XR753 to Coningsby

I cannot see how it effects preservation in anyway. The Lightning was dismantled in the space of week by a team of RAF engineers and enthusiast’s. The knowledge to move a Lightning by dismantling it has always been there. It might be a skilled task but I would wagger any enthusiastic amateur with a knowledge of how it’s taken apart
could do it. Certainly the Haydon Baille machines were taken apart before storage – the machine presented to Grimsby was similarily take apart.
The offer within the RAF was to use a circular saw – the members of 11 squadron were told how it could be done and got on with it. It has no bearing on what has been done in the past in preservation .

Absolutely, The saudi Lightnings are a prime example, The knowledge was there, and they were taken apart by chaps supplied by Haiden Baille, all enthusiasts, not RAF engineers, and were taken apart properly, to every last nut and bolt, without cutting a single bolt or part of the fuselage, despite the aircraft sitting outside for 4 years. They were also taken apart outside, not in a hangar. Moving Lightnings does not have to mean wielding a circular saw, There are at least a dozen chaps in the Lightning fraternity, that would rally round and give up time to take apart a Lightning to be moved,if required.

MJR

http://www.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk/lightning/mainsite.htm

Moving Lightnings

I wish I had had the luxury of a week inside a hangar, with skilled assistance, the last time I moved a Lightning. The ones I was involved with were all in the open and being volunteers could only be worked on at weekends in the freezing wether at Warton.

Sometimes it is necessary to use cutting tools to dis-assemble the aircraft. This is not a major issue as long as care is taken. There are many of the ex-Saudi Lightnings with the independent museums that were taken apart in such a way. Most of these are on display and have not suffered for the use of the saw.

I cannot see how it effects preservation in anyway. The Lightning was dismantled in the space of week by a team of RAF engineers and enthusiast’s. The knowledge to move a Lightning by dismantling it has always been there. It might be a skilled task but I would wagger any enthusiastic amateur with a knowledge of how it’s taken apart
could do it. Certainly the Haydon Baille machines were taken apart before storage – the machine presented to Grimsby was similarily take apart.
The offer within the RAF was to use a circular saw – the members of 11 squadron were told how it could be done and got on with it. It has no bearing on what has been done in the past in preservation .

Very large power driven circular saw…… 😉

I feel that denigrates sectors of the preservation movement.
When given a very tight time constraint (“move it by X or you can’t have it”), lack of skilled manpower (taking/replacing the wing of a Lightning is a skilled job), lack of money to employ someone to dismantle/re-erect, working outdoors then, I believe, resorting to a “very large power driven circular saw” is justified.
A large number of preserved Lightnings could be moved ONLY by sawing the outer wings off. If that action hadn’t been taken they would not be around for us to enjoy looking at.
I trust you do enjoy looking at all Lightnings not just those that have been moved “properley”

Roger Smith.

RP – Firebird has described more than adequately one of the methods on offer from another section within the RAF.

Well I definitely saw the fuselage at Coningsby.

which other “more drastic” methods did you have in mind?

Very large power driven circular saw…… 😉

which other “more drastic” methods did you have in mind?

Roger Smith.

Absolutely first class effort by 11 Squadron! Far better to take her apart properly than explore some of the other more drastic methods of moving Lightnings!

apparently just the wings got here friday, so my ‘yes’ was half right.. :rolleyes: looking forward to seeing it in one piece..

Neil

Hi to all, just had a few shots sent to me by the guys who are working at Leeming unbolting, 753 ready for here trip to Conningsby.
There’s a little update from Stuart Abbott quote;

On the road to coningsby today and tomorrow. only problems we have is the tailplanes wont come off. really really really siezed! had an 8 tonne jack pushing them. probably going to have to cut one off due to the road move. we will have to make some butt strap pieces to re-attach it back on. took us 2 weeks to strip it! i have had the joy of being in the upper intake and trying to get the front fuselage bolts off! 5 days that has took! wings are unbolted properly and everything is ready to go! hopefully by the end of next week, she will be looking like new again. as for the paint, because 753 is an 11 sqn association owned aircraft,not mod, the budget has had to come out of their pockets. we had to blag the paint job for free so the hawk/tornado colours were duly put on.

Glad she is in good hands 🙂

can anyone confirm info that EE Lightning F.6 XR753 has been moved from RAF Leeming to RAF Coningsby .

Yes

Does this mean that due to the lateness of the Typhoon entering service 11 Sqdn. will reform with Lightnings?

One could only hope 😉

regards,

kev35