You Poms need to get over the TSR2. It was an ugly plane, and all we ever hear about it was how good it was. If it was that good, it would have been backed as a local weapon and would have sold itself overseas. In hindsight the F111 was a huge success for us Aussies. In service for 40 years.
must have been nice to look down on american spy plane u2 at 88000 ft in one of these baby's and give u2 plane a fright and being the only plane that could catch CONCORDE and was able to intercept it on a tail end manoeuvres not bad for a plane design of 1959 and then Brits had tsr2
Well done to Tony! Huge respect to him for looking after the magnificent Lightning. It is a disgrace that innane red tape prevents such an awesome example of British engineering from gracing the skies. The whole point of the Vulcan to the skies project is to INSPIRE the next generation of British engineers. Imagine the impact a Lightning could have? It is very sad to see such a potent aircraft with it's wings clipped due to mindless red tape.
Sadly one less now that Thunder City have lost one. Ther are now 3 in South Africa, grounded currently due to the recenlt loss of one. And there are 3 in the UK which can fast-taxi (us at Cranfield, and two at Bruntingthorpe), plus another with running engines (Binbrook).
we cant even fly our own flag in England without some prick in government saying it may offend someone, so how the hell can we even fly an English masterpiece??? .Makes me F~@:ing sick.
We did 2 high speed runs that day, Martin Bakers meteor pilot, Stan Hodgekins at the controls, I was lucky enough to be in the Right hand seat on the second run! Nice to see that video again, thanks for posting!! Scott.
I wonder why Britan couldnt make a own fighterplane after this plane, why could sweden do it with 10% of Britains population, Because sweden wanted and the britts wanted to ditch their airplane-industy-I wonder how much bribes someone payed to make this happen
@Qulopuaa Thank the Americans for causing immense damage to British aviation. I would recommend that you research what happened over the TSR 2 project. The Americans pressured the spineless Labour government of WIlson into scrapping the TSR 2 project. Why? Because it was years ahead of it's time, far superior to their F-111 which was being developed, and the Yanks wanted to dominate the export market. TSR 2 was a massive threat, so it had to go. So many disillusioned British engineers went too.
I worked on the mk 53 and 55 in Saudi Arabia from 1977 to 1983. The Lightning outperformed the F15 as an interceptor, in dogfights over Dhahan in March 1982.
It's as if excitement is outlawed. Let's have Thunder City (as in Cape Town) at Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire. £5000 for a passenger ride to 45,000ft verticaly on full afterburners, and then some quick 1400mph turns over the North sea. Get BP or Shell to sponsor it, and perhaps Tesco and maybe a mobile phone co. What an ad, what a specatacle for people to (pay to) come and watch! Vulcan and lightning days...rides in them, Hunters, Buccaneers etc. People pay in Russia and SA, would here too!
Bloody idiots the CAA. This fantastic piece of engineering heritage should be flying. Seems the CAA think if it has afterburners, horourable Tony would do a terrorist raid with it, and seeing as the new Eurofighter isn't fast enough to catch it, he'd escape afterwards too! or something. Pull your fingers out of your arses and drop this stupid rule. Why not only let the ex lightning or current RAF pilots fly it, if they're worried about doing Mach 2 over Leicester. I'd actually pay to see it!
You have to take into considerations that there are NO spare parts, NO zero timed engines left, NO jets pipes, reheat pipes, oleo's, brakes, chutes, Air turbine gearboxes, hyd pumps, reheat pumps, engine starters, Avpin the list goes on and on and on, and the majority of spare parts that are left, went to thunder city. And any on existing airframes can't be used because most have been stood outside for 25 years and are of unknown quality/stripped out/ corroded beyond any salvage point.
In my ATC Squadron in the 80s we had an ex-lightning chiefy doing airframe lectures - reckoned that they had to change the tyres every third landing (slight exageration - but only slight).
Airframe fatigue, the aircrafts with the lowest hours are already flying in SA or in the USA, and they must be pushing the 4500 hour limits (they had very low limits for a good reason, the stresses are very high on the type).
The cost, XH558 is struggling, and that's an aircraft that people know about, most of the general public don't know what a lightning is :( so why would they give money? especially in a recession :(
Not to mention how complex an aircraft it is internally.
The LPG at Brunty and the guys at Cranfiield, do their best, but if even they say there will NEVER be another flying lightning in the UK.
The CCA don't want a flying lightning for a reason, if you want this explaining then I highly recommend going to see the LPGs Andy Bonsell (or any of the LPG for that matter :D) at Bruntingthorpe, he will gladly tell you all the many many reasons why you won't see a lightning flying over here :)
I'd also suggest getting yourself to one of the open days at Brunty and just enjoy one of the LPGs two doing a fast taxi :) It's as good as it will ever get :)
And the money helps keep them going and under cover :).
Reakky really sorry for the many posts on this :)
Just wanted you all to see some of the reasons, and it isn't just the CAA being facisits :)
I just hope it doesn't get muddled up lol took ages to type it XD lol :)
Yup, it's about time we all said bollocks to this facist government. All you ever here is this fucking stupid rule and that H&S bollocks - when are we going to wake up and start having some fun again?
The Lightning, best of British and greatest interceptor fighter of all time.
@Wanobi99 I disagree. I think the Mig-25 must be a much more effective interceptor, and it would be incredibly capable especially if it weren't made almost entirely out of steel (lol Soviet Engineering).
Back in 1964 I was outside our house and suddenly one of these shot over ripping the air as it went. It was silver and shiny. I later learned that they were based at an airport about 20 miles away.
Not only was this one of the most impressive aircraft of its time, it is a classic for all time! And completely original. A true classic plane. 5 stars!
apparently it's not the electronics that stopped them flying - the engines are 'high pressure' jets which evidently nobody likes anymore!
they were plenty good enough to intercept interloping soviets - now they're our government, guess they want to let the rest of the world in by the back door......
Nice video. Awesome plane - a true classic.
You Poms need to get over the TSR2. It was an ugly plane, and all we ever hear about it was how good it was. If it was that good, it would have been backed as a local weapon and would have sold itself overseas. In hindsight the F111 was a huge success for us Aussies. In service for 40 years.
zipcharisma 1 week ago
must have been nice to look down on american spy plane u2 at 88000 ft in one of these baby's and give u2 plane a fright and being the only plane that could catch CONCORDE and was able to intercept it on a tail end manoeuvres not bad for a plane design of 1959 and then Brits had tsr2
motorguzzi100 4 months ago
Well done to Tony! Huge respect to him for looking after the magnificent Lightning. It is a disgrace that innane red tape prevents such an awesome example of British engineering from gracing the skies. The whole point of the Vulcan to the skies project is to INSPIRE the next generation of British engineers. Imagine the impact a Lightning could have? It is very sad to see such a potent aircraft with it's wings clipped due to mindless red tape.
LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH 1 year ago 2
Britsh not english
cookienuts3 1 year ago
@semoersepa
Sadly one less now that Thunder City have lost one. Ther are now 3 in South Africa, grounded currently due to the recenlt loss of one. And there are 3 in the UK which can fast-taxi (us at Cranfield, and two at Bruntingthorpe), plus another with running engines (Binbrook).
sbscottmonkey 1 year ago
we cant even fly our own flag in England without some prick in government saying it may offend someone, so how the hell can we even fly an English masterpiece??? .Makes me F~@:ing sick.
emilyabbie 1 year ago
Such a beautiful shape, even more so at 1min 2 secs in. What a pity we can't have one flying in it's home country.
bmgm3 1 year ago 2
We did 2 high speed runs that day, Martin Bakers meteor pilot, Stan Hodgekins at the controls, I was lucky enough to be in the Right hand seat on the second run! Nice to see that video again, thanks for posting!! Scott.
sbscottmonkey 2 years ago
It must be really tempting to take off!!!
SimonDolan 2 years ago 6
I wonder why Britan couldnt make a own fighterplane after this plane, why could sweden do it with 10% of Britains population, Because sweden wanted and the britts wanted to ditch their airplane-industy-I wonder how much bribes someone payed to make this happen
Qulopuaa 2 years ago 3
@Qulopuaa Thank the Americans for causing immense damage to British aviation. I would recommend that you research what happened over the TSR 2 project. The Americans pressured the spineless Labour government of WIlson into scrapping the TSR 2 project. Why? Because it was years ahead of it's time, far superior to their F-111 which was being developed, and the Yanks wanted to dominate the export market. TSR 2 was a massive threat, so it had to go. So many disillusioned British engineers went too.
LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH 1 year ago 2
I worked on the mk 53 and 55 in Saudi Arabia from 1977 to 1983. The Lightning outperformed the F15 as an interceptor, in dogfights over Dhahan in March 1982.
grahamsmith1907 2 years ago
Get a Hoodie to hot wire it and fly it out of there, Taffy Holden managed ok.........joking of course
tvfilmglamdirector 2 years ago
It's as if excitement is outlawed. Let's have Thunder City (as in Cape Town) at Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire. £5000 for a passenger ride to 45,000ft verticaly on full afterburners, and then some quick 1400mph turns over the North sea. Get BP or Shell to sponsor it, and perhaps Tesco and maybe a mobile phone co. What an ad, what a specatacle for people to (pay to) come and watch! Vulcan and lightning days...rides in them, Hunters, Buccaneers etc. People pay in Russia and SA, would here too!
Owlesque1 3 years ago 2
Bloody idiots the CAA. This fantastic piece of engineering heritage should be flying. Seems the CAA think if it has afterburners, horourable Tony would do a terrorist raid with it, and seeing as the new Eurofighter isn't fast enough to catch it, he'd escape afterwards too! or something. Pull your fingers out of your arses and drop this stupid rule. Why not only let the ex lightning or current RAF pilots fly it, if they're worried about doing Mach 2 over Leicester. I'd actually pay to see it!
Owlesque1 3 years ago 3
It isn't just the CAA, that is just one factor.
I can't even remember all the reasons I was told about as to why on will never fly in the UK.
So here's the reasons I can remember.
Hihonyr8811 3 years ago
You have to take into considerations that there are NO spare parts, NO zero timed engines left, NO jets pipes, reheat pipes, oleo's, brakes, chutes, Air turbine gearboxes, hyd pumps, reheat pumps, engine starters, Avpin the list goes on and on and on, and the majority of spare parts that are left, went to thunder city. And any on existing airframes can't be used because most have been stood outside for 25 years and are of unknown quality/stripped out/ corroded beyond any salvage point.
Hihonyr8811 3 years ago
In my ATC Squadron in the 80s we had an ex-lightning chiefy doing airframe lectures - reckoned that they had to change the tyres every third landing (slight exageration - but only slight).
charlieidx 2 years ago
Airframe fatigue, the aircrafts with the lowest hours are already flying in SA or in the USA, and they must be pushing the 4500 hour limits (they had very low limits for a good reason, the stresses are very high on the type).
The cost, XH558 is struggling, and that's an aircraft that people know about, most of the general public don't know what a lightning is :( so why would they give money? especially in a recession :(
Hihonyr8811 3 years ago
Not to mention how complex an aircraft it is internally.
The LPG at Brunty and the guys at Cranfiield, do their best, but if even they say there will NEVER be another flying lightning in the UK.
The CCA don't want a flying lightning for a reason, if you want this explaining then I highly recommend going to see the LPGs Andy Bonsell (or any of the LPG for that matter :D) at Bruntingthorpe, he will gladly tell you all the many many reasons why you won't see a lightning flying over here :)
Hihonyr8811 3 years ago
I'd also suggest getting yourself to one of the open days at Brunty and just enjoy one of the LPGs two doing a fast taxi :) It's as good as it will ever get :)
And the money helps keep them going and under cover :).
Reakky really sorry for the many posts on this :)
Just wanted you all to see some of the reasons, and it isn't just the CAA being facisits :)
I just hope it doesn't get muddled up lol took ages to type it XD lol :)
Hihonyr8811 3 years ago
@Owlesque1 id put money on the typhoon being able to catch a lightning (but very very little else on the planet would)
eatthisvr6 2 months ago
Yup, it's about time we all said bollocks to this facist government. All you ever here is this fucking stupid rule and that H&S bollocks - when are we going to wake up and start having some fun again?
The Lightning, best of British and greatest interceptor fighter of all time.
Wanobi99 3 years ago 12
@Wanobi99 I disagree. I think the Mig-25 must be a much more effective interceptor, and it would be incredibly capable especially if it weren't made almost entirely out of steel (lol Soviet Engineering).
felixu95 1 month ago
I would have to just take off and say BOLLOCKS to the asshole government, try and catch me if you can!!
emilyabbie 3 years ago 3
Back in 1964 I was outside our house and suddenly one of these shot over ripping the air as it went. It was silver and shiny. I later learned that they were based at an airport about 20 miles away.
dergrossen 3 years ago
Not only was this one of the most impressive aircraft of its time, it is a classic for all time! And completely original. A true classic plane. 5 stars!
Danda1999 4 years ago 3
apparently it's not the electronics that stopped them flying - the engines are 'high pressure' jets which evidently nobody likes anymore!
they were plenty good enough to intercept interloping soviets - now they're our government, guess they want to let the rest of the world in by the back door......
scumbag2000 4 years ago
Anyone know why the complex electrical system bars the lightning from flying in the UK? Didn't harm it in the past so what's changed today!
ianrkav 4 years ago
It's not the electrical system, in the UK there is one big rule... if it has an afterburner, its not allowed to fly in civil hands.
As the Lightning has reheat... If the CAA dropped there silly afterburner rule, it could fly! :-D
killjoy2k2 3 years ago
@killjoy2k2 what about concorde?
eatthisvr6 2 months ago
Superb....bravo..
FM77 4 years ago
A beautiful aircraft, well done for trying to maibntain it and keep it running.
Oh to see it and the Vulcan together at a future airshow.
BUT they wont fling them round as they used to!!
WELL DONE MATE hope you caN KEEP IT UP.
terl47 4 years ago