Lightning XP693 to fly !

XR773 has been taken out of service to provide parts for XP693. They dont currently have the parts to have 2 single seaters airworthy at the same time. I doubt that having 2 airworthy at the same time would be much of a priority anyway as being single seat they cant really earn money – handy for airshows though!

Originally posted by DGH
We will just have to make do with the two T5’s and the soon to be F6 in South Africa for the time being and hopefully the T5 in the states later in the decade.

Am I missing something hear……what about the first of the two F.6’s Thunder City got flying, the ex-XR773….?????

Has this a/c been grounded by Thunder City for some reason…..??

Kukri,

Thanks for the update, please keep us informed 🙂

As for a Lightning flying in the UK without opening the whole debate up again, ‘it ain’t gunna happen’ – not unless there is a major shift in the thinking of the CAA or they can rid themselves of responsibilty, neither are likely. We will just have to make do with the two T5’s and the soon to be F6 in South Africa for the time being and hopefully the T5 in the states later in the decade.

Ooops….of course, I stand corrected Mike……;)

Originally posted by XR728
It was later said that there was no chance of this happening due to the CAA wanting a recently experienced lightning pilot (RAF or something).

Well actually, I would have thought that would be the easy bit, as Keith Hartley did a lot of the first flights of ‘452 in SA, and possibly along with Craig Penrice(?) trained Mike Beachyhead to fly the thing. Don’t know how recently Keith has been down there, but as BAe’s ex-Chief Test Pilot he would be the logical choice.
The last serving RAF pilot to fly a Lightning, I suspect was AVM John Allison when he blagged off of BAe a solo sortie in XP693 just before termination of the Lightning operations at Warton in late 1992.

Back to reality though, I can’t really imagine this was ever a serious consideration by anyone at BAe…..:rolleyes:

Wait until april 1st

I’m serious! On a forum somewhere, someone definately said that the people at (I think warton) wanted to get one up here. It was later said that there was no chance of this happening due to the CAA wanting a recently experienced lightning pilot (RAF or something).

Att: DGH

Hi DGH

Spoke to Thunder City this morning, apparently the F6 is now scheduled to fly 6,7,8 April – the person I spoke to could not confirm if this meant one flight per day or first flight on one of those days…..

Apparently, I will be able to confirm on Monday.

I am hoping to convince Mrs Kukri to go on a tour of T/City on Sunday and I will hopefully be able to get better gen then.

Please wait until tomorrow, before issuing April 1st jokes & rumours.

I’ve heard somewhere that someone at (BAE Warton?) wanted to get a thunder city lightning up here for the 50th anniversary. Is there any truth in this? (Obviously if it is true, it will amount to nothing- at least as long as the CAA are watching).

Never mind the trays, get me some buckets

Never mind the buckets, get me some bath-tubs 🙂

I had a good chat with the engineers last Tuesday and they assure me it will fly on April 4th, although May looked more realistic, but as Firebird says as long as its safe thats the main thing.

Personally I don’t care when it flies, as long as it’s safe to fly when it does…..:cool:

I have heard it will not fly until May.
If so it’ll give them a bit more time to sort out any snags that may pop up with engine runs etc.

Great news, keep us posted.

Just been watching John Nichols programme. He’s a very jammy b.

Great show though.

Mike BH seems to show no animosity towards the CAA, even though they wouldn’t let him finish rebuilding G-BBD in the UK for its ferry flight.

Great shame. Hope they are able to reconsider, if requested.

Forget about trays get me some buckets 😀

Originally posted by DGH
belly tanks still leak like a sieve though!

Glad to hear it, wouldn’t be a real Frightning otherwise:D

Firebird,

All the fire integrity mods have been done as well as the ‘extra’s’ that Thunder City do which along with there stringent checks makes them the most fuel tight Lightnings ever – belly tanks still leak like a sieve though!

Kukri,

Sounds like a good postion you,ve got there! The flight will be on a Sunday when they are closed but access is pretty good to the general area anyway. The guys who answer the phone are the same guys who do the guided tours so they will probably give you the gen nearer the time, if you need the direct number then PM me and I will give it to you. If you get down there and see it please let us know.

Originally posted by DGH
and it is just an engine fit not change

😮
That’s the time consuming bit though, with all the fire integrity proceedures that need to be done.

Still, they’ve done 3 aircraft already so they must be confidant.

I remember reading ages ago that they were going to do it, so, I pressume they have done all the work on ‘693 to bring it up to the then current RAF in-service mod status, which BAe never did?

Finger trouble

Correct previous post – subject should be Lightning F6

Lightning T6

Do we have any more info regarding the time of the flight – as well as where the flight will be heading? I am just down the road from Thunder City , and wouldn’t mind seeing it…

Or duh…maybe I could just phone them and ask…..:)