Cold War Jets Day 2008 Lightning

25th May 2008, Lightning fast taxi run in the pouring rain, but it was amazing, I'd take my hat off if I wore one, to everyone who organised the day!!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• XS904
• Cold
• War
• Jet
• Day
• 2008
• Bruntingthorpe
• fast
• taxi
• run
• english
• electric
• lightning

[Bomag1600s]

This is at Bruntingthrope (?) ??

[Hihonyr8811]

Yes it is :)

[justforever96]

What's up with the "pregnant-belly"? Extra fuel tank? Not suprised; it only carries a couple gallons as it is! LOL. I love when the afterburners light up, the way they flicker a bit. At least the rainy grey day makes a good contrast. I wonder if I can find a video of a lightning firing up after dark?

[Hihonyr8811]

I have a video of a night static run if you're interested :)

Yep, the "pregnant belly" is the ventral tank, they needed all the space they could get for fule :)

And to answer your other question, the engines were stacked because it minimised drag. The downside was that it left very little space for anything else, it was litterally a seat on a rocket lol :D.

[ianlazyboy]

Best fighter jet ever.

[kaanxxx]

HAHAH < did you hear the car alarm go off

[barbarybar]

The Lightning gate guardian at BAe Salmesbury is a bloodly disgrace. The condition of this great aeroplane should make the management hang their heads in shame. Come on get the paint and polish out and restore it to it's fomer glory.

[meetsouder]

i love these kinds of jets, they are giant engines with wings

[Ahrimancp]

I can see why the English have such fond memories of the Lightning. It kinda reminds me of the one lady you see in every local dive bar. You know the one; a little old and past her prime, big with a bit of a pot-belly. She's damn ugly but most of the guys like her because she's really fast, has a pair of Red Tops up front and has to go home right away after the deed is done. Think about it. (If you know anything about the BAC Lightning your laughing your ass off right now.)

[Damien152uk]

In British Airways trials in April 1985, Concorde was offered as a target to NATO fighters including F-15 Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-14 Tomcats, Mirages, F-104 Starfighters - but only Lightning XR749, flown by Mike Hale and described by him as "a very hot ship, even for a Lightning", managed to overtake Concorde on a stern conversion intercept. how many modern plaes could catch it in sustained flight?

[Damien152uk]

This was the only plane capable of catching Concorde on a sustained supersonic run, others could on a short burst but would have to be in the right place at the right time, Concorde was also capable of exceeding design speed set to maximise the life of the airframe figures of 2.04 and 2.2 mach are quoted -

[MMoruzov]

@ay76 Romania still have MiG-21 Lancer (an upgraded version) in service

[spareparts007]

@justforever96 The ventral tank was an afterthought. Early models did not have it. When fitted it actually improved the area ruling slightly (made it more aerodynamic). Dad used to fly these in the 60's and 70's. As a kid I used to go and deafen myself by watching them taking off at RAF Gutersloh where dad was stationed and we lived 200 yards from the end of the runway. Plenty of afterburners then when there was a Russian incursion into NATO airspace.

[ay76]

Awesome :-) Would love to see one of these flying again.

[tsw608]

Whata wet day that was.I was soaked to the skin out on the runway edge with the rest of the LPG crew.But a hearty meal was had after in the pub.

[Garry67]

Wow, i ve seen many jets engage afterburner on take off, F15`S, f16`s , Tornado`s etc , but i ve never seen acceleration off the block as this lightning at 1.25. Probably not at full afterburner either as it was a static run with breaks on after a few seconds. Like a space rocket , what a beast !!