Hi
As probably most of you know i purchased the remains of the cockpit of this famous Lightning Jet from a private seller 3 years ago.
I have not really posted much on here regards her restoration so i thought maybe its about time that i did .
I eventually had her moved to her current location in April 2014 which is when the restoration finally began after her being left untouched and open to the elements for many years .
One of the first jobs was to remove the many years worth of dirt, glass, stones and just about everything that had been throw at her since she arrived at Balderton in 1984 and all the way through to September 2011.
Her condition in September 2011 when scrapped
After some cleaning
Once some cleaning was done, Clean up of the transport joint of the remainder of the cut off rear fuselage and the removal of the remains of the port leading edge fuel tank it was time to get her upright so work could finally begin on bringing her back to life.
Her first day upright since 2011 and under dry cover since at least 1977 when she last flew .
One of the main jobs was to access her damage and start the rubbing down process of removing the graffiti that had been on her for many years. Once this was done finally some filler was starting to be applied to try and fill most of her dents and puncture wounds that she had received over the years .
Whilst all this work was going on a long and tedious search was going on to find some missing parts to try and fill her .
With her being a Mk2a and all mk2a,s leaving service in 1977 it was proving to be a very hard search as even though most of the instruments are generic to most Mk,s of Lightning’s all panels and fittings were mk2/2a fitment and were obsolete.
A good friend Hugh Trevor who has done a fantastic job of restoring his Mk2a cockpit XN726 which is on display at Old Sarum luckily had a few original spares which he kindly donated to the project . Without these parts the restoration was going to be virtually impossible so the parts was a welcomed adddition.
Luckily after being involved with Lightning projects for many years a few phone calls , Emails etc several more parts were slowly found and so far apart from a couple of instruments and a few panels i pretty much have most of the parts needed to fill her cockpit out.
Recent finds within the last few weeks have been a perfect port side screen and a rare Ram Air temperature gauge mount which fits on the forward windscreen frame. The latter part is also brand new and original mk2a which is amazing to find.
So this is how she currently looks after a long and hard 2 and a half years
As you can see a lot has changed inn the last 2 and a half years but i am still a long way off .
If anyone can help with any of the following to help the restoration progress please get in touch :-
Harness set for seat
E2b Compass
Intake blank
Throttle Box
Pillar Lamps
Palmer Rudder Pedal Strap
I am also after a few other little bits and pieces and some panels so if anyone has anything Lightning for the cockpit area available please get in touch.
For anyone on facebook she has her own facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/205368676297107/
Follow her on her twitter page
https://twitter.com/XN728A1
She also has a go fund me page to assist with her on going restoration which helps out in a very big way .
https://www.gofundme.com/XN728
If all goes to plan hopefully she will make her debut at Newark Cockpit Fest next year which is my main aim so watch this space.
I would also like to thank everyone who has helped in any way and who has also supported the project since the beginning. Too many names to list but Hugh Trevor, Richard Hall, Richard Scarborough, Andy Rawden, Craig wise and many other’s i thank you very much
If anyone would like to know more about the project or visit her please get in touch 🙂
By: Propstrike - 29th April 2018 at 18:01
What a great effort, and so pleasing to see. You should call it ‘Lazarus’….
Really well done.
By: Arabella-Cox - 29th April 2018 at 12:08
Couple of recent pictures to show you all how the restoration is progressing .
More parts recently fitted including stbd console, pilot attack computer and emergency undercarriage handle amongst other parts .
Plan is hopefully to get her to Newark for cockpit fest fingers crossed but will announce if she will be able to make it .
Still looking for various parts and fittings including a stick top so if anyone can help please get in touch via pm , her Facebook page or via email at [email]swinny74@hotmail.co.uk[/email][ATTACH=CONFIG]260216[/ATTACH]. [ATTACH=CONFIG]260217[/ATTACH]
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th November 2017 at 20:58
Hi sorry for no posts for quite a while but the project is still progressing well.
Few parts have recently turned up including a E2b compass and a relight panel from a mk1/1a which can be slightly modified to mk2a status
Still searching hard for various parts if anyone can help so I can get her finished for cockpit fest next year .
Parts required are as follows :-
Ejection seat harness (same as Canberra pr9)
E2b compass mount
Stick top
Stick gaiter in grey
Small spine panels
Intake blank
Canopy and intake cover
Armament selector switch
Canopy seal guards
Nose undercarriage doors
Also looking for various other pieces so if anyone has any lightning cockpit parts or panels please get in touch via pm on here or email at [email]swinny74@hotmail.co.uk[/email]
By: Tigger_Bounce - 14th December 2016 at 19:58
You’ve done an excellent job mate considering the condition she was in. Plus it’s a pleasure to help out where I can.
By: brataccas - 11th December 2016 at 16:34
would be a real shame if that original paint was removed etc
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th December 2016 at 16:00
Many thanks all for the kind comments.
Many people over the years had always said its time she should have been put out of her misery or she is too far gone to have anything done with her well I think that I have proved if you want to see something bought back from the dead you just need guts and determination .
I will admit it’s not been a easy journey to get this far but with good friends , a lot of research and some long hours this Phoenix is rising from the ashes.
I am looking forward to getting her finished but I know once she is built up I will still keep fiddling on bits to make it better. A lot of panels etc are having to be scratch built from drawings and templates but if original items turn up they will get replaced. I have been lucky in the last couple of weeks that a few parts that were liberated from her several years ago appeared on eBay and some of my members of 728,s Facebook group bought them and donated them back to the project which was a wonderful gesture. Just proves how many people are glad that she is finally being restored.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that maybe more original cockpit items re appear to go back in her. One part I know which survives somewhere is her original radar bullet. Recent searches have drawn a blank though but it does survive.
I also have several pictures taken of inside her cockpit in the 90,s which show her panels , throttle box and various other parts were still fitted. All these parts were carefully removed so I’m hoping they are tucked away somewhere in someone’s shed and one day they will surface.
It would be nice to see who else has any other pieces from her or any pictures taken of her during her life either in service or sat besides the A1
By: smirky - 10th December 2016 at 18:06
Well I have the N from VANESSA hanging in my garage. 😀
By: trumper - 10th December 2016 at 17:07
Just superb.I still look at where she used to reside when i drive past ,well done.In some respects i wonder if keeping some of her paintwork as a part of her history over many years could be kept.
By: 1batfastard - 9th December 2016 at 14:41
Hi All,
Just fantastic what a bit of elbow grease can do..:D Seriously though congratulations with all your hard work you are restoring an old masterpiece back to it’s original creation (Well cockpit at least :D) Considering where the lightning came from after the many years open to the elements and human interest in the form of budding Picasso’s you have done really well.
You have a big pat on the back from me as you are doing what many only ever think about and never have the time to do or get distracted from with another project, well done you the end is in sight now so you will have your just reward…..:applause:
Geoff.
By: Trolly Aux - 9th December 2016 at 14:22
STUNNED, WOW !
By: WV-903. - 9th December 2016 at 14:19
Well done indeed that man,
Very impressive sir. Lovely to see another rare item being brought back from the “dead”.
Bill T.
By: peppermint_jam - 9th December 2016 at 14:09
You’re taking your time Darren, should have finished by now….
In all seriousness mate, bloody well done!
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th December 2016 at 13:17
Amazing work in just a short time, that boy has guts!!
By: DaveF68 - 9th December 2016 at 11:01
That’s a heading I never thought I’d see! Splendid work.
By: PanzerJohn - 8th December 2016 at 21:40
Wow you have done some impressive work there!
By: Wyvernfan - 8th December 2016 at 21:01
Yep, very impressive results so far.
Rob
By: Stratosphere - 8th December 2016 at 20:56
Absolutely Brilliant, And who would have thought a few years ago that XN728 had a positive future.
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December 8, 2016 at 8:31 pm