British Electric Lightning at Thunder City - Part 1

[dcanmore]

The Thunder City jets including three Lightnings, three Buccaneers and four Hunters were put up for sale by Go industry. Closing date for bids is 30 November 2011.

[Shamefulbehaviour]

I actually saw these fly when I was about 5 at Biggin Hill before it became the airfair it is now... 3 jets stick in my memory. The EE Lightning, the Starfighter and the Vulcan... You cannot believe the noise and emotions these aircrft generate. When they do a low pass and then go ballistic in a vertical climb at the end of the runway and you can still hear them when they are out of sight... Awesome! Such a shame about the accident that has now grounded these superb machines.

[vicbay01]

The pilot is Dave Stock, who tragically died in ZU-BEX, a EE lightning T5 which crashed at AFB Overberg on 14th November 2009 due to hydraulic failure. his ejection seat malfunctioned, and we watched him go in, A very sad end to a great and respected pilot, who was a master at his trade. May God have mercy on his soul.

[paulc43]

didnt that plane crash?

[1406richard]

Wow, I thought hiring a BMW 135i during my visit to cape town was a great ride.

How can I view pt 2 of this video? It seems it's blocked by copyright.

[ersin9mm]

thunder is a classic

[66inca]

fjphotography, are you the most boring person on this site,its because of people like you we have to suffer the health and safety freaks.i bet you had a doctor present when you watched this incase it put your heart rate up.

AMAZING machine well done R.S.A for letting it fly, we worth 10 k.

[mrdfac]

I am a professional musician and I often think I have the best job in the world. But seeing this.....I wonder???

[gaz11h]

well I know were I'm going if I ever win the lottery

[sufa256]

Amazing!!

[Markishimo]

Jeez people, go to college...then go into the military and kick ass for 20+ years flying stuff like this every day!

[s1a2c3ha]

@Markishimo like me!! lol

[Embers73]

@Markishimo There isn't stuff like this anymore. There isn't a fighter pilot in the World who wouldn't feel priviledged to fly it.

At the end of it's service it was not outmoded for performance, but by better avionics and weapons.

[fjphotography]

I really hope that that was not the *whole* ejection seat briefing. There was no mention of manual seat separation handle, nothing about manually releasing the PSP prior to landing, nothing about emergency oxygen, and not even a rudimentary discussion of either emergency ground egress or what to do if you land in the sea. Also looked like a crap mask/helmet fitting - no pressure test to check for a good seal. All very simple things that are easy to teach/learn, and save lives.

[vaudevilleUK]

It's great to see a Lightning still flying.

[geoffrey8354]

I flew in one of these ....awsome power.

[Calvertfilm]

Wonderful plane. Made my eyes well up on this video seeing it climb, and the curvature of the earth. Wish I could do it some day.

RIP Dave. I heard about that the day I visited the prototypes at Cosford.

[yianni1071]

They were a great fighter but a fastidious sod. Really sad that it crashed killing the pilot as well :-( Such a shame as now as well as a pilot dying it kills off any hope of another lightning ever gracing the skies of britain.

[RichP621]

RIP Dave Stock. :(

[gustavorocha78]

SAD, VERY SAD

[garyswest]

RIP Dave Stock

[mrrmancunian]

It's English Electric Lightning for the record... But still, it doesn't change the fact that this is an amazing aircraft. I'd love to go there!

[gaz11h]

agreed

[kinglorimer]

going south africa next year time to start saving lol

[disturb10]

Great Video, my father in law flew these, can you please tell me what Sqn it was on and what serial number?cheers

[otfphotography]

These are not owned by the millitary now. They are owned by a company.

[disturb10]

i know, just wondering if the company had the serial numbers of the sqn that they were on

[otfphotography]

XS451 - First to the Lightning OCU then 11 Sqadron.

XS452 - Lightning OCU, ended her operational life with the Lightning training flight.

[washman74]

That must be the greatest. Come on lotto win I want a go myself!!!

[kinsley2108]

i remember seeing thode MTN ones flying to a show in Muizenberg, damn they're fast.

[Flygvapnet]

Thxs for uploading. Good to see they are still flying. Hope i can only see them once down there...

[nicholastyshing]

It was about 45 mins, 10,000 euros

[kinsley2108]

yup, thanks, now to save up before 2010

[assman12354]

@nicholastyshing you didn't buy chance fly the mig edge of space did you???

[kinsley2108]

How long was the full flight? and how much did the tour cost?

[vealie01]

Brilliant, now search for part 2.