I have heard a couple of rumours about XE601 over the last couple of months, so don’t rule out the possibility of her taking to the skies again.

Did anyone managed to take any photos of the Rossington & Cranfield Lightning’s cull.
Wasn’t XS897 saved at the last minute at Rossington, Scott C, you maybe able to help on this one.

I believe that the CAA will allow the MiG-17 to fly, in the fullness of time, but do not expect anything this year.

I was involved with a rather interesting conversation down at De-Havilland Aviation a few weeks back and the Growler (shackleton for those not in the know) came up in the topics we were discussing.
I am led to believe that indeed BAe did write a letter to the CAA with regards to FI and that all known surviving Growlers were FI expired and would need renewal of both front & rear wings spars, does anyone remember the BBMF Lancaster being at St Athan for her respar? What was that cost again?? I knew that it run into the Millions and that was a few years ago, I dread to think what it would cost now, the Shack is very similar in wing design to the Lanc, so anyone prepared to take a calculated guess?

The whole saga of “will the CAA allow a Lightning to fly in the UK” will run forever, but if anyone could turn back time and change the accident rate, then we maybe in with a chance.

I am as tight lipped about a Buccaneer flying as ever, but I can safely say, I know more than you.

Ta ta for now.

Maybe I will mention some of these reply’s to the other teams at Brunty!!!
We are all letting our aircraft rot away, even though all of the taxiable aircraft at Brunty reply on all their systems being live and functioning properly to enable safe taxying.
Shall we all give up now and just go home!!!!!!

Did anyone complain when Spencer Flack put his Spit into a non authentic colour scheme?????? NO all we heard and read was ‘Spencer Flack’s gorgeous RED Spit’.

As for any ground bound aircraft being a deteriorating dead body, have you every visited Bruntingthorpe and seen & heard a dead Lightning F.6 (either XR728 or XS904) whined up to full power and afterburner then blast off down the runway?????

Umm………Not so dead after all!!!!!

Kev35, did you take any close up’s of the Buccaneer & Lightning?

If you want to see REAL LOW LEVEL between the hangars flying, purchase the video “The Story Of The Buccaneer”, it is a Castle Home Video – number CHV2147.
Wind the tape to just before the end credits to see Derek Whitehead performing several high speed and very very low level passes (can be no more than 10 or 15 ft off the deck).
Excellent footage and an absolute must see, you will not believe your eyes!!!