I am reading “The War That Never Was” by Duff Hart-Davis (Century, 2011, ISBN 9781846058257) which purports to chronicle the war fought in Yemen in the 60’s by various mercenaries backed (but not admitted) by various Govts – complete with all the back-stabbing, duplicity, etc, which seems to be par for the course when the Hooligans, ex-Hooligans, and other ner-do-wells are involved with Arab countries/tribes in fomenting (a) liberation, and/or (b) destroying “terrorists” (depending upon which end of the telescope you are viewing the problem through!). Fairly hairy (and I’ve done time in a similar location!). The finances, and politics!! (particularly in UK!!), are mind-boggling!
However, on p.250 of said book Hart-Davis states that Geofffey Edwards, of the then BAC, was working ‘flat out’ to secure the Saudi Lightning deal. Hart-Davis also states that “a single Lightning, taken out from England by BAC’s chief test pilot, had created a powerful impression”.
Pilot’s name, a/c type, Registration number, etc, irrelevant. But what was the route – seeing as many of the countries in the area were aware (to a greater or lesser degree) of what was going on?
Anybody (a) know, and (b) prepared to say?
TIA
Resmoroh
By: wl745 - 18th September 2012 at 13:10
Yemen war
Not the one the Egyptians were in then ?
There were two lightnings in Aden in september 1961 on tropical trials.
By: GrahamSimons - 17th September 2012 at 18:08
“19 Over Saudi Arabia, Brian Carroll, a former Lightning chief examiner, took one of the aircraft up to 87,300 feet, at which height he reported that control was ‘ on a knife edge’. The Kuwaitis also bought Lightnings, but lacked the skill to maintain them.”
You mean in something like this?
By: DaveF68 - 17th September 2012 at 16:37
Has been reported for LIghting before.
By: Resmoroh - 17th September 2012 at 16:30
And further to my last on this subject (to which, I note, there were few replies!). It says, in the ‘Notes’ section of the same book:-
“19 Over Saudi Arabia, Brian Carroll, a former Lightning chief examiner, took one of the aircraft up to 87,300 feet, at which height he reported that control was ‘ on a knife edge’. The Kuwaitis also bought Lightnings, but lacked the skill to maintain them.”
Now 87,300 feet is a long way up! Is this statement likely to be true?
TIA
Resmoroh
By: Resmoroh - 15th September 2012 at 14:28
D1566, Hi,
Yes! The double double dealing involving the Israelis was, mainly, what I was alluding to in the re-supply ops as part of the complicated politics – and everybody formally denying everything all the time!!!! Italian made parachutes for the load drops!! Presumably the drop a/c was never on the Israeli Air Force inventory – even though it appears to have been flown by Israeli crews (with, of course, the obligatory Lichtenstein (or wherever) uniforms and passports!!!).
And – what is more – I would not be surprised to find that something similar is going on somewhere in the world at this very moment! Keeps ex-Hooligans in employ!!
HTH
Resmoroh
By: D1566 - 15th September 2012 at 14:15
Can’t help you with the Lightning question (would BAC not have been more likely to ‘entertain’ the customers in the UK?) Excellent book though – the involvement of the Israelis both fascinating and perhaps unexpected, quite an achievement in itself.
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September 15, 2012 at 1:11 pm