smujsmith,

Just for you - 56 Sqn at Akrotiri !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBDF60o2Ns8

Salute to 'Taffy Holden's' F1 XM135 by 74 (Tiger) Sqn
 

rafengo74to09, unfortunately 56 didn't operate TSR2 in Cyprus, certainly not while I was there, but thanks for the thought.

Smudge :ok:

Smudge,

Fixed the link above to 56 Sqn Lightnings in Akrotiri.

Lightning F2A 92 Sqn "King Cobra" circa 1976:


http://www.92sqdn.brushhouse.co.uk/pics/XN778.jpg

Lightning F2A 92 Sqn circa 1976:

http://sg-etuo.de/media/westersoeteb...-92Sqn-wsb.jpg

92 Sqn with 15 aircraft - and look how many see-off crews there are for a wave:


http://www.92sqdn.brushhouse.co.uk/p...ngCobras-1.jpg

Newark 2014

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psviarzria.jpg

Don't you just love the photos of the Ninety-Blue aircraft?:) We had proper air force in those days!

RAFEngO, thanks for that vid link. One minute and six seconds of pure nostalgia for me. Certainly some of the happiest times I've had in my 30 years of service. Great to see again.

Smudge :ok:

I just love that fighter!

Met Officer for 19 and 92 at Guetersloh, where I lived among the steely-eyed aces on the top patch.
I was S Met O Binbrook's line manager thereafter, and I seem to have visited Binbrook far more often than my other outstations ranging from Leeming all the way down to Marham.

Is it true that one set of tyres only lasted half a dozen flights?

Tyres last 6 sorties? At 226OCU 1 or 2 was not unusual.

In a strong crosswind they only did one landing!

Does this count? 60MU at RAF Leconfield in 1967/68 plastering all the electrical and comms cabling with this brown epoxy gunk. The donks had been removed to allow access. If it does count then WIWOL YUK!!!

Wasn't a patch on my years on 230 OCU 63/65 at RAF Finningley. As a Cpl Tech Air Radio on Vulcans, now that was truly magic in comparison.

Newt - you're half right, it was the crosswind take off that sha**ed the tyres, the subsequent landing merely finished the job!

Minnie Burner

There was indeed a comparatively tame flypast of 3 x F4J from 74 Sqn, plus a Hawk in the box (to talk VHF to Duxford, the F4J didn't have it!). I was on the ground for the XM135 roll-out at the time and there were TV cameras there too (hence the tame flypast). The photo is actually a montage produced by the IWM photographer and there was "a bit of a flap on at Group" when it appeared in the RAF News.

Having seen the photo in said rag, and knowing exactly how an apparent sub-100ft formation flypast would be viewed, I called the AOC's PSO to give him the ammo to head off any 'senior enquiries', just in case. I was about 30 seconds too late, as there had apparently been a small thermonuclear device detonated in the vicinity only moments earlier. Happily, assurances that it was at least 500ft MSD and comments about the different focus for the Lightning and F4J elements on the same print were convincing enough to ensure there was no fallout!

Thank you gentlemen for the info. on tyres: half a dozen was obviously propaganda!

And please can I have some photos or tales of my first love: 19 squadron at Guetersloh?

They were resident when 92 pitched up from Geilers I believe.

Tyres....
 

As an aside, I recall looking at the tyres on a MiG 15. Looked shagged to me... but it seems two layers of canvas was fine; only rejects when THREE layers were showing....!

Also the "Bloodhound" supersonic car (aiming for 1000mph) will be doing it's first runs on Lightning tyres....

Not sure of this has been posted before and apologise if it has.

Some good video in it.

Lightning tyres
 

As a Jnr Tech Airframe fitter at Akronelli in 1973, I was deployed to Malta to be the tyre bay back up to a 4 ship detachment from 56 Squadron. The exercise ran for 4 days and I well remember in that time I replaced 39 main wheel covers (tyres) and 3 nose wheel covers. Having re arranged my social life, my working hours were modified to accommodate the jet. I was told that it was the first diet for a long time that had met their full sortie rate,mind not had delays due to tyres. I have a photograph of OC 56 presenting a young smujsmith with a tankard in appreciation of my voluntary denial of Cisk and Hop Leaf. I will dig out the shot and post it next Wednesday, hopefully someone may recognise some of the cast. Particularly the boss.

Smudge:ok:

langleybaston,


Although I prefer to post pics of aircraft from the RAF's premier fighter squadron (92 Sqn) responsible for shooting down the most aircraft in WWII and - in the Phantom era - since, just for you I did manage to find this very nice 19 Sqn Lightning T4 pic:


http://sg-etuo.de/media/zetsche/XM97...qn-zetsche.jpg

A 19 Sqn Lightning F2A managing to avoid landing in the water and/or crashing through the fence, and impressing onlookers at the same time !


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...b251019038.jpg

EngO: many thanks indeed. I can HEAR the latter aircraft!

Gentlemen,

I know it's not Wednesday, but can I offer this small tribute to the Tiger Squadron;

http://youtu.be/NBci6ynQNQo

Smudge :ok:

Here she is now, Duxford 2014.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pskelmnlgn.jpg

Last 'Flash Trail'
 

The last 'Flash Trail' APC deployment of Lightnings to Akrotiri:


The late 'Lord Percy' took them to the south of France, we then took them the rest of the way. Happy days!

The Difference a Few Weeks Make
 

September 1974. Finningly BoB. Display & Spare.
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...innBoB0972.jpg

A Little Later. Wattisham Junkyard, the same 2 jets.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...Watt250675.jpg

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...Watt250675.jpg

Brighter Days

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../1/2099131.jpg

Was it not the full checkerboard tail, omitting the fin flash, that caused the then Fighter Command to clamp down on coloured fins?

I recall 74 at Tengah painting their fins black on the day of the formation of Strike Command (30 Apr 68), as they had no instructions from them or the shiny new 11 Gp preventing such activity ;)

I thought the full checkerboard tail was OC 56's aircraft ??

"QRA" before the start of a TLP mission, Jever, April 1986.

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../1/0304152.jpg

They applied it to more than one :-

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psv9nsnjpi.jpg

Excuse a post from the ground crew side, perhaps someone could help me with these. As a tyre bay support man I was sent to Malta on an Airdex with a team from 56 in 1974 I believe. Apparently I did such a good job of keeping the tyres going that they told me it was the first Airdex they had not lost sorties due to lack of serviceable main wheels. On return to Akrotiri, I was sent for by the boss, who presented me with a tankard in appreciation of my efforts. To this day I can't remember his name, hope someone can help;

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/...pszzt6lzkc.jpg

This second shot is a better look at the aircraft L, and the Squadron lads who I went to Malta with. It only took me a couple of weeks to wangle a posting on to the Lightning Minor Team.

Argonautical and Minnie Burner, great shots of 56 Aircraft today, thanks. Photo credits station photog section, Akrotiri 1974.

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5bhmsjry.jpg

Smudge :ok:

Congratulations, Smudge.
Looks like Martin Bee was the CO.
http://kinghamhillschooldays.co.uk/n..._bee_large.jpg

First time I've seen that photo of Pete Chapman's white tailed '696 aero's mount 'on the dump'....... :{

Mind you, he certainly wrung it's neck and FI in that last season display's :E

PC must be up there among the best of those that displayed the beast over the years.

Has there ever been a vote among WIWOL for best aero's display pilot......?

In '65 226 OCU Lightnings had the red and white tail/spines

http://i62.tinypic.com/k7z1y.jpg

but we were told to remove all the polyurethane paint (nasty messy job for the riggers) and just have the 145Sqn badge and St George's cross

http://i57.tinypic.com/rsdenm.jpg

We were told that someone had waved a radiation counter at the paint and discovered it collected 'Special' Weapon' testing dust at altitude, but you know how rumours spread.

WMDWOL
 

Please forgive my posting 2 hrs prematurely.


http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps3siggqxx.jpg


This is a painting of mine from September 82. It hangs in my Dads hall (Goudie would have seen the original a few moths back) It is a picture taken through the glass hence a slight reflection. My Dad was on 5 Sqn up at Binbrook at the time. I do have some pictures he took at APCs in Akr in my old albums in the loft.
I have no idea how I found energy but after a hard day at the drawing board I would come home and get the brushes out often till past midnight. Now I do PPrune till late! I mainly painted pictures of the aircraft I had been working on but did this one for my Dad. I never worked on the Lightning. As a teenager my dad did send for me when he was at Oakington to remove a lost spanner from a oil tank on a Hercules Engine on a Varsity. My arm was slim enough at the time to recover the spanner without having to split the tank. I guess this may have had some influence over my career choice. I wander if I should have stuck to painting rather than Engineering!

Minnie Burner, your #73.

Thanks for that, I can put a name to that photograph now. Of course, in those days 73/4 a Jnr Tech was lucky to know his own Cpls name, let alone the Wing Commander. Thanks again.

Smudge:ok:

One for WIWOL's and fans alike...

Superb new title on the Lightning from, Ian Black.

http://firestreakbooks.com/files/201...ng_Jacket.jpeg

Home | Firestreak Books

-RP

Airfix
 

How many future j-jox made a model of this?:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../1/2233185.jpg

At least, 19 Sqn are consistent
 

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...b251019038.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...20Comps/F4.jpg