I remember being at St Andrews beach as a wee boy, across the water from RAF Leuchars, when these were still operational there in the early 70's. One of them flew in really low and must have been around about mach 1. The fright I got from the immediate explosion it produced frightened the life out of me and It's one of my earlies memories. Thanks for the post, such a shame nearly no-one displays these planes any more - it really was a belter, way ahead of it's time.
i remember as a lad,i'm 54 now my friends dad took us to a air show and there was a lightning parked,and me a nipper got to climb up a ladder and sit in the cock pit...great days...and it appeared GIGANTIC.......love it though.not elegant or a traditional beauty.more like an older docker type man..might be old but you wouldn't want to mess with him...
I was born in 1980 and sadly cant really remember the Lightnings (I can remember the good old F4 and the Buccaneer though).
My Dad is a truck driver and he said he was parked in a layby somewhere (many moons ago) having lunch when 2 Lightnings came over at low level, suddenly went vertical with the re-heat on and dissappeared into the clouds making more noise than you would think possible!.
Its tragic that we dont have any of these beauties left flying at airshows
This brings back memories, God, those planes were loud. The one time, as a wee kid, that I thought there was more noise, it came from the Dutch air force. Those Starfighters - they really squeeled. Hated NATO exercises.
Lovely video. I miss the Lightnings, even though I am too young to remember them. My first Airfix was a Lightning. Silver, the original colour scheme.
EXCELLENT VID. IF THE JET DID NOT STOP WE ALWAYS HAD THR RHAG (ROTARY HYDROLIC ARRESTOR GEAR) TO STOP AN OVER-RUN....THE METEOR AND CANBERRA JOCKEYS LANDED SLOWLY SO DID NOT NEED IT. WORST LANDING WAS A F104 STARFIGHTER THAT WENT STRAIGHT THROUG THE BARRIER......SILLY BELGIAN....... THANX 4 THE VID
have a look for other video's of Raf Binbrook in its present state on youtube also,it will give you an idea of its current condition,its now a run down sad excuse for a industrial estate and most of the runways have been dug up.
@farmerkristian Was stationed at Conigsby in the 70's (Phantoms) and every year a bunch of us would travel to Binbrook AIr Show/Open Day just to see the Lightnings.
Went looking for Binbrook on Google maps a while ago, as you say everything gone. I guess they had to make something of it being redundant now but I was still saddened.
When we visted my grandad in Grimsby (were from Southport), my dad would always make the trip to Binbrook to watch these (he was in the RAF in the 50s/60s). I remember that it was a bit of a drive to get there from Grimsby but it was worth it to watch them. I was 10 in 87, and remember sitting on the roof of our C reg Vauxhall Senator at the time to get a better view. Thanks for the video. Whats the airfield like now?
I grew up in Binbrook village and I remember as a small child putting my hands over my ears and shaking as the lightnings flew overhead. Whenever I hear the roar of a jet engine now, it reminds me always of the lightning.
great memories went there in 1980 or 1981 with AIR TRAINING CORPS from Great Dunmow 999 squadron. Spend a week there for summer camp!!! Brilliant time. Went with Bishops Stortford squadron and Harlow squadron
Thanks for posting. I visited Binbrook a couple of time in the early 70s as a spotty yoof. Ah, the Lightning - what the word sillhouette was invented for.
Fantastic vid, thanks for posting.
xxxchrist1 4 months ago
Thanks for this clip mate .
joluqa 5 months ago
@joluqa No worrys glad you like it !
farmerkristian 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I remember being at St Andrews beach as a wee boy, across the water from RAF Leuchars, when these were still operational there in the early 70's. One of them flew in really low and must have been around about mach 1. The fright I got from the immediate explosion it produced frightened the life out of me and It's one of my earlies memories. Thanks for the post, such a shame nearly no-one displays these planes any more - it really was a belter, way ahead of it's time.
neillyf 6 months ago
Ahhh... memories. I remember at an A.T.C. summer camp in about 73 at a day outing to U.S.A.F. lakenheath an American pilot showing us
over an F.4 telling us they just couldn`t cope with the Lighting in
exersises. Still sticks in my memory that Lighting take-off.
mudpie95 7 months ago
i remember as a lad,i'm 54 now my friends dad took us to a air show and there was a lightning parked,and me a nipper got to climb up a ladder and sit in the cock pit...great days...and it appeared GIGANTIC.......love it though.not elegant or a traditional beauty.more like an older docker type man..might be old but you wouldn't want to mess with him...
junkman19571 7 months ago
I was born in 1980 and sadly cant really remember the Lightnings (I can remember the good old F4 and the Buccaneer though).
My Dad is a truck driver and he said he was parked in a layby somewhere (many moons ago) having lunch when 2 Lightnings came over at low level, suddenly went vertical with the re-heat on and dissappeared into the clouds making more noise than you would think possible!.
Its tragic that we dont have any of these beauties left flying at airshows
ToonandBBfan 8 months ago
This brings back memories, God, those planes were loud. The one time, as a wee kid, that I thought there was more noise, it came from the Dutch air force. Those Starfighters - they really squeeled. Hated NATO exercises.
emma5977 9 months ago
@emma5977 Yeah me too,im just old enough to remember binbrook in its prime,it was a very noisy place to be back then !
farmerkristian 9 months ago
Lovely video. I miss the Lightnings, even though I am too young to remember them. My first Airfix was a Lightning. Silver, the original colour scheme.
edj66 10 months ago
Were they still in service in '87?! The year I was born? Wow. I never knew they were still operational so late on.
edj66 10 months ago
no worrys glad you enjoyed it !
farmerkristian 11 months ago
EXCELLENT VID. IF THE JET DID NOT STOP WE ALWAYS HAD THR RHAG (ROTARY HYDROLIC ARRESTOR GEAR) TO STOP AN OVER-RUN....THE METEOR AND CANBERRA JOCKEYS LANDED SLOWLY SO DID NOT NEED IT. WORST LANDING WAS A F104 STARFIGHTER THAT WENT STRAIGHT THROUG THE BARRIER......SILLY BELGIAN....... THANX 4 THE VID
themanfromwem 11 months ago
have a look for other video's of Raf Binbrook in its present state on youtube also,it will give you an idea of its current condition,its now a run down sad excuse for a industrial estate and most of the runways have been dug up.
farmerkristian 1 year ago
@farmerkristian Was stationed at Conigsby in the 70's (Phantoms) and every year a bunch of us would travel to Binbrook AIr Show/Open Day just to see the Lightnings.
Went looking for Binbrook on Google maps a while ago, as you say everything gone. I guess they had to make something of it being redundant now but I was still saddened.
kalamazootw 6 months ago
When we visted my grandad in Grimsby (were from Southport), my dad would always make the trip to Binbrook to watch these (he was in the RAF in the 50s/60s). I remember that it was a bit of a drive to get there from Grimsby but it was worth it to watch them. I was 10 in 87, and remember sitting on the roof of our C reg Vauxhall Senator at the time to get a better view. Thanks for the video. Whats the airfield like now?
WAYNE1977100 1 year ago
I lived here from 1982-1984 when my father was stationed there, really miss the sound of these beauties roaring off the runway :)
1975buddha 1 year ago
We visited this base two days ago - what a sorry state it is in now !
Alos, the "Crab" Loco looking very forlorn !
Great footage of the Lightnings - when airfields like this were alive and we had a proper AirForce ! So sad to see the decline in our defence !
MrDORSETBOY 1 year ago
@MrDORSETBOY Ain't that the truth.
edj66 10 months ago
Totally awesome.
TheAnorak1 1 year ago
I grew up in Binbrook village and I remember as a small child putting my hands over my ears and shaking as the lightnings flew overhead. Whenever I hear the roar of a jet engine now, it reminds me always of the lightning.
jcuk07 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
great memories went there in 1980 or 1981 with AIR TRAINING CORPS from Great Dunmow 999 squadron. Spend a week there for summer camp!!! Brilliant time. Went with Bishops Stortford squadron and Harlow squadron
MrMarkieuk 1 year ago
Comment removed
MrMarkieuk 1 year ago
Great footage of a great plane thanks *****
joluqa 1 year ago
Thanks for posting. I visited Binbrook a couple of time in the early 70s as a spotty yoof. Ah, the Lightning - what the word sillhouette was invented for.
subtyrant 2 years ago
Ok, I know, silhouette!
subtyrant 2 years ago
it certainly was !
farmerkristian 2 years ago
Binbrook.....the ORIGNAL RAF fighter town.
Excellent!
garyswest 2 years ago