Boscombe Lightning T.4

Isn’t there a T.5 up for grabs in South Africa again?

Dont get me wrong, inside is best….but the RAFM is not the best place for her. The RAFM should have higher priorities. I believe that other commands should be given more exposure. Training Command and Coastal certainly

Whilst I can understand Tony’s stance on the importance of this a/c to BD,any ‘preservation’ work carried out to allow her back on the pole is going to be fairly superficial and will not address long term survival unfortunately !

…..Of course if there was another example tucked away somewhere else undercover it wouldn’t matter -but there isn’t !

I understand that NAM has been working on a plan to try and get XS417 inside for an extended period of time, as part of May’s Tribute to the Lightning event!

This should have involved a swap with the Gannet in Hangar 2 to allow a repaint to be completed on that airframe, but unfortunately it isn’t as straightforward as first thought and the plan has been placed on hold! 🙁

I dont see why the RAF needs such huge coverage of one type. They have many fewer of more significant aircraft.

Lots of Meteors, Vampire and Venom coverage pretty thin!

Lots of Spitfires; not great coverage of other types; no Mosquito fighter for a start!

Bruce

Will she always be hidden from view 100 metres inside Boscombe Down or could XL629 be placed on the grass opposite the outer guard room where everyone will be able to get a much better view of her?

It’s in storage in Suffolk.

Bruce -regards Lightning development -‘yes’ and ‘no’ ! The RAFM has the two P.1 ‘s on board at Cosford and Manchester. The production development batch F.1 on display at Cosford and an F.6 at Hendon.

What it doesn’t have is a trainer and the P.1B which was the first Mach 2 British aircraft.

So overall the picture is patchy .

The RAFM had the P1B on display at Hendon until the F6 replaced it. I think it ended up at Southampton. It should’ve gone to Cosford.

I suppose idealy it would be great to see XL629 housed in a building of some sort, but it sounds from Tonys post that it’s is being well looked after.

It’s one more version of a Lightning, and as much as us enthusiasts would like to see a trainer variant displayed as well, the RAFM cater to visitors that would rather see a greater spread of types. For instance there isn’t a Shackleton displayed within the main RAF Museums, the Valetta remains hidden away, is there even any RAF service Jaguar on display yet?
I dare say there are many inter-war types that need to be considered for representation.

I agree that twin stick variants of fighters get poor representation though, is there a Vampire T.11, Harrier T.4, standard Meteor T.7 on display or stored with the RAF Museum?

It would have been T.5 XS422 in the series which served Boscombe Down for eleven years until it was retired from service. It’s in the USA under rebuild to fly.

I assume this is the Lightning featured on the “Test Pilots” TV series ?

“Where the pilots had their first taste of vertical take-off”

What a good series that was.

Bruce -regards Lightning development -‘yes’ and ‘no’ ! The RAFM has the two P.1 ‘s on board at Cosford and Manchester. The production development batch F.1 on display at Cosford and an F.6 at Hendon.

What it doesn’t have is a trainer and the P.1B which was the first Mach 2 British aircraft.

So overall the picture is patchy .

If we take it then that its very significant where it is -what’s the plan when it undoubtedly reaches the point where corrosion has a significant hold on the airframe ?

I’m certainly not being ‘head in the sand’ either, It’s just that this particlar airframe is very significant where it is, as a well established reminder of the work of flight test crews – to my mind far more valuable there than being lost within the RAFMs collection where most of the general public would’nt be that bothered about it being different to the other Lightnings.

Edit, I like Bruces idea, displaying a twin tub cockpit section near one of the single seaters.

I think there are greater priorities that the RAFM will need to consider.

Personally, I think RAFM covers Lightning development very well; perhaps too well!

In terms of differences from the single seat airframe, a two seat forward fuselage would suffice to complete the story.

As Tony says, context is everything…

Our Memorial book is full of lots of Test Aircrew names, not just test pilots; FTEs, FTOs, Photographers.

David, in this case, I disagree with you! It is not head in sand, it is a very significant aircraft to Boscombe Down. Taking it away and secreting in a museum that has ‘forgotten’ other important types/commands is not so good.
Generally, I prefer aircraft under cover, but she is looked after and the context is important.

I guess if visitors to the RAFM never get to see a Lightning trainer we will never know ! What I do know is the head in the sand attitude is somewhat akin to the situation where we once had Spitfire V’s as gate guards !
Of course if there was another example tucked away somewhere else undercover it wouldn’t matter -but there isn’t !

Would the significance of the Lightning trainer be recognised within the RAFM displays and many of its visitors – I doubt it.
Personally prefer to see this particular airframe carrying on in memoriam of the role of the test-pilot, on Boscombes’ gate.

Hands off DB! She will be back on Gate soon shining and bringing a smile to visitors faces!

It would be good to see her inside…that is for sure !
She is not back on the plinth yet but the area is being tidied in preparation !