5 Sqn Lightning Wanted
 

I have been tasked by my Sqn boss to try and locate a Lightning ac to be used as our sqn gate guardian. I have already contacted the Lightning Preservation Group in order to put the word out. It was suggested I might try to put up a post on this site.

For anyone who has visited the new 5 (AC) Sqn HQ at RAF Waddington, the plan is to have it on display in front of the main entrance on the airfield side.

It seems these ac are highly sought after, so any feedback would be much appreciated.

Talk to your OC Supply or whatever they're called these days - there's a leaflet somewhere in the AP830 that gives you chapter and verse on how to get a gate guardian. Oh, and get your OC Eng onside too so the thing can be regularly inspected, re-painted etc.

Good luck!

Seem to recall on PPrune some photo's of a Lightning rotting away at Binbrook. any chance that you can rescue it?:bored:

I have that very photo as my desktop but I can't find the original thread. And the Lightning is in 5 Sqn colours so you could save on paint.

5 Sqn Lightning
 

Try this (with a www. in front!) to see what the current situation is. best of luck:ok:

thunder-and-lightnings/lightning/survivorspics4.html#XR725

Binbrook Lightning
 

I was up at Brocklesby (ex RAF Binbrook, now looking like a traveller's camp) in early April'08 and can confirm the Lightning was still there in front of one of the hangars.

Alternatively, as the RAF no longer has a stake in Bentley Priory, there may be an airframe in much better condition looking for a new home.;)

The Bentley Priory one was flogged off by the DSA some months ago, details here;

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=71097&highlight=XM173

In fact you might want to put a post on the Key forum, there is a lot knowledge about preserved Lightning's on there.

Search for "Binbrook, Lightning"; it is the fourth one down, "Binbrook".

First post has the evocative piccie.

3P:ok:

This may also assist: http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=48

You may have better luck tracking down a Vampire which your Sqn also flew in the distant past.

Heartily second the 'go and speak to OC Supply' advice. There are procedures for the allocation, movement, accounting for and positioning of gate guardians - not as easy as getting a mate to get a frame and asking MT to drop it outside the sqn!

I have a cunning plan....
 

You could always wait until 11 Squadron are away, take a tow truck down to Conheadsby and steal theirs!
BV;)

Is this an attempt by 5 Squadron to actually get a proper aircraft working?

Mind you, it looks a fair swap to me!

I think you did the right thing by going to LPG first, as they are more likely to know if there is anything up for grabs. but don't shoot me if I'm wrong, however. The ex flagship of 5 Squadron as flown by Wg Cdr Andy Williams, towards the end would naturally make a fine choice, I'm not sure what the status of the ex BAe a/c at my old local is.

You could ask over on Key Publishings forum, which was my former employer (thankfully I am no longer chained up in the archive) although the discussion about 724 recently claim things were due to change along with that of 770 and there was some suggestion that wild speculation would likely affect sensitive ongoing efforts to sort out new locations.

Whatever you find best of luck, I really do miss them beating up some of the NATO allies during NATO exercises like Mallet Blow and Priory....

Happy Days, although if I had payed more attention in class I might have actally got into the RAF.........

Doh........


V1

Ask Clarkson. His missus was pissed off no end when he put one in his garden. He is v. warry and dead supportive of our brave boys. He also owes the RAF one.:ok:

Ah, Andy Williams. What a gent!

I quite agree! I met him as a Group Captain one day, and Flt Lt the next... One of the few true gentleman aviators.

Have you thought about nipping up the road to free the one rusting away beside Newark?

SB

If you want a flying one, there are several P-38s with the Confederate Air Force.:O

Bob V, I did wonder what that grey twin engined big job was, thought it might have been a Domine or Phantom or summat :E

Try here:

There is a lightning undergoing a re-build there and they may be able to help in some way.

Quote
The ex flagship of 5 Squadron as flown by Wg Cdr Andy Williams, towards the end would naturally make a fine choice, I'm not sure what the status of the ex BAe a/c at my old local is.

Reply
Valiant one, This F6?? that was donated by 5 Sqn to the people of Grimsby is now at the Nato museum that has moved from Grimsby down to Grainaby I think??

They had 3 Lightnings the last time I looked on their site.

Can't understand why CAA won't give an AOC on the 'Light' and the 'Vulc' has one.:hmm:

Would say the 'Vulc' is a just as complexed airframe.

Plenty of 'Light' Cockpits around, But not many for sale, only see 2 in the last 8 months or so.

A SYAM member purchased an F6 about 4 years ago, It lives at Doncaster with 2 others.

I felt 'sick' when I heard how much he paid for it = 2,000 for a full airframe, minus engines:eek::ugh:

Even without engines would have thought it been more???