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: