By: galdri - 14th March 2003 at 12:42
Thanks a lot fot the info….
By: Saabpilot - 14th March 2003 at 08:05
To confirm the details……
Lightning P1B, XG332, operated by de Havilland for Firestreak and Red Top missile trials. On 13th Sept 1962, after conducting a high speed/high altitude re-heat test off the south coast, pilot Geroge Aird had a double engine fire warning during the flight back to Hatfield, after making several attempts to relight one of the engines. Due to a cobination of a blocked fuel drain and a craked re-heat pipe the resultant fire burnt through the tailplane actuator rods, causing a violent pitch-up, just as George was on final approach.
George ejected and crashed through the roof of one of the large greenhouse just visible in the bottom left of the picture, smashing both of his legs, and finally coming to rest amist the tomato plants.
The photo was taken by a Jim Meads who just happened to be taking photos of his children at the time, and appeared as the centre page spread in the Daily Mail on the 9th Oct ’62.
By: ageorge - 12th March 2003 at 18:36
That’s a nice Fordson Super Major , wonder if she’s still around ???, still inferior to the Grey Menace Fergies !!!
By: Saabpilot - 12th March 2003 at 09:23
Location was the BAC/deHavilland Aerodrome at Hatfield, date if I remember was 1962.
At work at the mo, but will check my memory is correct when I get home…….. :rolleyes:
By: Paul Cushion - 10th March 2003 at 15:59
It’s George Aird in a pre-production lightning (XG???) after a double reheat fire warning. He chose to ignore the warning thinking that it was spurious and felt the controld stiffen followed by a rapid pitch up just before landing! He ejected and came to in a greenhouse……….
Paul.
By: Moggy C - 10th March 2003 at 14:43
It’s real
Featured a lot in the press at the time, and this was before digital photography and Photoshop.
Moggy
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March 10, 2003 at 2:20 pm