Duxford Yesterday, Bruntingthorpe today… Busy weekend 😀 😀
Very different scale of event, but equally enjoyable and the reminiscences of the pilots broadcast over the PA made interesting listening between the runs. Good to see such a wide range of aviation preservation flourishing in this country.
Still picking the grit out of my hair, anyhow here are a few Lightning photos as they come off the camera
By: JetBlast - 14th July 2004 at 19:27
The team are to remove, check and rectify any problems with the Canberra’s brakes before a high speed taxi can be conducted, but it is seriously hoped that she WILL perform a fast run on September 5th. I will update when I next see Roger and Arthur (should be next weekend).
Anyone point me in the right direction for the remanufacture of main fuel pipes for Bucc 894? :confused:
By: British Canuck - 14th July 2004 at 19:16
Was WT333 ever flown in civilian hands?
By: Gareth Horne - 14th July 2004 at 18:34
Everything went well with the static run up of WT333 on Sunday, so they did then perform a low speed taxi in front of the crowd.
Hopefully high speed runs will soon follow!
By: andrewman - 14th July 2004 at 00:07
The plan is to taxi WT333 at some point in the future.
I think BuccSociety will be able to provide more info on how long it will be until it can taxi.
By: British Canuck - 13th July 2004 at 17:31
Canberra
It appears that WT333 the former RAE Canberra has made a couple of static runs this year..in May and now in July…Anyone know what future plans are in store for this historic aircraft?…..and when did WT333 acquire engines as I think I remember reading that the engines from WT333 were removed not long after arrival at Brunthingthorpe and that one is fitted in WK163 the other was out of hrs and was at Coventry…is a taxi possible in the near future!?
By: andrewman - 13th July 2004 at 12:37
Talking off night runs the Lightning Association at Brinbrook did a night run on XP724 last summer their are some photos on this forum if you search for them.
By: Gareth Horne - 13th July 2004 at 12:18
Guzzineil – think we all had a silly grin on our faces after that – the ripple of laughter that spread through the crowd was infectious. Never get anything like that at an airshow. (Glad I remembered the ear defenders though!)
Whalebone and John Cooper – thanks, that must have really been an experience, all that power in the night. Imagine it concentrated the mind wonderfully, flying such a short endurance machine from a dark airfield with the possibility of fog on the return.
By: DGH - 13th July 2004 at 08:51
Ref : The Hunter Canopy
The commentator on Sunday said that a member of the public who had been invitied into the cockpit decided it would be a good idea to pull the emergencey release lever 😡
The manuals they have are in Swiss and so they are trying to figure out how to put it back on.
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th July 2004 at 08:17
No the Sea Vixen was static only yesterday chuck, like the idea of a night run mmitch, that would be something to see! Did the ‘Fightning’ ever operate in hours of darkness?
They certainly did, I had two years on 29 squadron at Wattisham on F3’s plius one T-bird, not just QRA at night. We ran two shifts 0730hrs until 1630hrs and then 1630hrs to whenever. All weathers, but fog conditions was only on QRA (Quick Reaction Alerts) if the kite(s) went up they would divert usually to Coltishall or Binbrook if the fog persisted at WTM.
By: ALBERT ROSS - 13th July 2004 at 00:53
Great shots to keep the dream alive! Just think, just a slight pull on the stick, leap into the air, quick circuit and land and the CAA need never know!!
By: whalebone - 13th July 2004 at 00:23
“Did the ‘Fightning’ ever operate in hours of darkness?”
indeed they did Gareth.
As a small lad in the late 60’s there was many a winter evening when a low sustained rumble would draw me outside to witness a pair of double white dots climbing hard to the east north east in the night sky and you knew that the boys from Wattisham were out on another QRA in search of a Bear somewhere over the southern North Sea.
In those days there was far less general background traffic noise and light pollution at night and they would be about eight to ten miles away pulling a left hand climbing turn to head out over the coast.
Of course back then times were much different and a parent would think nothing of letting a 12yr old lad cycle off with a chum and a packed lunch for the 40 mile round trip cycle ride to sit by the crash gate all day.
It was a little like going fishing really, sometimes you would be there all day and not see a thing, other times well……..it just blew your socks off. 😀
Happy days.
By: Peter - 12th July 2004 at 21:53
Great pics guys!!
What happened to the canopy on the Hunter???
By: scott c - 12th July 2004 at 19:32
Hi All
Only got to see the pairs run as i was looking after my stand most of the day but on the plus side i did see if from the other side of the runway from everyone else.
Scott c
By: Guzzineil - 12th July 2004 at 18:29
heres my sad atempt to capture the moment.. unfortunately the pilot lit the afterburners just as he got level with where I stood so I had a bit of a wobble-on!!!! not a patch on the above images but makes me grin when I look at it!!!
By: Gareth Horne - 12th July 2004 at 10:10
No the Sea Vixen was static only yesterday chuck, like the idea of a night run mmitch, that would be something to see! Did the ‘Fightning’ ever operate in hours of darkness?
By: mmitch - 12th July 2004 at 09:27
Is it feasible (legal even) to do a night run? Even in evening half light those reheated Avons would be spectacular.
mmitch.
By: Last Lightning - 12th July 2004 at 05:46
Unfotunately i couldnt get to any shows this weekend so missed everything. 😡 Those Brunty shots are amazing. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Did the Sea Vixen do a run? :confused:
By: adwwebber - 11th July 2004 at 22:56
next open day is Sept 11 th i think, and there will be three buccs by then.
cracking photos wish i’d gone now, oh well !
i’ll be by XW544 come and say hello she’ll be there by end of this month !
By: stringbag - 11th July 2004 at 22:45
The bare metal T3A is XM355 Paul.
Never been to Brunty, but hope to do so soon!
Nice to see them ‘roaring’ down the runway 🙂
Thanks Gareth.
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th July 2004 at 22:38
Nice pics Gareth
Do you (or anyone else) know what the serial was of the natural metal finish JP ?
RLF9
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July 11, 2004 at 7:57 pm