Head up Lightning fans UK TV tonight

This is definitely a B.2. Three ejection seats therefore not a PR type. Engine starter buttons are for the single cartridge type starters therefore not a B.6 (and it’s not T.4).

Still not sure of the identity of this cockpit section though, at the moment WJ640 is in the frame so to speak. This was owned by a Film Studio based, I think, at Denham Aerodrome and last recorded in 1991. So, it could be anywhere now. Maybe someone can tighten up on this.

But then again, life’s to short to try and follow through on this hulk. After being used as a “Broadsword” spaceship in a sub-B class film of a computer game it is probably now owned by the film company or handed on to a scrappy like most of the Lightning cockpits were.

These are links to some piccies of the Canberra – hopefully Les can identify the mark at least. It looks like a B.2 to me, but then I’m not sure I’d be able to tell for sure from these dodgy pictures if it was a PR.7 for example.

Anyway, have a butchers and do your thing Les!

http://www.wcnews.com/shots/movie/full/pic25.jpg

http://www.wcnews.com/shots/movie/full/wcexpo8.jpg

http://www.wcnews.com/shots/movie/full/wcexpo7.jpg

Mark

While I’m here, I have a spare (full size) print of “White Lightning” (the one Moggy shows). Suitable for framing. Anybody? PM me.

😎

Cheers Les, hopefully somebody has some pictures ‘cos Google ain’t got much !!

If only that print were an xmas card… 🙁

Where is LesB when you need him ? Need an ID and lowdown on the Canberra cockpit please ? 😀

Didn’t see it – the prog or the cockpit (thankfully). However, cranberry cockpits were and are pretty easy to get hold of especially at the time the film was made. Could be anything. Unless someone comes up with a pic or two I won’t make a guess except to say it would have been a B.2 or a PR.7 or a TT.18. If it had a lumpy nose it was a T.17. 😉 😉

While I’m here, I have a spare (full size) print of “White Lightning” (the one Moggy shows). Suitable for framing. Anybody? PM me.

😎

Where is LesB when you need him ?

Need an ID and lowdown on the Canberra cockpit please ? 😀

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Managed to get around to watching it last night, cringe city or what.
Couldnt watch it all, the ‘rapier’ fighters still had that Lightning look but I have to admit it just wasnt for me. 🙁

Wow…watched this film and… argh! Whats with the lousy british accents? And of course the Scotsman that every sci-fi film has to have (think there was a scotsman)

Thanks MJR.

Very en-lightning (no pun intended) 😀

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whoops serials jumbled up. ZF592, should be ZF587. ZF592 was saved in its entirety apart from the wings, they were rotten, and scrapped. the fuselage ended up in Norwich somwhere.

MJR

Yep, i spied a Canberra plus maybe six Lightnings ?

Maybe one day, somebody will step up to the mike and give the full low down on how, where, which, what, when etc….

I seem to recall that one was cut in half, but one enterprising cockpit collector managed to join it up again.

Where-o-where are the BAC Lightnings experts when you need one ? :rolleyes:

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6 went to Luxembourg for filming I cant remember all serials, since only 4 returned.

ZF579. 53-671. 2 SQ returned. Airframe and nose reunited at GAM restoration to ground run.
ZF582 53-674 2SQ returned nose section, bournmouth. wings at GAM, fuselage with LINCAIR
ZF592 53-684 returned. nose section @ Headcorn, cut. Most parts at GAM, fuselage scrapped @MSL
ZF583? 53- 675 returned. scrappped MSL, Fuselage scrapped at MSL.

MSL sold all 6 to the Carousel film company, on a buy back deal, on the understanding that the majority were to be returned unharmed, only 2 were to be hacked about. They did however experiment with the nose sections to perfect a look. ZF579 and ZF582 were pretty much unmolested,as agreed, apart from having the external duct wiring chopped off, which was not part of the deal. Neither were used in the film. Zf592 was not so fortunate, having been selected as one of those to be heavily modified. It was cut vertically for use as the main cokpit section for motion shots on a motion gimble. Another was cut horizontally and was beyond saving (zf583 I think), Keith subsequently squashed it upon its return. The last two, used in the film no one really knows. The wiring ducts were cut, but the skins were not, all the original instruments removed, and the bullets were removed,the canopy hydraulics re-instated. Rumours are that Both went to Japan, which wouldn’t surprise me, since there was a Japanese ebayer buying up Lightning cockpit instruments some while back.
ZF592 was stitched back together at Headcourn and doesnt look too bad.

Thats about it. would be nice to see what the last 2 look like now though.

MJR

Dear oh dear, I’d forgotten what a terrible film Wing Commander really is until I watched it again!

All I know about the Lightning cockpits used in the filming is that they were supplied to the production company by Marine Salvage in Portsmouth. I understand Keith had an option to buy them back when filming was complete but I’m not sure that ever happened…and Keith is a bit cagey about it!

At least one was cut in half to enable interior shot to be filmed and a cockpit restorer in the Reading area I believe did indeed stick it back together.

Of the others, I’ve heard that some never returned from Luxembourg where filming took place and some are now in a kids playground in Japan.

Oh, and one of them appeared on eBay a couple of months back but didn’t sell as I recall.

Had a little too much sharaz,plus a week of day shifts, mrs lav went to bed leaving me fast on ,on the sofa.
When i awoke or was it a dream, lightning cockpits im sure i saw a canberra too.What the hell was i seeing?
dave……………

Yep, i spied a Canberra plus maybe six Lightnings ?

Maybe one day, somebody will step up to the mike and give the full low down on how, where, which, what, when etc….

I seem to recall that one was cut in half, but one enterprising cockpit collector managed to join it up again.

Where-o-where are the BAC Lightnings experts when you need one ? :rolleyes:

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Wing Commander and the saga of the Saudi Lightnings, BBC1 11.50pm 😀

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Had a little too much sharaz,plus a week of day shifts, mrs lav went to bed leaving me fast on ,on the sofa.
When i awoke or was it a dream, lightning cockpits im sure i saw a canberra too.What the hell was i seeing?
dave……………

Philip West’s White Lightning

Moggy

Didn’t they use a Canberra cockpit also ?

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Yup, I’ve got ‘White Lightning’ hanging on my wall 🙂

Moggy

Gee, y’all! 🙂

http://p38whitelightnin.com/

Is it a drink? Is it a plane? (I know should be an aircraft but it did not rhyme)

Paul

Yup, I’ve got ‘White Lightning’ hanging on my wall 🙂

Moggy

“White Lightnin”?

Right Lightning 🙂 😀 😎