End of an era?

[RedhillPhil]

Originally Posted by Flying Lawyer

The aircraft is which I did my first solo has been in continuous RAF service for 62 years and is still on charge, but it's a lot less interesting than the Lightning so, like Fox, I look forward to a WIWOL tale or two.

A fabulous aircraft -

Cape Town 2008

RP-E tells me it's the finest aircraft ever built.
Is he right?


ExAscoteer
I'm envious.
I was due to have a flight at the end of the 1983 display season with Mike Thompson, then the RAF's Lightning display pilot - and probably the best in my (amateur) opinion.
Tragically, Mike didn't make it the end of the season.


FL

What are those crease like marks that cut through the wing roundels please?

[blimey]

Have a long and happy retirement , Mr Barber.

While we're reminiscing:

How I wish I'd had a camera with me in 91: there was a Victor tanker, Buccaneers one side, Phantoms the other, Harrier GR3s jousting. All gone within a couple years.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

I've had a few Alpha Control GCIs from a Shackleton whilst flying a Tornado F3, which was quite a bridge in terms of capability (1989 I think); and had one drop a dinghy to me -actually, the b@stard tried to bomb me with it, but that's another story

[cuefaye]

newt,


I must listen to a WIWOL story one day! Are there books available?

[GeeRam]

Talking of Lightning display pilots, I hadn't realised until coming across this fact today by accident, that one of the coffin bearers for the Queen Mother's funeral was the last RAF Lightning aero's display pilot.

[sarn1e]

Ali, old mate, many happy years of retirement to you and the missus. Binbrook seems more than a lifetime ago.

And the memory of escorting you into Coningsby with no wheels (on purpose) still makes me smile - who needs foam?

See you at the next reunion...

[1.3VStall]

cuefaye,

newt can tell you his WIWOL story about flying the cabriolet version of the Lightning!

[newt]

Ffossip 1.3

[Minnie Burner]

What are those crease like marks that cut through the wing roundels please?

You won't believe it (not sure I do) but I understand the wings were cut for shipping..... then repaired at Thunder City.

Tommo won the Embassy Trophy 1983 at Greenham fair & square despite stiff oppo from Mike Bebo's F-15 and a couple of naughty but nice NATO F-16 displays but Pete Chapman's was the real showstopper.

Well done, Ali. Nice thread.

[RedhillPhil]

Originally Posted by Minnie Burner

What are those crease like marks that cut through the wing roundels please?

You won't believe it (not sure I do) but I understand the wings were cut for shipping..... then repaired at Thunder City.

Tommo won the Embassy Trophy 1983 at Greenham fair & square despite stiff oppo from Mike Bebo's F-15 and a couple of naughty but nice NATO F-16 displays but Pete Chapman's was the real showstopper.

Well done, Ali. Nice thread.

Blimus!
Thanks for that.

[Rhino power]

None of the Lightnings that ended up at Thunder City had their wings cut for shipping, cutting the wings would have grounded them...

-RP

[EAP86]

crease like marks

looks like it could be some form of speed tape or did they remove the paint to crack detect near the rivet heads along the rib?

[Minnie Burner]

None of the Lightnings that ended up at Thunder City had their wings cut for shipping, cutting the wings would have grounded them...

-RP

I did say I was cautious in my belief of the explanation but you seem to have neglected to attempt to answer the gentleman's question yourself.

[Rhino power]

Originally Posted by Minnie Burner

you seem to have neglected to attempt to answer the gentleman's question yourself

I haven't neglected to attempt to answer the gentleman's question myself at all, because I don't know the answer. I simply stated that the wings were not cut, as your reply suggested may, or may not have happened, prior to them being shipped to Thunder City. To add a little more info, XS452 was split at Cranfield, XS451, XR773 and XP693 were split at Exeter, by Barry Pover and his team.

-RP

[NutLoose]

Possibility is they req a NDT procedure in that area so are devoid of paint.

[Flying Lawyer]

CoffmanStarter

Flying Lawyer ... So that'll be WK518 then

It was indeed.

Happy days.

[NickB]

Flt Lt Mike Thompson - XP753

Re. Mike Thompson - he was indeed a superb pilot - watched him at the IAT 83 & again shortly after at St Mawgan. I think at SM he departed later in the day together with Simon Lloyd-Morrison in his F4 - a truly wonderful & noisy experience!

Sadly, of course only 2 weeks later he was killed @ Scarborough. This event has always intrigued me. I've read on here about him having an argument with higher authority and taking off in a bad mood, but surely he must have been aware that displaying as he did and defying an order would have probably led to a Court Martial?
Remember it happening as if it were yesterday, although 'yesterday' will be 31 years ago in a couple of months!

[Wander00]

NickB-me too. Was serving at Binbrook at the time and had known Mike as a cadet at the Towers. I still remember the funeral......what a sad day that was.

[Trumpet_trousers]

but surely he must have been aware that displaying as he did and defying an order would have surely led to a Court Martial?

IIRC the unauthorised display was because he had some family members present on the beach?
Briefly knew him at Binbrook, but had moved on by the time of the crash.

[NickB]

Wander00 - do you have any more info on reasons for his actions on that fateful day?

Please PM me if you would prefer not to post.

Best,
NickB