Formation loop by 9 Lightnings – has anyone got a video link please?
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Formation loop by 9 Lightnings – has anyone got a video link please?
In mid-1960 74 (F)Squadron became the first RAF squadron to be equipped with the English Electric Lightning F1.
The following year, 1961, led by their CO Sqn Ldr JFG Howe, they looped & rolled 9 Lightning F1s in formation at several airshows including Paris (June) and Farnborough (September).
In 1962, now led by Sqn Ldr PG Botterill, they again looped and rolled 9 Lightnings. These airshows were in Denmark, Sweden & Norway in May and at the Farnborough Airshow in September.
However, a search on YouTube and similar sites has produced no video of these 9 Lightnings rolling or looping.
Has anyone got a video of these events or a pointer to a web video showing formation aerobatics by 9 Lightnings just months short of 50 years ago?
An excellent example of formation aerobatics by their predecessors can be seen at this link –
YouTube - BLACK ARROWS
The following year, 1961, led by their CO Sqn Ldr JFG Howe, they looped & rolled 9 Lightning F1s in formation at several airshows including Paris (June) and Farnborough (September).
In 1962, now led by Sqn Ldr PG Botterill, they again looped and rolled 9 Lightnings. These airshows were in Denmark, Sweden & Norway in May and at the Farnborough Airshow in September.
However, a search on YouTube and similar sites has produced no video of these 9 Lightnings rolling or looping.
Has anyone got a video of these events or a pointer to a web video showing formation aerobatics by 9 Lightnings just months short of 50 years ago?
An excellent example of formation aerobatics by their predecessors can be seen at this link –
YouTube - BLACK ARROWS
Last edited by rubberband2; 31st Oct 2010 at 08:25.
I was present at the 1961 Paris Air Show at Le Bourget when we (99 Sqn and 511 Sqn) had a Britannia on static display at the show.
I took some 8mm cine film of 74 Sqn rolling their Lightnings at the show as seen in the screen grabs below. ISTR that they only rolled their formation, or at least I don't recall them doing loops.
..and the Parisians queued up to look over our aircraft:
View of the static park of 1961 Paris Air Show. RAF were represented by a Britannia, Vulcan, Victor, Argosy, Javelin and others that participated in the flying display.
I took some 8mm cine film of 74 Sqn rolling their Lightnings at the show as seen in the screen grabs below. ISTR that they only rolled their formation, or at least I don't recall them doing loops.
..and the Parisians queued up to look over our aircraft:
View of the static park of 1961 Paris Air Show. RAF were represented by a Britannia, Vulcan, Victor, Argosy, Javelin and others that participated in the flying display.
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Nine Lightnings rolling ..........
Here is a logbook picture sent to me showing John Howe leading 74(F) Squadron in a barrel roll for a MOD PR aerial photograoher in 1961. The distinctive runway of their home base RAF Coltishall is seen in the top left corner of this photo.
