Greetings. Does anyone have any cockpit photos of English Electric Lightning F.1 or F.1As, both full frontal and sides. I am at present working on F.1A XM192 at Tattershall Thorpe, nr RAF Coningsby.
Have found loads of F.6s but precious few of the early birds.
Any help much appreciated.
By: TonyT - 28th April 2011 at 04:20
see
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/walkaround.php
By: crl848 - 27th April 2011 at 16:51
Just to let you know that XM191 Wouldn`t of sold for such a low figure, I`m sure the reserve was a lot more than the final auction price. So she should be moving with him to his new premises. So it might be worth contacting him to go and take some pictures, I think it is fairly complete.
May I ask if anyone knows if the cockpit did indeed sell, and if not how to contact the owner.
Thanks in advance.
By: stendec7 - 19th April 2011 at 17:59
Early Lightnings
Many thanks for the above replies. Very helpful and much appreciated.
By: Arabella-Cox - 19th April 2011 at 13:04
Early Lightning Cockpits
If you want any more detailed cockpit shots of XM169, I shall be opening up the cockpit for public access this Saturday.
As far as I am aware, the main visual difference between the F1A cockpit and later variants are the flight instruments. The F1A still has the standard six instruments which would not look out of place in a WW2 cockpit. The F2 onward used the Integrated Flight Instrument System (IFIS), similar to the Buccaneer.
PM me if you wish any specific shots.
By: RWSSCARB - 19th April 2011 at 12:39
XM191
Just to let you know that XM191 Wouldn`t of sold for such a low figure, I`m sure the reserve was a lot more than the final auction price. So she should be moving with him to his new premises. So it might be worth contacting him to go and take some pictures, I think it is fairly complete.
By: pagen01 - 19th April 2011 at 12:32
Nice shots, it’s surprising how the F.1 cockpit differs from the later F.3 (?) – 6 series, it’s almost like you can see the development of British fighter cockpits from the Hunter to the Jaguar in this one type.
By: danjama - 19th April 2011 at 12:28
Highland Aviation Museum has an F.1A cockpit section XM169 that is fairly well instrumented- possibly complete.
The pics below were taken reliant on the auto focus which didn’t result in the best of images. Don’t know if they would be of help. The full size images direct from the camera are too big to post here. PM if you are interested in those.
Fantastic images!
I don’t envy anybody trying to restore that workplace.
By: Portagee - 19th April 2011 at 00:20
Highland Aviation Museum has an F.1A cockpit section XM169 that is fairly well instrumented- possibly complete.
The pics below were taken reliant on the auto focus which didn’t result in the best of images. Don’t know if they would be of help. The full size images direct from the camera are too big to post here. PM if you are interested in those.
By: Dr. John Smith - 18th April 2011 at 21:11
Early Lightning cockpits
Perhaps it is relevant to this thread to mention that the cockpit of an early Lightning was auctioned as recently as two days ago (April 16th)
See http://www.cjmasset.com/GroundEquipmentSupplies.htm
The Lightning in question was XM191, which crashed on 9th June 1964 when with 111 Squadron, she suffered an engine fire on approach to RAF Wattisham. While she landed okay, the damage to the airframe was such that she was not repaired, so she was stripped for spares and most of the aircraft was scrapped.
The nose was retained and ended up being used by the RAF’s exhibition unit who used to cart her around to airshows and fairs as a recruiting aid.
Masquerading as a 5 Squadron F.6 in this superb shark mouth scheme, some panels were replaced with perspex to give an indication of the construction.
After the mid 1990s and the arrival of several complete plastic airframes for use by the unit, XM191 ceased to be used much. When Babcock got the contract to carry out the exhibition duties, they took XM191 on and she had a brief resurgence of use, appearing at the Newark Cockpitfest in 2004, but was finally put up for disposal in 2006 and sold by sealed bid.
XM191 was acquired by Nigel Spurr and moved to North Scarle, Lincs. Nigel is now selling up his home and business, hence XM191 being put up for action again
No news yet on the successful bidder, or where XM191 is moving to.
By: stendec7 - 18th April 2011 at 19:43
I have some of mk1a cockpits plus several pictures of 192 plus her original ejection seat.
192 is in great shape and looks lovely in the dark with her cockpit powered up.
How is she coming along as not been over to her recently to see how things going ?
Hi m8. Yes, have got more time at the moment so have been “getting some in.”
Yesterday, got the top left panel (with Standby Artificial Horizon) fitted back in and, got the drying cell back in behind it. However, there are gaps in the panel (and others) that could be for switches/pillar lamps etc, hence the need for some close-up photos. It’s frustrating, there are no end of photos of the later marks, but the early ones are like Rocking Horse droppings.
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th April 2011 at 23:03
I have some of mk1a cockpits plus several pictures of 192 plus her original ejection seat.
192 is in great shape and looks lovely in the dark with her cockpit powered up.
How is she coming along as not been over to her recently to see how things going ?
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April 17, 2011 at 8:33 pm