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Can't get more British than this
- Thread starter Slick
- Start date
The Lightning was my all time favourite jet fighter. When they were used in the RAF display team - The Blue Diamonds - you could feel the ground shake as they passed overhead. One of my civil flying instructors was an ex RAF mechanic who, after leaving the RAF went to work for the Saudi Air Force. One day he went up for a 'test flight' with the Saudi squadron Leader in the side by side two seater. At the end of the take off the stick was pulled back and it went vertical to 60,000 feet in less than 3 minutes. Astonishing for a design so old.
Last edited:
Falcon
Well-Known Member
Until quite recently there was a company in South Africa that had some privately owned lightnings. It was possible for passengers to pay for flights.
They lost permission to do that after a pilot died in a Lightning crash at an airshow. They apparently do still have one airworthy.
There are no Lightnings left in the UK with permission to fly. I have heard rumours that the reason for it is that the UK government don't like the idea of something faster than its modern jets in civilian hands.
They lost permission to do that after a pilot died in a Lightning crash at an airshow. They apparently do still have one airworthy.
There are no Lightnings left in the UK with permission to fly. I have heard rumours that the reason for it is that the UK government don't like the idea of something faster than its modern jets in civilian hands.
I travelled to Binbrook in the mid 1980s after it was announced that the last three squadrons were to be taken out of service. I watched mesmerised as a Lightning took off, adopted an angle of about 60 degrees and kept on going until it had left my sight. Awesome power!
Well at least you can still occasionally purchase "bits":
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0314/lot-ff1bd1a0-6e9e-4aa7-8c9c-ace600f688f0
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0314/lot-ff1bd1a0-6e9e-4aa7-8c9c-ace600f688f0
