I have just been informed that Lightning F.6 XP693 was test flown today in South Africa by Keith Hartley!
Well done to all involved with the project in South Africa, and a special mention to all the old Lightning Flying Club guys down at Exeter who kept her in tip top shape during the 1990s.
By: scott c - 12th August 2006 at 10:37
Paulish
Go to www.shortfinals.co.za to order the thunder city dvd
Scott C
By: Paulish - 12th August 2006 at 00:07
DVD
Lotus
Please -What is this thunder city DVD and how do you get it ?
Thanks
By: wessex boy - 11th August 2006 at 19:57
To quote Keith Hartley;
That quote really needs a Brendan O’Brien line to finish….merge threads?
By: scott c - 11th August 2006 at 17:01
Yes Peter
Number 5 will be T.5 XS422 belonging to the Anglo American Lightning Organiastion in Mississippi USA
Scott C
By: Peter - 11th August 2006 at 16:04
number 5?
By: scott c - 11th August 2006 at 15:35
Hi All
Nice to see the number of flying Lightnings up to 4 now roll on number 5.
Hoping to go to SA next year for my hols hope i get to see at least one in the air.
To all the guys at Thunder City, well done with all the work on 693 toget her back where she belongs
Scott C
By: Mpacha - 11th August 2006 at 08:21
To quote Keith Hartley;
‘The aircraft is a honey. It is almost impossible to believe that after being shipped halfway around the world and completely rebuilt she feels as good as she always did. It is an absolute tribute to Mike and his whole team of engineers who did the rebuild.’
By: Peter - 11th August 2006 at 00:56
Thanks guys should have caught that… she does look great in the polished finish though!
By: FMK.6JOHN - 10th August 2006 at 22:19
Looks to me like the reflection of the roundel on the starboard wing, this airframe is still in it’s highly polished aluminium and IMHO the best finish on a Lightning.
Regards,
John.
By: multivac - 10th August 2006 at 22:18
What is that on the fin?
Reflection of the roundel from the starboard wing? :diablo:
Great news – man!
Thought I heard a loud jet that day. 🙂
By: Peter - 10th August 2006 at 21:06
What is that on the fin?
By: markp451a - 10th August 2006 at 18:56
Hot of the press Frist Test Flight Photo
By: markp451a - 10th August 2006 at 18:03
I don’t know for sure, but Keith may have ferried her to Exeter from Warton during December 1992. If he did do so, then the log-book would read nicely…
December 23rd 1992 – pilot Keith Hartley.
August 9th 2006 – pilot Keith Hartley😀
Keith did bring her down to Exeter in 92 I know I was there lol
By: Peter - 10th August 2006 at 14:13
Who knows I guess we will have to wait and see……
By: wv838 - 10th August 2006 at 12:51
Anyway…………all pie in the sky as I don’t even see the CAA saying yes.
Thats the spirit !
Roy.
By: stringbag - 10th August 2006 at 11:55
So, big congrats to Thunder City for getting ‘693 back in the air, and not surprised to see KH wanting to be the first to get back into ‘693…. 😀
I don’t know for sure, but Keith may have ferried her to Exeter from Warton during December 1992. If he did do so, then the log-book would read nicely…
December 23rd 1992 – pilot Keith Hartley.
August 9th 2006 – pilot Keith Hartley
😀
By: FMK.6JOHN - 10th August 2006 at 10:18
Firebird…….reallity bites!!! :dev2: , yes I can see all your points but we can dream eeh?. 😀 😀
Regards,
John.
By: Firebird - 10th August 2006 at 09:56
I heard a rumour that Mr Beachy-head was negotiating with the CAA to bring one of his wonderfull birds over to the UK to fly the airshow curcuit (entirly possible as one of thier Buccaneers is fitted out as a tanker)
One Bucc with a buddy pack refuelling system is hardly sufficient…..e.g. when 74 brought their F.6’s back from Singapore to Cyprus to hand over to 56, just the leg from Gan to Akrotiri needed 7 full prods from Victor tankers, and the F.6’s had the overburgers fitted……
Plus crew training for inflight refuelling will be needed, the probes would probably need to be overhauled having not be used since service days nearly 20 years ago, not to mention it most unlikely any of the SA pilots have done aar. Probably mean KH having to do the trip even if it was logistically possible.
However, I do recall BP had devised a route plan to originally fly ‘773 and ‘693 overland for delivery to SA had the CAA allowed the test flights and ferry flights from UK airspace which they didn’t…..would be one hell of a logistics exercise though, just identifing suitably equipped diversion fields capable of handling an F.6.
Only either of the F.6’s could be considered I would think as the T.5 can’t be fitted with the overburgers, and have too small internal fuel.
Anyway…………all pie in the sky as I don’t even see the CAA saying yes.
So, big congrats to Thunder City for getting ‘693 back in the air, and not surprised to see KH wanting to be the first to get back into ‘693…. 😀
By: Peter - 10th August 2006 at 04:13
Great news. It would be great to see one or more come home for a season!
By: JetBlast - 9th August 2006 at 23:58
I have just been informed that Lightning F.6 XP693 was test flown today in South Africa by Keith Hartley!
Well done to all involved with the project in South Africa, and a special mention to all the old Lightning Flying Club guys down at Exeter who kept her in tip top shape during the 1990s.
I wondered who was going to post this up, at least JR cannot waggle the finger at me 😀
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August 9, 2006 at 9:42 pm