Lightning Back In The Air

The experimental category only allows flight over sparsely populated areas. It would be a bit more difficult here!

Anyone know about the latest on ZU-BBD. ?
The last reference to her flying I can find , is last September.

Lots of discussion about the SA certification, but in the US XS422, I think, would fly under FAA ‘Experimental’ certification. Is there / would there ever be scope for an approach like this here?

Classic from a mate. “I’m more likely to see Lord Lucan, riding Shergar, having found the Loch Ness monster, that see a Lightning fly again in the UK..”
Unless the LPG drivers do a Victor impression.

Exactly what are ‘younger members on board employing fresh Ideas’ going to do in terms of the airworthiness of the Lightning ? I work with people from an age spread of sixty to forty eight with decades of experince on Lightnings – the more I speak to them -the more I think the CAA adopted the right approach all those years ago.

Absolutely David, they are not flying club machines, but high performance thoroughbreds with a nasty kick if treated wrong in the air or the ground, and sometimes even if treated well. In this country, ex military aircraft have a permit to fly, a C of A is for a type approved aircraft with a CAA or group like EASA. Like the AOC, that must be organisations that have type approved aircraft and all the PART 66 / 145 / M structures. They can charge for revenue service. The Vulcan is not allowed to take passengers that pay.

Exactly what are ‘younger members on board employing fresh Ideas’ going to do in terms of the airworthiness of the Lightning ? I work with people from an age spread of sixty to forty eight with decades of experince on Lightnings – the more I speak to them -the more I think the CAA adopted the right approach all those years ago.

Hi All,
I wonder if we will ever see a lightning in British skies again ? If the CAA could be persuaded or even have younger members on board employing fresh Ideas but I very much doubt it still dreaming does no harm at least you can get your fix with the Bruntingthorpe pair. :love-struck:

Geoff.

An interesting post here from November, which I haven’t seen before.

http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=287&p=560616

Edit: Although reading further, that particular show was cancelled.

I’m only glad I don’t have to moderate the UKAR thread!

One would assume that the operating procedures have been considerably tightened up since the accident, and that changes have been made to the maintenance procedures for the aircraft.

In theory, and operational history aside, there should be no reason why a previously airworthy aircraft cannot be recertified, so long as the conditions are met.

Bruce

Great to see a Lightning back in the air. Is it the Thunder City team who are still operating and maintaining it?

Lovely.

Fantastic to see, but very surprising and confusing.

I wonder if it’s just a flight or two, prior to it being sold. As I thought Thunder City had packed up.
Like many others, after the pretty damning accident report, I never expected a Lightning to be allowed back into the South African skies.

My thoughts entirely…and written with more tact than I could manage after having read the accident report.

Airworthiness ( CofA / ARC ) flight ?

Fantastic to see, but very surprising and confusing.

I wonder if it’s just a flight or two, prior to it being sold. As I thought Thunder City had packed up.
Like many others, after the pretty damning accident report, I never expected a Lightning to be allowed back into the South African skies.

Nice pics here –

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=128659

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