Hi all, was reading through a book covering various RAF./RN. drone programmes at the weekend, which mentioned a few proposals such as the Swift F1, Gnat T.2 and ex USAF. QF.100 for RAF. use,
I was wondering if anyone out there had heard of retired EE. Lightning’s being proposed for such duties ? (possibly in lieu of the Sea Vixen perhaps, which I understand suffered from exhaust masking at certain angles)
many thanks, Joe
By: WH904 - 20th October 2014 at 21:45
I remember a great deal of excitement amongst enthusiasts when the Lightning drone idea first emerged. Mental images of red/yellow Lightnings seemed very appealing! I think that even at the time, most of us suspected that it would never happen 🙂
By: AndyY - 20th October 2014 at 20:23
I don’t think they were meant to be shot down, they would be recovered and landed to fly again, although being shot down would always be a risk. The cut-down system was to bring the drone down over the sea if it went rogue.
Andy
By: Oxcart - 20th October 2014 at 19:46
I can’t think why fatigue would be an issue if you’re going to shoot them down!
By: AndyY - 20th October 2014 at 19:09
I spent my career working at Warton, in Systems Engineering on Flight Control Systems. During the early 80’s I was working in the Fly-by-Wire Jaguar team. In the same office were folks working on studies for the Lightning Drone. I remember it was proposed to have a ‘cut-down’ system including MDC to chop through the wings, and around the control-rods at the tailplane PFCU’s. If the control rods were severed, the tailplanes would go trailing-edge up, pitch up the sircraft and cause it to stall.
Andy
By: Binbrook 01 - 20th October 2014 at 18:45
Yep they did think about it, but that’s about as far as I think it got. The Sea Vixen drone plan got further than the Lightning one did.
I forgot to add that the plan was probably dumped due to the delay of Tornado F.2/F.3 into service, which gave the Lightning fleet a bit longer in service, but likely didn’t do the airframes Fatigue Index much good
Tim S
By: DaveF68 - 20th October 2014 at 18:25
Hi all, was reading through a book covering various RAF./RN. drone programmes at the weekend, which mentioned a few proposals such as the Swift F1, Gnat T.2 and ex USAF. QF.100 for RAF. use,
I was wondering if anyone out there had heard of retired EE. Lightning’s being proposed for such duties ? (possibly in lieu of the Sea Vixen perhaps, which I understand suffered from exhaust masking at certain angles)many thanks, Joe
Mentioned here:
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1984/1984%20-%200278.html
So someone was talking about it in 1984
I may have sold you an urban myth re the Vixen!
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October 20, 2014 at 5:56 pm