I served on 8 Squadron in Aden from November 1961 ,on my arrival there were two lightnings doing tropical trails .At the conclusion they where sprayed with protective insulating foam and taken by road(!)to the marine craft unit and taken from there to a ship to return to the UK(presumably).Anyone out there have any details of these two aircraft?
By: wl745 - 16th August 2007 at 22:14
Looks like it !
If it can be pushed around on wheels then this probably is it although its 40 years since I worked on it!I dont think it had a “Decca “when I new it,also there was a outside panel on which various faults could be fed in to catch out the unwary students!There where realistic noises when the eng start sequence was operated ,increasing as the throttles were opened .I suppose at that time it was a good training aid for students.In the same buiding there was a link trainer(this in 1967)and students had to do so many hours as part of the course,most felt it was beneath them as they already had wings!!Master pilot Boyse soon put them to rights and gave them a tough time on it!
By: Jon H - 16th August 2007 at 21:45
That was a very quick reply to my very first post on this site (lightnings in Aden)so I shall try with perhaps an even harder question!!While stationed at Oakington I was given the job of looking after the Link trainer and varsity crew traing aid,this was a replica cockpit to assist pilots familiarise themselves with the controls etc:Many years later I came across it at the then Torbay aircraft museum(run by Kieth Fordyce ex BBC disc jockey).This museum has been closed a number of years now ,would anyone happen to know what became of the Varsity training aid?!!
Might this be said Varsity training aid?
By: wl745 - 16th August 2007 at 21:32
Eastliegh
8 Sqdn ,we had a detachment to Eastliegh about August 1963 for 6 very enjoyable weeks,operating from the main airport(Embakasi?).The Hunter in Aden was a very dependable aircraft although could be an awkward ****** to work on!!While at Khormakser we had the Rhodesian air force with us for a while with thier vampires for familiarisation as they were about to get hunters themselves.Wonder if they still have any?
By: ozplane - 16th August 2007 at 16:26
Thanks for the reference to the Radfan Hunters. A quick glance indicates that I’ll have to spend more time looking up the activities of my favourite fighter, the Hunter. Although not in the services I spent many happy hours in the Sergeants Mess at Eastleigh between 1968 and 1974 with a Nairobi based folk group.
It does make you wonder how things would have turned out if the UK could have afforded to maintain a presence in that area of the world….discuss as they say in the exams.
By: ZRX61 - 16th August 2007 at 15:27
He told me a story that one of 8 Squadron’s pilots got one of Lord Trenchard’s daughters pregnant in about 1915 and that 8 Squadron would henceforth only serve overseas.
My grandfather told me a similar story about the Essex Regt concerning an apparent rape in the early 1900’s. I know when he was with them he spent something like 17 years abroad (Egypt, Palestine etc).
By: wl745 - 15th August 2007 at 22:01
Trenchards fault eh!!!
So it was his fault I ended up in Aden!!I will pass my story on to my contact in the 8 Sqdn group.If you would like to see there is a website about 8 in Aden ,its www.radfanhunters.co.uk. I appear on some photos !!When I was posted to Aden I tried to get on 37 sqdn which had Shacks having just come of coastal but was sent to 8 instead.Interesting that 8 sqdns first AEW Shack was WL745 which was the A/C I was responsible for on 204 Sqdn.Alas it ended up on the fire dump at Catterick!
By: ozplane - 15th August 2007 at 14:38
Nothing to do with Lightnings or Varsities WL 745, but I was at Fenland last weekend when a very pleasant chap came over and started talking about his time in 8 Squadron. He told me a story that one of 8 Squadron’s pilots got one of Lord Trenchard’s daughters pregnant in about 1915 and that 8 Squadron would henceforth only serve overseas. When they eventually made it back to the Uk (1970 ?)the present Lord Trenchard is alleged to have sent a telegram to say “We forgive you but haven’t forgotten”. Any truth or is it just a good story?
By: wl745 - 15th August 2007 at 08:29
Varsity simulator
That was a very quick reply to my very first post on this site (lightnings in Aden)so I shall try with perhaps an even harder question!!While stationed at Oakington I was given the job of looking after the Link trainer and varsity crew traing aid,this was a replica cockpit to assist pilots familiarise themselves with the controls etc:Many years later I came across it at the then Torbay aircraft museum(run by Kieth Fordyce ex BBC disc jockey).This museum has been closed a number of years now ,would anyone happen to know what became of the Varsity training aid?!!
By: FMK.6JOHN - 14th August 2007 at 22:57
Hi
A quick hunt through the books brings up an interesting and detailed article in Stewart Scott’s English Electric Lightning, Volume One, Birth Of A Legend.
The Two Lightnings in question are from the development batch of P.1B’s XG333 and XG311, one had UHF radios and the other had VHF radios which meant neithe could communicate with one another and also neithe aircraft had IFR capability. The engines and other systems were removed and then they were cocooned for transport as deck cargo to Aden.
In Aden harbour they were unloaded by crane and then towed to RAF Khormaksar by road, the trials were mainly to asses the Lghtnings capabilities in hot climates and there are some very interesting stories including XG311 engaging the barrier after hydraulic faliure.
Regards,
John.
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August 14, 2007 at 9:44 pm