XS452 Airborne again in South Africa (EE Lightning)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: essex
Age: 76
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am astonished that this has been permitted given the previous accident report.
mikip, you are far from the mark.
The investigation was conducted by the SA CAA, not any self-appointed H & S policeman. I think their report is evidence based and if you have reason to doubt their finding please take the matter up with them. According to the SA CAA this was far beyond a fuel coupling and ejection seat issue - please see their conclusions.
The investigation was conducted by the SA CAA, not any self-appointed H & S policeman. I think their report is evidence based and if you have reason to doubt their finding please take the matter up with them. According to the SA CAA this was far beyond a fuel coupling and ejection seat issue - please see their conclusions.
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: In transit
Age: 70
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I read the report by the SA CAA at the time of its publication. It was badly written, badly researched, and prejudiced. I have no connection with Thunder City other than as someone who has visited several times and who has considered a flight with them (until seeing the price!)
The TC website is only partially operational but their statement on the front page seems to bear out my thoughts.
Welcome to Thunder City
It seems clear that risks were taken and the result was fatal and tragic. Dave Stock was a much loved and highly respected person in his circles, but accidents happen all the time and hopefully each accident makes flying safer.
The TC website is only partially operational but their statement on the front page seems to bear out my thoughts.
Welcome to Thunder City
It seems clear that risks were taken and the result was fatal and tragic. Dave Stock was a much loved and highly respected person in his circles, but accidents happen all the time and hopefully each accident makes flying safer.
their statement on the front page seems to bear out my thoughts
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Originally Posted by Courtney
Oh, except for the fact that I can't fly a Lightning ...
A man of your calibre and experience ... twenty mins familiarisation and a quick check ride (Newt looking over your shoulder
) on the Tangmere Sim ... jobs a good'en I reckon 
Bl00dy good fun ... even with my meagre abilities ...
Tangmere EE Lightning Sim
My briefing went something like ...
Apply Max Dry Power on the Brakes. Release Brakes. Select AB as required (you bet ). Get the Gear Up PDQ ... Have Fun !
). Get the Gear Up PDQ ... Have Fun !
Even managed to land it
Best ...
Coff.
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Benfleet, Essex
Age: 73
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Does anyone actually know the full story of ZU-BBD being back in the air again ?
Is it hoped that it will appear at airshows again (it was apparently listed for a show last year, which was cancelled) ?
Or is it a series of test flights, to satisfy a prospective customer ?
It would also be interesting to know what restrictions have been applied.
Is it hoped that it will appear at airshows again (it was apparently listed for a show last year, which was cancelled) ?
Or is it a series of test flights, to satisfy a prospective customer ?
It would also be interesting to know what restrictions have been applied.
While not wishing to join the flying prevention branch......
The accident report was damning of a whole list of fundamental inadequacies in the whole operation. Unless there has been a significant change of personnel and operating procedures there is no way anything like this should be allowed in the air.
Just a bit of fun? Who wants to live forever? Yeah, well try telling that to the parents when the next one gets parked in a school rather than in the bush.
The accident report was damning of a whole list of fundamental inadequacies in the whole operation. Unless there has been a significant change of personnel and operating procedures there is no way anything like this should be allowed in the air.
Just a bit of fun? Who wants to live forever? Yeah, well try telling that to the parents when the next one gets parked in a school rather than in the bush.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Temporarily missing from the Joe Louis Arena
Posts: 2,131
Received 27 Likes
on
16 Posts
I guess you are already a member of the flying prevention branch!
And you didn't even know it until now!
And you didn't even know it until now!
I'm not going to pretend to say I understand the full ramifications involved in operating what is undoubtedly a fairly complex aircraft that, as the statistics quite clearly show, was a bit of a nightmare to operate when fully supported by BAe and had specialist-to-type aircraft technicians pouring over it routinely. What I will say though is that (in my ever-so-humble opinion) if only a quarter of what is alleged in the CAA crash report is true, then to have an aircraft like this operated by seemingly the same organisation as previously (nothing stated on Thunder City's website counters this opinion) is quite worrying.
I would dearly love to see a Lightning flying in the UK but there are very well-trodden and fairly well-understood reasons why we don't have them flying around over here. As much as many can poo poo such worries as "Health and Safety gone mad" or whatever such line spills from the gutter press these concerns are real and must be addressed.
Real mature response there, along the lines of "you are either for us or against
Actually it was meant as a statement of the obvious regarding the previous reply!
I feel sure that every effort has been made by the authorities and operators involved with this aircraft to ensure that any irregularities have been investigated and resolved before any clearance to fly again. Any reservations held by the CAA are not applicable in SA. Furthermore, popular interpretation of the Lightning being "a bit of a nightmare to operate" are largely over stated and based on accident statistics from another time.
Actually it was meant as a statement of the obvious regarding the previous reply!
I feel sure that every effort has been made by the authorities and operators involved with this aircraft to ensure that any irregularities have been investigated and resolved before any clearance to fly again. Any reservations held by the CAA are not applicable in SA. Furthermore, popular interpretation of the Lightning being "a bit of a nightmare to operate" are largely over stated and based on accident statistics from another time.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Away from home Rat
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In the back of my mind is how big was the back******. The Lightning if it had ever got a PtF in the UK would never been allowed to carry out revenue service, like any other PtF ticket holding aeroplane. I would be surprised if that frame has had the checks done that would have had to be done to an aircraft that had been sitting on the ground in this country. The operating company paid lip service to their AOC requirements last time, have they got in date perishable spares now and bang that will go bang when required?
It will be interesting if they did start advertising flight of a lifetime again, that would led me back to my first comment.
It will be interesting if they did start advertising flight of a lifetime again, that would led me back to my first comment.
