Another Lightning for Brunty XR713

The high bid figure and cost of dismantling it correctly made the idea untenable. Cutting off wings isn’t something the museum feels is within its remit.

I should add that the future for any Lightning can only be undercover – the museum would I am sure entertain serious proposals to help a neglected Lightning.

Thanks Peppermint Jam,

I know several people at LPG and it seems that Wattisham dropped out due to the probability they would have had to have cut 713. which would be a pain. And I wonder how easy its going to be to split after close to 28 years outside, near the good old North Sea..?

Tim S

David. It’s my understanding (and I may well be wrong!) that Wattisham were indeed in a position to be able to accept and home 713, and probably have the guys on site able to carry out some sort of restoration. However, I think they severly underestimated the cost and labour required to correctly disassemble and transport a Lightning by road. It’s my understanding that removing the fin and accessing and splitting the I-beam (Lightning guys, please correct me if I’m wrong!) is an absolute sod of a job and it would take the best part of 1-2 weeks to get her into manageable pieces that are legally small enough for road transportation, which is why the majority of Lightnings that have ever been road moved have had their wings and fin clipped. That’s a fortnight of food and accomodation that probably 4-6 guys would need, which isn’t cheap on its own! Then you’d need someone that actually knows how to dismantle one, there can’t be many about that still have the sort of knowledge in their heads! Add to that the tooling/GSE/slings that may be required, transportation costs, potential police escort fees, and so on and you’re probably looking at (and this is just my back of a fag packet guesstimate, I could be way off!) somewhere in the region of £10k. Maybe more, maybe less.

The LPG were raising funds on behalf of the Wattisham museum, indeed at the twilight run last November, one of the LPG made a very passionate plea to the assembled masses to dig into their pockets to help get 713 back to her spiritual home. The funds raised that night were held by the LPG until such a time as the Wattisham Museum had been sucesful in their bid for 713. However, when the bid form Wattisham didn’t materialise, the LPG were almost obliged to put in a bid using the funds raised on Wattishams behalf (plus some from their own kitty as stated) to try and save 713 from going to the scrapman.

It was never the desire of the LPG to acquire 713, they’ve got their hands full enough! However, it seems she’s kind of chosen them, rather than them chosing her!

As to how the LPG folk paln to strip/move her, that remains to be seen. And as to what will happen to her once she makes it to Brunty, who knows. I’ve seen some very recent photos of her, lets just say the years have not been kind. Whilst I would say that based on what I’ve seen in photos, there is little or no chance of her ever moving under how own power again. But hey, if ever there was a group with the skillset, manpower, equipment and sheer bloody minded determination to make a miracle happen, then the LPG are it. Never say never…

Its still factually incorrect – I discussed this machine at length with Wattisham something like three years ago before the bidding process began -indeed efforts were put in place to try and acquire her through private treaty sale. That wasn’t to be . It has never been a case that Wattisham were unable to accept her -indeed if another were to come on the market its highly likely that Wattisham would try and do something ! It cannot be a case where the museum is financially under threat due to one acquisition.

Hmm now let’s see where does it say she is going to Brunty..??? 😉

FROM LAPG FACEBOOK PAGE

FUND BOOSTED BY £826 IN ONE DAY! THANKS. LETS SEE IF WE CAN GET £2000 ON HERE PLEASE.
Just to let everyone know that the Lightning Preservation Group have won F3 XR713 from Leuchars!
Due to Wattisham Station Heritage being unable to accept her, she will be coming to Bruntingthorpe.
We felt that although Wattisham had withdrawn, we were duty bound to bid for her.
It has however left a big hole in the finances, but if all of the 2283 Members on here were able to just give a £1 each that would make up the shortfall.
So go the link on the LPG page please, and donate now. Thanks Chris.
http://www.lightnings.org.uk/

Not if they are incorrect no ! It was never a case that Wattisham was unable to accept the Lightning .

Read the link in the FIRST post… Does anyone ever bother to read threads? 😀

As David say’s the LPG are involved, but I would be supprised if she was headed to Bruntingthorpe. The LPG guys do a fantastic job with the two they have, but the Q shed is full, and I can’t see them having her languishing outside.

Where does it say its going to Bruntingthorpe at all ?? The LPG were involved in he inspection and bidding process for her with the intention of her moving to Wattisham. The sums paid for her I am not privy to but people seem to be treating Bruntingthorpe as the prefered location -I would advocate that the best home for her is somewhere undercover.

2 at the moment and 713 makes 3

thanks

2 at the moment and 713 makes 3

Same number that have been there for years

for the un enlightened the number would be good to know which would then mean the un enlightened would have been enlightened ?:rolleyes:

Same number that have been there for years

So how many at Bruntingthorpe now?

Donations can be made here http://www.lightnings.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/eelightning/874981975853785/?notif_t=group_comment_reply

There was significant cost involved in moving the Lightning from Leuchars to Wattisham. The Wattisham group do not have a massive pot of money and were not about to entertain one of the options which was to cut wings off.

Hi All,
TonyT,
Have fired off an e-mail to LPG asking about plans so just awaiting reply .

Geoff.

Yep I know, it says they couldn’t accept it? Seems strange. Still end of the day she is saved and that’s the main thing 🙂

Hi All,
Tony,
On the LPG web page they had been campaigning to save this aircraft asking for donations to save it for the Wattisham Station Heritage for a while so don’t know what happened in the meantime ? http://www.lightnings.org.uk/

Geoff.