lightning survivors

Scott

You can use electric Start. One T5 (or was it a T4) had electric start fitted from new (it was one of the prototype A/C) it was the same system fitted to the Comet, and its the same system used in Hunters to convert from Avpin/Cartridge starts to electric, because the Hunters have the same problem where to get Avpin/Carts from.

To dismantle a Lightning mmmmm (O yes if done one) 10 men plus all the tools and 7 days i’ll see if I can find the pics

Hi Peter

its not only the work involved with taking a lightning apart but where would the lightning assosiation get the money to do it and where would they take 724 Bruntingthorpe but still no hangar, Cranfield but again no hangar, Elvington but the yorshire air museums would require that the ownership of the aircraft be signed over to them. As for avpin starting there is no other way to start a lightning than the avpin starter you can use a external starter as there is no provision for it on the lightning and you cant use avtur or any other fule as avpin is a mono combustable fule it dosnt need oxygen to burn.

As promised earlier ive attached a image of the wire bundle im disconecting on mine at the min

Scott C

disassembling a lightning

Scott.
I have read accounts of taking lightnings apart and putting them back together so I have an idea whats involved. It just seems a shame that 724s acreage is getting smaller and smaller with time. Where will it end? Will it be that she can never be pulled out of her “hangar”?

Also. there is lots of talk about the reserves of Avpin being used up and ground running aircraft are trying not to use it if they can get away with it such as using ground start units. Is there any way that the avpin starting system could be converted to run on jet fuel or converted out with a different unit?

Hi All

Peter the only problem with moving 724 is the vast amount of work ans the cost involved. 724 would have to be take apart which would include removal of the engines and disconecting a amazing amount of hydrulics and electrics and would need to be done indoors really. I have to do all the work on my lightning outdoors and it would be much esier indoors. Ill post a pic i took on sunday of the electrics im working on on mine at the moment to give you an idea of the work invovled.

Scott C

iainjc….

Thanks for the video clips. Long may she be able to move around her “home”

Ja asked

were there any other a/c that had hard points above the wings?

The answer is yes. The Jaguar utilises overwing hardpoints.

Just slow speed taxing for 724 – I’ve put a couple of video clips of the event on the planestv site (hope I’m not out of line linking to the page):

Lightning page

The page includes a couple of interview video clips of Brian Carroll who taxied the aircraft on Sunday.

Hi all

Gaz- i remeber the last of the lightnings airshow well it’s were i became addicted to lightnings and got very cold and wet

Steve- im not ususally at doncaster on weekends as i am usually at work but if you let me know when your gonna be down if im not working ill come down to meet you.

iainjc- nice pics of 724 i did intend to go to binbrook car was playing up really not chuffed as i havnt seen 724 with its covers off and engines running. But did go to doncaster to work on mine which made me feel a bit better

Scott C

Xr724

Great to see 724 under power again at her former home! It is a damn shame that at least part of the runway and space in a warm hangar were not kept for this lightning. If things worsen then maybe it is time for 724 to depart to a better place c such as brunty or other??

I suspect not given that most of Binbrooks runway/taxiways have been dug up……..:mad:
Anyone confirm……:confused:

Have to say she’s not looking very pristine, it’s a shame she can’t be located somewhere more suitable for stretching her legs like the Bruntingthore pair and Tony Hull’s T.5 at Cranfield…(does he still do runway runs with this aeroplane….??)

Hi

Yes them Pics of XR724 are nice does it still do taxi runs ?

XR724!

Hey great pics of 724! I am glad she is still being kept active. Last pic I saw of her on the net she was pushed into the old vehicle shed nose forst and had a grey tarp over her front fuselage. I think it is a sahme that she couldnt sit inside one of those hangars

Good photos Iain

So what is Binbrook up to these days, a flying airfield, museum or what, I flew into there from Wattisham on a Taceval exercise in 1968 and flew back again from Coningsby. Grass looks too long for a RAF station any more.

So give us more gen please on this Frightening!

Binbrook today!

Hi guys – first post here. Spent the afternoon up at Binbrook, glad to see this thread lasted long enough for me to post these –

A few pics of XR724 at Binbrook today on the apron for an engine run.

On of the museum curator’s didn’t like her and had her parked out of the way.

ZF593

Wow she looks pretty rough sitting there it is a shame she has to be parked outdoors next to the trees!

F.6 XS929 steadfastly guarding the gate at RAF Akrotiri;

Not a true 29 Sqn machine of course. Pressumably this is ex-RSAF Lightning F.53 53-692, coded ZF593 and flown by Flt/Lt Andy Holmes back to Warton on Jan 22nd 1986.

Aero51

Thanks for posting that pic, that is from my old squadron 29(F)

XF593 at Warner Robins AFB