Are there any airworthy lightnings that actually fly today?
I have been to Bruntingthorpe and seen the fast taxi runs of one of theirs, but would love to see one fly! The lightning preservation group’s website says they are in ‘airworthy condition’ but that the CAA won’t let the lightning fly as a civvy……..
So, are there any flying anywhere else in the world?? What happened to the South African ones?
By: JDK - 6th August 2011 at 13:13
Looking forward to living in some bleak former Soviet republic that has no rules?
Heh. To paraphrase Bill Bryson, he said something about that being like Britain under Thatcher and with extra rules. He also noted the shared compulsion for queuing among the Soviets and Brits. 😀
By: ajw - 6th August 2011 at 12:10
Yep 😉
Ok……maybe a second home :diablo:
By: David Burke - 6th August 2011 at 11:44
Looking forward to living in some bleak former Soviet republic that has no rules?
By: ajw - 6th August 2011 at 11:01
If I win the lottery between now and Nov 30th, I can guarantee you that I will own one of those lightnings and move to a country that will allow it to be flown 😉
By: efiste2 - 5th August 2011 at 12:57
Pardon my nievity, but didnt the EE lightning have one of the highest maintenance ratios of any jet aircraft in its time…..
By: J31/32 - 5th August 2011 at 12:16
Aircraft listed for sale on auction site
http://www.go-dove.com/event-15794?lcid=en
Thunder Citys fleet up for grabs?
By: SADSACK - 26th July 2011 at 13:07
re;
is the American one still happening or is it on the back burner?
By: plough - 25th July 2011 at 20:23
Theoretically, perhaps, but in practice the two airframes at Bruntingthorpe were within just a few hours of being life expired when they arrived there, so there is no realistic possibility of them flying again, even if the CAA were willing.
By: ZRX61 - 25th July 2011 at 18:26
Ah yes, slight brain fart, that’s the one I was thinking of 🙂
So….. Theoretically…. there are 6 *airworthy* Lightnings?.. 3 in SA, 2 at Brunters & the Cranfield example.. any others?
By: AdlerTag - 25th July 2011 at 18:21
The one at Cosford is permenantly airborne 🙂 :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juddersstuffok/2431835976/sizes/l/in/photostream/
You might be thinking of the T.5 two-seater at Cranfield:
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/survivor.php?id=191
By: Hurn - 25th July 2011 at 18:20
What about the one at Cosford(?)
Do you mean Cranfield?
I believe they also like to keep the T5 there fully serviceable, so I would presume it could take-off.
By: ZRX61 - 25th July 2011 at 17:36
I’ve no doubt the Lightnings at Brunters could take-off and even possibly go around and land safely, but at the end of the day it would still be illegal and who knows what sort of repercussions there would be.
What about the one at Cosford(?)
By: Hurn - 25th July 2011 at 16:23
mishaps can happen wlook what nearly ahppened with the Victor ?.
A mishap that was avoidable!
But I wonder what the repercussions would have been if he’d taken it round for a circuit rather than get it back on the ground within the confines of the airfield? An end to the Cold War Jets days perhaps? Huge fines? Who knows?
By: Firebex - 25th July 2011 at 16:03
I’ve no doubt the Lightnings at Brunters could take-off and even possibly go around and land safely, but at the end of the day it would still be illegal and who knows what sort of repercussions there would be.
mishaps can happen wlook what nearly ahppened with the Victor ?.
By: David Burke - 22nd July 2011 at 22:07
A quick read of the accident report of ZU-BEX shows why the operation of the Lightnings might have come under review by the SA CAA.
By: Firebex - 22nd July 2011 at 22:02
I’m sure they won’t, but expect a call from the US Defence Department!
tell em we will do a swap for a few Harriers
Mike E
Sign In
July 21, 2011 at 9:51 pm