XM173 Lightning up for disposal by DSA

Yeah it is put when your under a time limit to remove these things and you dont have the manpower or the correct gear to dismantle these jets in the correct way its the easiest solution im afraid.
She was originally dismantled when moved from binbrook but that was many moons ago.
I have seen sevearl lightnings which have had there wings and fins cut and some you cant tell exactly where they were cut as they were rejoined perfectly.
The main thing is she was saved from the scrapman .

I know, I was there at Binbrook when it came into ASF for transportation.

there is man power around, but there was no way 173 was ever coming apart properly. myself and an experienced Lightning team went and surveyed her last year, and it became evident almost immediately that she would have to be chopped, the amount of corrosion and the condition of the fixings and undercarriage meant that, most would not have come out without a serious amount of work, and would have required at least 10 days continuos work. The cost and effort just couldn’t be justified on this one.

I have seen a few Lightnings were you can see the cut and it’s not pretty! There is manpower around to dismantle these things in the corrct way – it’s just a matter of putting the word about. In the case of this aircraft it was moved by road already so I should imagine that a lot of the disconnects are already done.

Yeah it is put when your under a time limit to remove these things and you dont have the manpower or the correct gear to dismantle these jets in the correct way its the easiest solution im afraid.
She was originally dismantled when moved from binbrook but that was many moons ago.
I have seen sevearl lightnings which have had there wings and fins cut and some you cant tell exactly where they were cut as they were rejoined perfectly.
The main thing is she was saved from the scrapman .

It’s a shame they chopped the wings.

XM173 continued

hopping across the hills to Warton this morning we went into Newton in search of 173 and found her fairly quickly, at the location already described, behind the used car lot.

We were told by one of the guys there that the owner doesnt like poeple looking at it!! which sounds a bit odd especially after trumpeting its location in the Aviation press.

Anyway, without any ado, here she is, as of this afternoon. Much the same as in previous shots from last year when she first arrived here.

XM173 – Back to the subject in hand

Hello all,

Back to the subject of XM173.

A brief snippet appeared in the latest Flypast magazine informing all that XM173 is in safe hands and resides near Warton.

The piccie shown was from MSS Holdings Ltd ..it said so on the bottom! She has had her wintips & tail cut for road move but they will be replaced by the finest craftsmen so youll hardly be able to tell!

I can now say that MSS Holdings Ltd are the new owners of her and at the moment, she risides in stasis in the factory carpark area.

He will soon be moved on site (now that the wheels revolve after 15 yrs static!) to a place where she can be renovated and repainted before going on a more permanent ‘public display’ at the entrance to the factory. She will remain in 56 sqn Firebirds colours.

You will be more than welcome to come see her when the time is right. In the meantime, she may well be out of sight in the factory being worked on so, i suggest you contact MSS Holdings first if you want to ‘arrange’ a look see if it is possible or not

Kodak – Become the next ‘Jeremy Clarkson’ and live his life if you wish ! I guess he has achieved his trappings of wealth despite people either a. liking him or b. not liking him so good luck to the bloke!

Hi neil
Love the pic of 172 looks really good there placed in your garden makes me wish i had one in my garden too .
Shame to hear 932 has parted lakes lightnings but at least she is in a safe home .
Hope the radar bullet and housing has come in handy for your other cockpit and you got it fitted easily.
Hope to hear from you soon as got a few interesting bits and pieces wich i found for you .
Have fun
D and family

XM172 & XM173

Well Chaps,

Read with interest your missives on Mr Clarkson … like him or not, XM172 is still alive and not a heap of crushed metal as was the ‘want’ of a certain Airfield Director until i stepped in to buy her and move her on to safer pastures.

XM172 now resides peacefully in my garden up in the Lakes … (viewing is fine but by PRIOR arrangement please…if you turn up on the day and im there, then thats OK i will gladly show you her … But if im not there, then theres NO access other than a look over the wall from the road) …my avatar is of her in situ in case you hadnt noticed!

XM173 appears in the new edition of flypast with official notification from her new owner ….. and yes, she is near Warton. The plan is for her to be available for viewing (after years and years of being out of sight at Bentley Priory) after some restoration work. Until then, she is parked up in a secure area carpark on an industrial complex with limited access. Her wing tips and tail were cut off for the road move.

Just for your general info, ‘Retro Aviation’ now owns F6 cockpit section XS932 as ‘Lakes Lightnings’ have parted with her.

Fly Safe, as always

I thoroughly like the chap, at least he raises awareness of Aviation, and to people lost in combat. Also major contributer to a servicemens charity.
Funny where you see his name come up, sometimes on the most unlikely of forums!

I also love the way that top gear are decidedly PRO forces, The tank versus the Range rover, the Apace versus the exige and my personal favorite the EF typhoon Versus teh Bugatti Veyron 😀 getting back to the thread, is 173 home now?

[QUOTE=kodak;1221450]

The programme was ‘entertainment’ – i.e not everything you see on television is real .QUOTE]

😮 Really?!! 😎 There are many reasons why I just cant get on with the bloke- hes a dinosaur. But I did change my mind slightly when I saw the effort “he put in” to have the Lightning preserved. To find out it was just a sham, well that really annoys me, especially as hes made a fair wage for his love of “mean machines” and his apparent passion for them. 😡 I know I’m not alone when I say I’d kill for the space, time, funds etc etc to have a lightning in my back garden yet here he has just turned it into another pile of crap tv making him look good.

I think you are confusing Mr Clarkson with the production company. He is only the ‘face’ of the programme, not the producer. I am sure the money that the temporary move generated was ploughed back into Vintage Aviation – in fact, knowing Barry, I’m certain it was!

Bruce

I thoroughly like the chap, at least he raises awareness of Aviation, and to people lost in combat. Also major contributer to a servicemens charity.
Funny where you see his name come up, sometimes on the most unlikely of forums!

[QUOTE=David Burke;1221278]The programme was ‘entertainment’ – i.e not everything you see on television is real .QUOTE]

😮 Really?!! 😎 There are many reasons why I just cant get on with the bloke- hes a dinosaur. But I did change my mind slightly when I saw the effort “he put in” to have the Lightning preserved. To find out it was just a sham, well that really annoys me, especially as hes made a fair wage for his love of “mean machines” and his apparent passion for them. 😡 I know I’m not alone when I say I’d kill for the space, time, funds etc etc to have a lightning in my back garden yet here he has just turned it into another pile of crap tv making him look good.

The programme was ‘entertainment’ – i.e not everything you see on television is real . I wouldn’t form any basis of dislike of a tv presenter on the premis that we are deceived into thinking he has a Lightning in his garden.

I quite like him too, I don’t see any need to hide… :p

I quite like him… (*Ducks and runs for cover*)

and me…. (Hides in the nearest anderson shelter….):D My missus would murder me too if I turned up with a Lightning to replace her pot plants…

I quite like him… (*Ducks and runs for cover*)

I’m with you on this one… I quit like him too!!!!

I quite like him… (*Ducks and runs for cover*)

Thanks for the info. So it was all a set up and “Mr I love Lightnings so much I have one in my garden” is a complete fraud. God I detest that bloke even more if thats possible…:mad:

it is! there,s a long line of others who detest the twit!