QRA open day at Bruntinghtorpe

[320psi]

Hi all, just thought I would indroduce myself all those interested in our 'little' hobby.
We have been around since 1988 when we purchased XR728 from the MOD since then we have added XS904 and kept them both fast taxible.
Over the last ten years years we have been raising money to rebuild the ex Wattisham QRA hangar at Bruntinghtorpe since July 2003 we have been resorting the steel work and reerecting it, this was completed in Feb this year and since that time we've been beavering away talking with several 'interested' parties about suppling the agregate, mixing the cement, building the shuttering and laying the floor, so far we have had no serious realistic quotes, so at present the shed is at a stand still.

Here's the latest shot taken on 6th May.


As for the aircraft all is OK, we gave 728 her six weekly antidet run on the 6th and 904 is due within the next few weeks.
As fuel price's keep rising we are eeking the runs out abit.

Our open day is on Saturday 8th July with both aircraft doing several runs.
Its an important time for us so if you can make it, I know DX is that weekend and the world cup is on the Sunday, it will help us get these two old girls under cover at last.

Here's a few shot of our two old girls durning recent antidet runs











I will post more info on the open day nearer the time.

For more info on us please visit our web site http://www.photo-restorations.co.uk/lightnings/

Cheers for now
Andy B (LPG)

[Zoom]

I took my wife to one of these days about 5 years ago and she was absolutely amazed by it all. I didn't meet her until after my RAF days and so she had never had the opportunity to get close to anything as stimulating (?!?) as this, and watching and listening to the Lightning, Buccaneer, Jaguar, JP, Delfin et al from just a few yards away while they did their runs really thrilled her. I enjoyed it as well as it has been some time since I was near such wonderful bits of kit. (I got a thrill just watching her watching it all!!) So I heartily recommend it to those of you who haven't been close to the jets for a while or who have family members who've never seen any firing up and in motion. Plus you will be helping 320psi and his team.

BTW, Bruntingthorpe is in south-east Leicestershire in case you were wondering.

[320psi]

Originally Posted by Zoom

I took my wife to one of these days about 5 years ago and she was absolutely amazed by it all. I didn't meet her until after my RAF days and so she had never had the opportunity to get close to anything as stimulating (?!?) as this, and watching and listening to the Lightning, Buccaneer, Jaguar, JP, Delfin et al from just a few yards away while they did their runs really thrilled her. I enjoyed it as well as it has been some time since I was near such wonderful bits of kit. (I got a thrill just watching her watching it all!!) So I heartily recommend it to those of you who haven't been close to the jets for a while or who have family members who've never seen any firing up and in motion. Plus you will be helping 320psi and his team.

BTW, Bruntingthorpe is in south-east Leicestershire in case you were wondering.

Many thanks for the kind words, please come ago and enjoy the smell on avtur and OM15, it wont last forever

[320psi]

Hi all, firstly just to let you know all is now set for the open day here's the poster for more details:

And secondly we have now been able to put on sale Simon Mumfords latest Lightning pencil drawing in
honour of our 'little' Q shed project, see below,
I personally think it looks stunning, but Im bias.

Here's one of his earlier creations for us, also on sale

Copies will be on sale on the day or just go to our web site and
order one if you feel the need to help us out with the Q shed funding
http://www.photo-restorations.co.uk/...ingthunder.htm
See you all on the 8th July
Cheers
Andy B (LPG)

[320psi]

Hi all, just a little update, we gave 904 an antidet run today, with no snags, which is good as we have two servicable aircraft for the open day, nothing to fix (yet)

Heres a few shots

[mac1776]

Best of luck to you, what time is kick off on the 8th? My legs are dim,my eyes are weak---please help

[Wwyvern]

Could these Lightnings have been based at Cranfield in 1994?

This thread has brought back memories of then. My first solo in a JP1, yes, JP1, was on 12 Aug 94. I seem to remember a Lightning at the holding point as I approached to land. As I turned off the runway, it did a high speed run down the runway. Looking back down the runway, seeing the Lightning with it's nose wheel off the ground, lots of black smoke out its back, followed by a deceleration with drag chute deployed, took me back to about 1960-time.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Wwyvern

Could these Lightnings have been based at Cranfield in 1994?

No, different aircraft. The 3 x F.6's that had sat at Cranfield since 1988 along with 1 x T.5 were eventually scrapped, although I believe the cockpit sections were saved. That left the 1 x T.5 that is still there today, XS458, which is kept in a ground running and taxiable state. The other T.5 that was there, XS452, that had been kept in a taxiable state, was bought by ThunderCity and dismantled and shipped to Cape Town where it now flies from. Can't remember off the top of my head whether it would have been XS452 you would have seen back in 1994 or XS458...??

[320psi]

Originally Posted by mac1776

Best of luck to you, what time is kick off on the 8th? My legs are dim,my eyes are weak---please help

Hi gates open at 10.30am, first run should be around 11.30am

Cheers
Andy B

[320psi]

Originally Posted by Wwyvern

Could these Lightnings have been based at Cranfield in 1994?

This thread has brought back memories of then. My first solo in a JP1, yes, JP1, was on 12 Aug 94. I seem to remember a Lightning at the holding point as I approached to land. As I turned off the runway, it did a high speed run down the runway. Looking back down the runway, seeing the Lightning with it's nose wheel off the ground, lots of black smoke out its back, followed by a deceleration with drag chute deployed, took me back to about 1960-time.

Hi, the Lightning that you witnessed taxing at Cranfield in 1994 was T5 XS452 BT which was owned and run by Tony Hulls, it was sold not long after to Mike Beachyhead and is now flying with three other Lightnings of Thunder City(T5 XS451, F6 XR773 and XP693) out of Cape Town in S Africa.
Have a look here:
http://www.thundercity.com/

Out of the six Lightnings delivered to Cranfield in June 1988 only one remains T5 XS458 which is also kept in taxiable condition, the three F6's were cut up in 1995. the Cockpit sections are still around.

We took delivery of XR728 straight from Binbrook to Bruntingthorpe on June 24th 1988 and XS904 flew from Warton to us back in Jan 1993 making it the final flight of a Lightning in UK airspace, we have since kept both in 'live' condition at Bruntingthorpe.

The Q shed when finished will give them and us a chance at presevation for the future.

Here's a few shots from their delivery flights:
Chris Berners Price walks out to 728 on the morning of June 24th 1988



Taxy out past the six other aircraft still awaiting delivery to Cranfield



One last vertical climb out



Brake chute deployed at Bruntinghtorpe after 728's final landing



Chris asks 'where's the ladders'?



And here's a few from 904's final flight

Peter Orme signs 904 out for the last time



Lift off



Finals





Peter climbs out for the last time



Small crowd and our two Lightnings together Jan 23rd 1993



Here's a few shots from Cape Town








Cheers for the interest and see you on the the 8th for some Lightning action

Andy B (LPG)

[320psi]

Hi all here's the latest on our 'little' day

Lightning Preservation Group (LPG)
QRA Day 8th July 2006

During the past year we have continued to keep both Lightnings serviceable whilst diverting our muscle power and finances to the Q-shed rebuild. We decided to spend all the donated funds to a point where the foundations, steelwork and hardcore are complete. We now have to fund the concrete base and labour (£30K), Cladding (£15K) and overhaul of doors (£10K).

Further financial stress has been inflicted by massive increases in fuel(39p to 47p per Lt), insurance (£3K to £5K per annum) and avpin (isopropanoyl nitrate) starting fuel (now £3.5K per 45 gal drum). In conclusion we are surviving – just. Please continue to financially support the LPG as without it we cannot continue to run both aircraft.

Looking towards the next faze of Q-shed funding please assist us with as much as you can manage and some supporters do this by monthly standing order. Cladding is costing £25 per sheet and as a reminder at the £50 level your name is permanently displayed in the hangar. We are launching our limited edition print “Cold War Scramble” by Simon Mumford at a very reasonable £24.95. We would also advise you that our Eshop is now live via our website.

Running order

Model Flying 10.30
Lightning 11.30
Jet Provost 11.50
Canberra 12.10
Lightning 12.30
Auction 12.50
Hunter 13.30
Buccaneer (ground demo) 13.50
Jet Provost 14.10
Model Flying 14.30
Canberra 15.00
Hunter 15.20
Lightning streamed pairs 15.40
Model Flying 16.00

Pilots for the day:
Air Cdre John Spencer, former OC RAF Binbrook
Sqn Ldr Dennis Brooks, former OC LTF,
Flt Lt Ian Wilde, 5, 19 & 29


All items are subject to availability.
Visit our website: www.lightnings.org.uk for up to date news and Eshop.

[320psi]

Hi all just a little reminder about our 'little' day on Saturday, hope some can make it

Andy B (LPG)

[18greens]

What is Antidet?

Good luck with the whole thing.

For a non Lightning pilot what is Antidet?

[320psi]

Originally Posted by 18greens

Good luck with the whole thing.

For a non Lightning pilot what is Antidet?

Its short for 'antideteriation', this was a standard procedure the RAF used for stored aircraft, every 6-8 weeks aircraft were towed out preflight ground checks done and engines and systems were run separatley.

All we did when we first got 728 back in 1988 was carry on with this schedule, it drives out the moisture keeps all the pipes and dreaded seals 'wet' and alows us to fault find when snags appear.

It has kept both of our two alive

Cheers
Andy B (LPG)

[1 Zulu Alpha]

Are Small Children Welcome Tomorrow

I am planning on coming along tomorrow with my son (aged 5) to treat him to the wonderful sights and sound of the Lightning etc.

For anyone who has attended before/involved with day, are there facilities for the very young? - Lots of toilets, food, fruit shoots etc

Looking forward to it.

1ZA

[320psi]

Hi to all, just a little note to say the open day was a resounding success, we took £11,000, the auction alone brought in just under £1000.
Profit from the day with all things taken out was around £5000, which is a nice injection into the Q shed fund, it still has a long way to go but we are in the right direction.

Both Jets just about behaved themselves, we had 7 out of 8 starts, 904's no2 starter wouldnt play ball for the pairs run, oh well thats Lightnings


Here's a fews shots from the day












The next open day is Sunday August 27th when most of the resident aircraft with get an airing.

Cheers
Andy B (LPG)

[Zoom]

Nice photos and well done on a successful day. I regret that I couldn't make it but I shall try to get to the August one.