By: 320psi - 4th July 2007 at 09:33
Hi, here’s a few links to articles writen by some Lightning peronalities:
Just go to ‘articles’ and read away
‘Back in the hot seat’ by the late Roly Beamont, ‘My Lightning’ by John Spencer, ‘Leuchars areos’ by Kevin Mace and ‘Once in to the wide blue younder’ by the late Brian Carrol all give a good idea of what the Lightning was like to fly.
Or for more Lightning stories why not buy a copy of our book ‘Ligthnings Live On’ its full of stuff and the procedes go to the QRA fund 🙂
All can say is the offen used term ‘I was with it all the way to brakes off’ is so apt for the Lightning, belive me. 🙂
I have peronally taxied both of our two, but only to about 40-50mph,which is enough for a mear mortal.
From my expericenes with running them staticly into reheat (one engine at a time with the brakes on and chocks in) I can only say the guys who flew them in defence of this country thoughtout the cold war in all weathers were the very best we had to offer, they were the cream.
I have sent out an Email, to one of our regular pilots, Denis Brooks (tons of hours on Lightning and Tornado and the nice chap to boot) asking for his personal thoughts on Lightning operational flying, I have heard him talk about it many times but I dont think we have his words in print, I will post his thoughts here when he replies.
As for the second part of your question, this has been covered many times over the years here and else where about the in’s and outs of why a lightning is not able to fly in the UK, like John says they are just to many to list here, the debate would and has gone on for years.
My personal view of it all is there are no suitable airframes left in the UK to consider them for flight.
The engineering and cost that goes into ‘just’ keeping our two taxiable is enormours, and I speak as a long term owner/engineer within the LPG, I truly understand why the authorities are nervous.
My honest answer is get saving and take a trip to Cape Town, its the best option.
Regards
Andy B (LPG)
By: FMK.6JOHN - 4th July 2007 at 09:12
Nash
Why don’t you get yourself to Bruntingthorpe on the 22nd, then you can rub shoulders with ex Lightning pilots and chat to them for hours, oh and they will be running TWO Lightnings on full re-heat down the runway too.
As for CAA and flight in the UK, this forum aint big enough for the problems:eek: .
Regards,
John.
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July 4, 2007 at 12:26 am