: Can't vouch for how much 'hot water' Victor Mike's captain got into, but the first officer went on to become General Manager Flight Training (and Flight Training Manager Concorde)!
Prince Charles, who was guest of honour at the display, remarked that the underside of the aircraft looked dirty.
G-ARVM was permanently allocated to training, due to some technical reason.
Prince Charles, who was guest of honour at the display, remarked that the underside of the aircraft looked dirty.
G-ARVM was permanently allocated to training, due to some technical reason.
Last edited by Georgeablelovehowindia; 14th Jan 2006 at 14:31.
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Re: Low Lightning
The picture of XM 968 was taken at Boscombe on 10 May 1962 flown by S/L Robbie Lees and F/L Clive Rustin (who was said to very unimpressed at the time). The briefed sortie was an assessmant of the PAS at 50,000ft but Lees did a flypast for the A&AEE photographer.
The info and the photo is on page 103 of Vol 1 of Stewart Scotts excellent books on the Lightning.
The info and the photo is on page 103 of Vol 1 of Stewart Scotts excellent books on the Lightning.
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Re: Low Lightning
Ahh - that CR, been head scratching that one all week. How could I have forgotten? A few years ago, never answer the phone at Farnborough after 1700, or you could be there until 1830 
.
Lomcevak, what is the good gentleman doing these days?
lm
.Lomcevak, what is the good gentleman doing these days?
lm
Re: Low Lightning
Clive Rustin? He who had to be first at everything? Like being the first one to bang out of a Jaguar? Got posted from OC Flying Farnborough to Boscombe in late '74 or early '75, and was still a Wg Cdr at Boscombe in late '85 when I last saw him.
Re: Low Lightning
I am sure that Clive Rustin will be touched by the fact that people are asking after him! He is still living in the same village and house that he has lived in for many years. He is very active in the ETPS association, a role which means that he drops in to my office quite frequently! He is still very much in touch with aviation and holds a current PPL although he doesn't do as much flying as he would like (but who does!).
When I see him next I will ask for more details about the aforeposted picture.
And as for very low flying such as in the SOAF piccies, I for one find it very exhilarating flying in that manner, and it can be done safely if in the right place. Individual pilots must recognise their own minima, stick to them, know the handling characteristics of the type that they are flying, and not try to compete with others who are happy to fly lower. The rules are another matter and I am not advocating hooliganism nor rule breaking, but if you don't have a rule.......... Ah, the good old days.
When I see him next I will ask for more details about the aforeposted picture.
And as for very low flying such as in the SOAF piccies, I for one find it very exhilarating flying in that manner, and it can be done safely if in the right place. Individual pilots must recognise their own minima, stick to them, know the handling characteristics of the type that they are flying, and not try to compete with others who are happy to fly lower. The rules are another matter and I am not advocating hooliganism nor rule breaking, but if you don't have a rule.......... Ah, the good old days.
Re: Low Lightning
From someone who used to "raise the gear and descend to operating altitude" Lomcevak your comments on low flying are predictable and I am in agreement with them. But beware Beages will be after you very very soon.
Isn't there a picture of one of your take offs worthy of this thread?
Tarnished
Aah, found it
[
Isn't there a picture of one of your take offs worthy of this thread?
Tarnished
Aah, found it
[
Re: Low Lightning
Here's a scan from "Lightning Conversion Units 1960 - 1987" compiled by Sqn Ldr Gordon Moulds, showing a T5 taking off with a plume of flame behind it. The text does not describe the photo but they got away with it as XS418 is not listed as being lost.
That's similar to the one I'm after, but the one I want is of Mk 3 (either LTF or 11(F)Sqn) actually dragging a flaming ventral tank along the runway at Binbrook. I'm begining to think I might just have imagined I have seen such a picture!
Tarnished
Tarnished
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Low Lightning
Argonautical - I think that pic captioned XS418 is actually XP700 at WTM in 1972. There was another similar accident there in 1971, with ES in XR711, although he didn't get airborne. There was one I know of at Colt in 1966 when PFH also 'stayed down' in XM213, as did GP at AKR in 1966 in XR714. 'Ltgmate' summed up the predicament pretty accurately, and was certainly a large factor in both ES's and GP's accidents.
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Fishtailed: I think the photographer was perhaps a long way off with a really good telephoto lens! At least I hope so for his sake!
rhajaramjet, it is XS418 and here is the previous photo in the book and perhaps I should have posted them together.
Strangely, the book does not descibe this particular incident but does describe the other incidents mentioined in the thread and here is a scan of the text.
Strangely, the book does not descibe this particular incident but does describe the other incidents mentioined in the thread and here is a scan of the text.
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
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ehem! Order...order! I trust that was humour, Rockey man? I've just popped in from helping to look after the 'Spotters' Balcony' to point out that is a T5.
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Low Lightning
Sorry Argonaut, but Gordon Moulds sowed a bit of confusion with his captions on those pics. The right main gear of XS418 folded when Henry Ploz landed at Stradishall in '68 and he stayed down - went off the right side of the runway in fact. So the susequent pic on page 43 cannot be XS418. I still think it was GF at WTM
The Sabre had an u/c handle in a rather out of the way spot, and during scrambles it became usual to select the u/c up on the taxi out. problem being the squat switch woulld activate over bumps on the taxiway at high speed oops.
