EE Lightning

Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Somewhere in the 3rd world or possibly very occasionally at home.
I can't even begin to imagine what sort of noise that must've made! I remember seeing a single Lightning doing a display at Weston on the mud airport back in the 70s. He went down the runway at head height and then put the pole on the stops and went vertical
I can still hear and feel the noise now

I can still hear and feel the noise now

Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
On further thought, if not a Lincoln, then possibly one of the last Lancasters - not taken out of service until 1956?
One of my early memories of the Lightning was when one came to a rain-soaked World Aerobatics Championships at RAF Hullavington. Flying had pretty well stopped, when out of the gloom came this roaring monster with its prominent reheat trails.
The beer tent emptied in an instant as the Lightning wired the crap out of the place in an epic, noisy low level display of power and manoeuvrability!
Great stuff. Rather more so than the 'Spirit of Misadventure' rubbish of 40 years later....
One of my early memories of the Lightning was when one came to a rain-soaked World Aerobatics Championships at RAF Hullavington. Flying had pretty well stopped, when out of the gloom came this roaring monster with its prominent reheat trails.
The beer tent emptied in an instant as the Lightning wired the crap out of the place in an epic, noisy low level display of power and manoeuvrability!
Great stuff. Rather more so than the 'Spirit of Misadventure' rubbish of 40 years later....
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 224
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From: Dorset
Have we a date on this? the first Lightnings were delivered to the RAF late 1960, so the film must be around that time, the last in service Lanc was RF325, a MR 3 from St Mawgan, last flight Oct 15 1956, the Lincolns were in service up to c1963 I think.
The wings look definatly Avro, and the fuse is too slim for a Hastings, I would go for a Lincoln, second guess Shack.
First saw the aircraft in early 60s at airshows, later worked on them for a while,( 73-78) designed and built in less than ideal conditions, its a shame that we can't build such classic aeroplanes today, really was something special.
Best regards,
om15
The wings look definatly Avro, and the fuse is too slim for a Hastings, I would go for a Lincoln, second guess Shack.
First saw the aircraft in early 60s at airshows, later worked on them for a while,( 73-78) designed and built in less than ideal conditions, its a shame that we can't build such classic aeroplanes today, really was something special.
Best regards,
om15

Joined: Aug 2006
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From: West Sussex
And yet I wonder, on second thoughts I now plump for the C-87 version of the Liberator. Featured in Ernest K Gann's classic "Fate is the Hunter", and in which he nearly came to grief at Agra, narrowly missing the Taj Mahal after take off, due to being ever so slightly over-weight owing to a very understandable error in recorded fuel uplift and the fact that there were no fuel gauges fitted! Thank goodness such discrepancies are now a thing of the past!
....unless, unless...could it possibly be a Junkers Ju 290?
....unless, unless...could it possibly be a Junkers Ju 290?
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Gold Coast, Australia
Originally Posted by liobian
To answer the original question - Damn- Right, I do !
I don't know how often (years) they did that stream departure for the show, but I do recall seeing it. IIRC I went with my Dad. Guessing '64 or '65 ?
The ground verily shook, along with all my internal bits. Totally Brilliant !!
I don't know how often (years) they did that stream departure for the show, but I do recall seeing it. IIRC I went with my Dad. Guessing '64 or '65 ?
The ground verily shook, along with all my internal bits. Totally Brilliant !!

Joined: May 1999
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From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
OK - I'll go with Lincoln!
Outboard engine is at roughly 50% semi-span on the Lancaster, whereas for the Lincoln it was less (40%) due to the 20 ft greater wingspan.
And not an early Shack, I guess, as no dorsal turret.
Outboard engine is at roughly 50% semi-span on the Lancaster, whereas for the Lincoln it was less (40%) due to the 20 ft greater wingspan.
And not an early Shack, I guess, as no dorsal turret.

Joined: Nov 2006
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
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From: Chippenham, Wilts
Hullavington 1970-World Aeros Champs
I was there as well, detached from Lyneham for two weeks, as the RAF Air trafficker. Pilot of the said furball was Flt Lt Sandy D***es. Best FJ display I have ever seen.
Next met him when he was Wg Cdr Ops at Dhahran in 1991, top bloke.
3P
Next met him when he was Wg Cdr Ops at Dhahran in 1991, top bloke. 3P
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could

Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
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From: Lincolnshire
GG, that was my first thought then I noticed that dark edge on the right tailplane.
Not a York their fuselage was far wider. I go with BEags about the wing span. Don't go for Liberator as this looks like a tail dragger.
Not a York their fuselage was far wider. I go with BEags about the wing span. Don't go for Liberator as this looks like a tail dragger.
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: South of Penge
74's Lightning stream take off was certainly performed at the SBAC show in September '61. I can confirm that event as it was my first Farnborough; albeit as a young spectator on that occasion. Coincidentally the Napier de-icing research Lincoln was also there in the static park. However, I don't think this was the time the Lincoln in the movie was imaged, since 'PRJ then had the wing section mounted up on the fuselage.
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: here.....there.......
Nice film, and true to the spirit of the Lightning mobile fuel leak, needed air-to -air refuel 2 1/2 minutes in to the film!
Remember being 'attacked' by Lightnings once when on deployment in Denmark, very impressive. Was even more impressive due to the fact they had flown over from Scotland to do the attack, and no-one bothered raising the alarm......, low, fast, noisy, bit of a surprise as I was ambling across open ground at the time!
Remember being 'attacked' by Lightnings once when on deployment in Denmark, very impressive. Was even more impressive due to the fact they had flown over from Scotland to do the attack, and no-one bothered raising the alarm......, low, fast, noisy, bit of a surprise as I was ambling across open ground at the time!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could

Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
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From: Lincolnshire
Our OC Admin had blagged a T-bird ride, about '68, at Binbrook during an exercise. The bomber stream had two targets - North Coates - straight down the throat of the SAM site and Catfoss for a passing shot from North Coates.
After overflying North Coates the bombers overflew Binbrook.
About mid-morning Binbrook was brought to cockpit readiness and our OC A, an ex-Observer and ex-OC 7, waited expectantly with the tele-brief burbling "Raids Imminent" as the might Vs thundered overhead. As they had all been downed by SAM there was no trade for the Lightnings.
Eventually the raid petered out and it looked like a busted flush when suddenly they got a scramble order - Faker inbound, 50 miles FL 410. Two minutes later the Faker was identified as Friendly airliner on the blueway. Two minutes 30 seconds - Chicken, RTB. Flight time 10 minutes.
After overflying North Coates the bombers overflew Binbrook.
About mid-morning Binbrook was brought to cockpit readiness and our OC A, an ex-Observer and ex-OC 7, waited expectantly with the tele-brief burbling "Raids Imminent" as the might Vs thundered overhead. As they had all been downed by SAM there was no trade for the Lightnings.
Eventually the raid petered out and it looked like a busted flush when suddenly they got a scramble order - Faker inbound, 50 miles FL 410. Two minutes later the Faker was identified as Friendly airliner on the blueway. Two minutes 30 seconds - Chicken, RTB. Flight time 10 minutes.

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,135
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From: Royal Berkshire
Nice footage in this clip, including early colour footage of, I think, Jimmy Dell at Warton, and air-to-air colour clips of the Firebirds team and later stuff from the last years at Binbrook.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfnX0xd1k9E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfnX0xd1k9E



