The Tornado and Eurofighter are great aircraft in their own rights but the Lightning was designed as a pure interceptor, brakes off, climb, locate, shoot down. It doesn't have the range or MRC capabilities of the new aircraft. But the new aircraft don't have the same appeal or roar. Incidentally, I was on the team that designed the Eurofighter.
@bogit1966 Back in 1961 I was in the Air Cadets. I seen a Lightning flying at arround 700 Mph this was arround 300 feet of the deck. You could see the shock waves building up arround the body and wings. Then it climbed vertical, its a sight i will never forget.
If they'd had more modern materials and avionics, what a plane that would be. Typhoon is lovely, but lacks that certain something that the British aircraft had that set them apart emotionally.
In 1984, during a major NATO exercise, Flt Lt Mike Hale intercepted an American U-2 at a height which they had previously considered safe from interception. Records show that Hale climbed to 88,000 ft (26,800 m) in his Lightning F.3 XR749 in April 1985, Concorde was offered as a target to NATO fighters including Eagles, Falcons,Tomcats, Mirages, Starfighters only Lightning XR749, managed to overtake Concorde on a stern conversion intercept
@eatthisvr6 I've also read that XR749 was a particularly fast Lightning capable of mach 2.3, faster than most. It was an F3 variant, and last I heard was a gate guard. Wonderful example.
@478Voyager Erm...... The Lightning will eat an F-16 for breakfast in a climb to altitude race, as it would the Eurofighter. The Lightning can beat the F-15. It still holds the climb to altitude record, beating the time set by the F-15.
The Tornado and Eurofighter are great aircraft in their own rights but the Lightning was designed as a pure interceptor, brakes off, climb, locate, shoot down. It doesn't have the range or MRC capabilities of the new aircraft. But the new aircraft don't have the same appeal or roar. Incidentally, I was on the team that designed the Eurofighter.
bogit1966 6 days ago
@bogit1966 Back in 1961 I was in the Air Cadets. I seen a Lightning flying at arround 700 Mph this was arround 300 feet of the deck. You could see the shock waves building up arround the body and wings. Then it climbed vertical, its a sight i will never forget.
fuzzygreenduck 3 days ago
15 miles in altitude? thats really high up
creativeprojects720 1 week ago
If they'd had more modern materials and avionics, what a plane that would be. Typhoon is lovely, but lacks that certain something that the British aircraft had that set them apart emotionally.
edj66 2 months ago
In 1984, during a major NATO exercise, Flt Lt Mike Hale intercepted an American U-2 at a height which they had previously considered safe from interception. Records show that Hale climbed to 88,000 ft (26,800 m) in his Lightning F.3 XR749 in April 1985, Concorde was offered as a target to NATO fighters including Eagles, Falcons,Tomcats, Mirages, Starfighters only Lightning XR749, managed to overtake Concorde on a stern conversion intercept
eatthisvr6 2 months ago 10
@eatthisvr6 Many thanks for this information mate.
joluqa 2 months ago
@eatthisvr6 I've heard the Lightning pilot flew inverted over the U2
nipplebrush 2 months ago
@nipplebrush yeh and as he went past U2 the pilot said he was sure he could hear the song ''In The Name Of Love'' being played :P
ian8354 1 week ago
@ian8354 Nah... Duelling Banjo's is more likely.
nipplebrush 5 days ago
@eatthisvr6 I'm glad the brits are a part of NATO
FreeTh1nk3r 2 weeks ago
@eatthisvr6 I've also read that XR749 was a particularly fast Lightning capable of mach 2.3, faster than most. It was an F3 variant, and last I heard was a gate guard. Wonderful example.
Calvertfilm 2 weeks ago
A RAF mate said to me once that when he converted from lightnings to tornados he missed the sheer acceleration
trevortrevortsr2 2 months ago
@trevortrevortsr2 Yes that is the truth and thanks for your comment.
joluqa 2 months ago
@trevortrevortsr2 It's not as if the Tornado is slow exactly either! Just shows how good the Lightning was!
edj66 2 months ago
@edj66 apparently the limmiting factor on speed was the fibreglass radar nose cone heating up past mac 2
trevortrevortsr2 2 months ago
@478Voyager Erm...... The Lightning will eat an F-16 for breakfast in a climb to altitude race, as it would the Eurofighter. The Lightning can beat the F-15. It still holds the climb to altitude record, beating the time set by the F-15.
LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH 3 months ago
said hello to a US Blackbird at almost ninety thousand feet, alledgedly. Hello Uncle Sam! : )
yippitydodah 4 months ago
@yippitydodah A great comment mate,the US never had one like this in those days.
joluqa 4 months ago
@joluqa Yup...and it was the RN guys that set up the Topgun school for the yanks in 1968. In those days Britain really was GREAT.
dergrossen 2 months ago
@dergrossen This is great news for me as i had never knew about it.
joluqa 2 months ago
A phenomenal aircraft. First interceptor to be able to get missile lock on a U2, allegedly.
DaMuttzNutz 1 year ago
A beaut!
MrThunderbolt56 1 year ago
In south Africa there were four and one tragically crashed and the other three are still flying at airshows in south Africa.
joluqa 1 year ago
Great aircraft. Is it still in service
EmCSpiteri1 1 year ago
@EmCSpiteri1 its not in service. hasnt ben for years. just one s.african guy owns 2. 1 crashed last year.
AdrianNtart 1 year ago
ALL MY STARS BRO,,,,AWESOME ,,,THANKS FOR THE GREAT POST
bryanoverturf1 1 year ago
cool :)
granskare 1 year ago
You flown in one yet?
Mark1Spitfire 1 year ago