Was the Lightning really THAT good ?
ExMudmover - thanks for that interesting update - apologies for my delay in the replying, but I have been sunning myself in Cornwall.
Do you know when the picture was taken? Was it early 1983?
Do you know when the picture was taken? Was it early 1983?
I came across a random video on Youtube which is a film of 3 lightnings at Wharton in 1988. It seems to be some kind of ceremony at the end? Was this the retirement?
Apologies if it's been posted before
Apologies if it's been posted before
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The Phantom began its takeoff roll, and the camera followed - I assumed a helicopter, and that the F-4 would soon accelerate out of the frame.
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I came across a random video on Youtube which is a film of 3 lightnings at Wharton in 1988. It seems to be some kind of ceremony at the end? Was this the retirement?
Apologies if it's been posted before
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp7LQbtezhw
Apologies if it's been posted before
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp7LQbtezhw
Weren't these three the aircraft that BAE used for the Tor F3 radar development work?
I came across a random video on Youtube which is a film of 3 lightnings at Wharton in 1988. It seems to be some kind of ceremony at the end? Was this the retirement?
Apologies if it's been posted before
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp7LQbtezhw
Apologies if it's been posted before
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp7LQbtezhw
BAe continued to fly '693, '773 and 904 for another 2/3 years until the MOD contract for the Tornado trials ended in 1992 and '693 and '773 were bought by Barry Power and the Lightning Flying Club, and delivered to Exeter in Dec 1992. '904 went to the LPG at Brunty.
'928 was retired early being out of FI, IIRC, and BAe stripped it for parts and mounted it on a pole at BAe, and then '724 was retired, and bought by the Lightning Association and delivered back to Binbrook by Peter Gordon-Johnson IIRC in 1991?
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My two cents. I had an opportunity to talk with a retired pilot, who had flown the Lightnings in an air force of one of their Mid-Eastern users. He was not fond of these birds actually. He mentioned that they were not pleasant to fly, surprisingly not too maneuverable, and consumed gas extremely quickly. The maintenance was very laborious. That said, the Lightning was too cumbersome and expensive to operate giving not too big advantage in return. Compared to the Lightnings, the Hawker Hunter was much more pleasant and much cheaper to fly, he said.
My two cents. I had an opportunity to talk with a retired pilot, who had flown the Lightnings in an air force of one of their Mid-Eastern users. He was not fond of these birds actually. He mentioned that they were not pleasant to fly, surprisingly not too maneuverable, and consumed gas extremely quickly.
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So, a fond memory... early 1980's. As a young man I used to go walking in the Cleveland hills in the North East of England. Stopped at the summit of 'Roseberry Topping' a distinctive local landmark being a shark fin shaped hill.
Just tucking into my cheese buttie when I hear the sound of a fast jet approaching. Looking down the valley, below, me I see a Jaguar, very low level twisting and turning, it passes me heading out into the murk of the North Sea.
A split second later I hear the sound of not one, not two but three very fast jets. In to view below me 3 Lightning's blast down the valley. Two sticking to the Jaguars 'six' disappear into the mist over the sea. The 3rd Lightning pulls hard around the hill I am on to parallel the coast heading North, presumably to cut back into the Jag.
Never forgot the sight or sound.
Questions for those that would know
1. Would the Jag have any chance of escape, if so how ?
2.Was the Lightning any good down fast and low.
3. Did it really take 3 Lightning's to catch one Jaguar.
4. Have I got it all wrong... did the Jag need 3 Lightning's for escort protection.
Hutch
Just tucking into my cheese buttie when I hear the sound of a fast jet approaching. Looking down the valley, below, me I see a Jaguar, very low level twisting and turning, it passes me heading out into the murk of the North Sea.
A split second later I hear the sound of not one, not two but three very fast jets. In to view below me 3 Lightning's blast down the valley. Two sticking to the Jaguars 'six' disappear into the mist over the sea. The 3rd Lightning pulls hard around the hill I am on to parallel the coast heading North, presumably to cut back into the Jag.
Never forgot the sight or sound.
Questions for those that would know
1. Would the Jag have any chance of escape, if so how ?
2.Was the Lightning any good down fast and low.
3. Did it really take 3 Lightning's to catch one Jaguar.
4. Have I got it all wrong... did the Jag need 3 Lightning's for escort protection.
Hutch
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Also probably had more of an integrated weapon system .
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A Group Captain I worked with at Brampton reckoned he had broken 3. I never asked him what he thought of them.
Thank you shaft109 for that Binbrook Lightning video. I flew in the airlines with several ex Lightning pilots and apart from their being exceedingly sound operators they were a bunch of delightful hooligans who enjoyed a cold beer on a hot day. Their stories after a couple of beers were outstanding and if nothing else in the world the Lightning gave some of the RAF's top pilots a place to strut their stuff.
The engineering officer in that film is being wonderfully diplomatic with the problems he had keeping the thing in the air, but remember this was the '60s and 70's and a 10-1 ground to air hours amongst the top fighters and bombers of the day was normal.
Yes it was a brilliant aircraft of its day. The pilots I spoke to all loved it like a difficult mistress, it gave magnificent service for a lot of hard work and high maintenance.
Edited to add, one ex Lightning pilot I flew with joined an international airline out of the RAF. He had filled in on the application that he had twin jet hours. When it came to the 727 (yes not -37) simulator engine failure on take off he departed the runway in fine style. Twice. His understanding first officer for the day advised him that he needed to put in some rudder and the third departure waddled into the air to the satisfaction of the check captain. He got the job
The engineering officer in that film is being wonderfully diplomatic with the problems he had keeping the thing in the air, but remember this was the '60s and 70's and a 10-1 ground to air hours amongst the top fighters and bombers of the day was normal.
Yes it was a brilliant aircraft of its day. The pilots I spoke to all loved it like a difficult mistress, it gave magnificent service for a lot of hard work and high maintenance.
Edited to add, one ex Lightning pilot I flew with joined an international airline out of the RAF. He had filled in on the application that he had twin jet hours. When it came to the 727 (yes not -37) simulator engine failure on take off he departed the runway in fine style. Twice. His understanding first officer for the day advised him that he needed to put in some rudder and the third departure waddled into the air to the satisfaction of the check captain. He got the job