Lightning Climb-to-height records

I was witness to 72,000ft at Binbrook in ’83

Don’t suppose the mighty Tornado, which has been “defending” the UK since the Lightning’s demise, can possibly come close!

Just a small quibble -for the sake of historical accuracy……..

It’s not P.24 – but Sukhoi P-42 – standing for ‘Pobed 42’ – ‘Victory 42’ – celebrating the breaking of the siege of Stalingrad in 1942.

Ken

Ah, IAT Fairford… I remember it well!;)

Flood

Have a good trip, bring back some nice piccies

I stand corrected – forgot which order my fingers went!

It seems that in the absence of any official and unofficial record they are going to attempt to do the 9000m climb in under a minute to which the only response is “bleedin’ hell”. A friend and I are popping down there for the weekend so I’ll let you know how it goes!

There are no official records as these would have to be world records and the current turbojet records are held by a Sukhoi P.24.

Just a small quibble -for the sake of historical accuracy……..

It’s not P.24 – but Sukhoi P-42 – standing for ‘Pobed 42’ – ‘Victory 42’ – celebrating the breaking of the siege of Stalingrad in 1942.

Ken

Popular pastime obviously, as Dave Roome claimed the same thing while with 74 at Tengah…….and I believe it may have been at the helm of now Cape Town based XR773, which was ‘his’ mount while with 74.

My apologies your right it was Dave Roome, my conversation with Brian was him telling me about Dave Roome’s climb to 88,000ft, although Im sure Brian did climb to high altitudes.

Can’t be too sure of the details but seem to recall (from my days in the ATC) a pilot telling me that brakes off to 30000 feet in under 2 minutes was easily possible

On another subject he did once tell us he managed 88,000ft out of Tengar in an F6

Popular pastime obviously, as Dave Roome claimed the same thing while with 74 at Tengah…….and I believe it may have been at the helm of now Cape Town based XR773, which was ‘his’ mount while with 74.

Mike Beachy Head has asked me (and probably others) if there are any unofficial climb-to-height records for the Lightning. There are no official records as these would have to be world records and the current turbojet records are held by a Sukhoi P.24.

Most of you will know that he is attempting to break the 20,000 ft and 30,000 ft records using a stripped-down T.5 but could do with knowing what the unofficial UK records are. I think that the late Brian Carroll may well have held unofficial records but I have drawn a blank on discovering times.

Anyone help?

Hi Dave, having qizzed Brian, Jimmy Dell and Peter Collins on a few occasions about this, (both Peter and Jimmy from AFDS days) they are all sure there was no offical climb to height record recorded for a Lightning.
Would love to be proved wrong on this and find out for certain.
They are all resonably unanimous that in a T5 Lightning from brakes off it would take 2.5 minute’s to reach 36,000ft, this was Brians ‘area’ as it were, he knew one hell of alot about the Lightning and its performance so I would be pretty certain this data were correct.
We all miss him either on the end of the phone answering questions like this or powering down Bruntingthorpes Runway in 904 or 728.

On another subject he did once tell us he managed 88,000ft out of Tengah in an F6

Hope this helps
Andy B (LPG)