I don't know about the wicker chair, but more than a few F-4 records were set using pre-compressor cooling, which was entirely non-standard.

These quoted climb rate figures are not from Ground Level to Top of Climb, as the speed would not be constant.

I believe the Lightning's initial Climb Rate, that I've usually seen quoted; was 52,000 ft per minute, but that would obvisously decline at some point!

Anyone got a figure for Typhoon?

The F-104 set a few records as well.....but no mention of a Whicker Chair.

F-104 records - International F-104 Society

Lightning T5 XS458
 

I thought some might like this video of the Lightning T5 at Cranfield:




Very nice 92 Sqn paint scheme on the LHS - unfortunately the RHS is painted as 111 Sqn !

but no mention of a Whicker Chair.


Alan Whicker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 92 Sqn colour scheme looks nice, but 92 never operated the TMk5!

Glad to see we are getting back on topic 1.3 instead of being side tracked by navigators and wicker chairs!

Personally I like the idea of having the aircraft with two squadron colours especially as they are 111 and 92! Not a problem for me that 92 operated the T4 :ok:

Lightning ROC
 

I have seen a signed certificate (from the TP who flew the aircraft) suggesting that a Lightning F1 went from brakes off to 36000 in approx. 3 min 30s.

Whilst regaling this tale to a party of visitors at a well known aviation museum, one of them piped up along the lines of 'yes, but that's in dry power, in full reheat its more like 90s'.

When acknowledging the gentleman's contribution to the tour, I asked him how he knew those figures.

'Because I did it myself in that aircraft'.

Horses mouth then.

Newt,

I agree! It would be even nicer to see one in the air again - dream, dream.....

Clearing out the in-laws' attic, I came across a Telegraph Weekend magazine from 10th September 1965 with an article on the Lightning:

http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/a...0965%2001.jpg?

http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/a...0965%2002.jpg?

http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/a...0965%2003.jpg?

http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/a...0965%2004.jpg?

http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/a...0965%2005.jpg?

http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/a...0965%2006.jpg?

There were some other pictures in the article, but not great quality for copying. It was a 25th anniversary of the BoB edition and also had an article written by Oliver Stewart, a WW1 fighter pilot, about tactics in that war.

The Brits always wax lyrically about everything they've ever made. If it was good, then they rabbit on about how many decades ahead of the American stuff it was, if it was crap they rabbit on about how brave the crews were for flying into battle with so little chance of coming back.
And best of all if they re engined it, a la F4 Phantom, they wax on lyrically about what a complete dog it was before they got hold of it......................

Always makes for interesting discussion.

Was the Lightning really THAT good ?
 

Anotherday.
All I can add to your post is to say that America was a damn fine place...
...until we gave it away.
I'm assuming you're American of course.
BV

Who reengined the P-51?! Oh yes! It was the English, turned an average aircraft into something special....

I still have a copy of that DT somewhere: came out as we were in our Senior Entry term at Cranditz

And the Apache. :)

Just out of interest, did Lightning ever participate in Red Flag or similar exercises?

If so, how did it perform?

Or was it the British? There is a difference, you know?

topgas: Thank you for posting that article. I remember studying it for all its worth the weekend it was published (nigh on 50 years ago :bored:)

At least the Americans remember to build aircraft with fuel tanks.

A bit cranky today, Anotherday?

Two interesting things about the Lightning: it busts the popular myth that nobody could design a practical supersonic fighter before Whitcomb defined the area rule, and (combined with its missiles) it was designed to destroy its target before the bomber could release a nuke, without using a nuclear warhead of its own.