Warton Lightnings 1988 video..

efiste2

As per my copy of the F.6 pilots notes, normal G-limits were +6G to -3G, this had it’s own set of variables depending on which missiles were fitted, ventral tank empty/full and relative speed of the aircraft, essentially though these were the limits the pilots worked to in normal operational flight.

With the overwing tanks fitted the G-limits were reduced accordingly….

Fuel in overwing tanks 3.5G (3G above 475 knots)
Overwing tanks empty 4G (3.5G above 475 knots)
With single missile 2G

As for maximum airspeed the in service limit was 2.0M/650 knots, whichever is first attained but with overwing tanks was dramatically reduced to just 0.98M/525 knots.

HTH

John.

Superb video, can i ask you learned chaps just how much the fitting of those overwing tanks affected the handling and agiltiy of the aircraft.

Johns correct thats Peter Orme in the orange flight suit.

Peter ended up being the last man to fly a Lightning the the UK, Jan 23rd 1993, XS904 to the LPG at Bruntingthorpe 😉

The other chap is Collin Rea on the occasion of his final Lightning sortie, 2nd June 1989, in F6 XP693.

If you watch the film closely,at the end just after Collin pops the cork, Jimmy Dell, RIP wanders into shot wearing a grey suit then stands chatting with him.

Lovely bit of flim 🙂

Peter orme was the pilot in the orange flight suit, not sure who the other two were.

John.

Amazing, who were the lucky pilots?

Excellent stuff, how we miss them.
Remember the 2 that took off at the end of Mildenhall air fete 1988, was a fantastic sight, but sad to know that we’d never see it again.