Lightning in the air.

[Herr-Berbunch]

I have it on good authority that Mike Beachy Head took his T5 Lightning, XS452, up for a flight today in South Africa. I know he got authorised to fly the other day but didn't expect it so soon.

For me, at least, this is tremendous news. :yeah:

[Oberon]

Get out! :o That's fantastic news!

*rummages*

PIC!

https://www.facebook.com/shortfinaltv

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1009076_670460913005582_242184936_o.jpg

[Jimbuna]

Crackin news :cool:

[Schroeder]

I always found the Lightning to be butt ugly (*dodging incoming Oberon fist*) but it's always nice to see some piece of history take to the sky again.:rock:

[Herr-Berbunch]

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=216352&mode=view

[Jimbuna]

Hopefully Corgi will do an example to add to the 'black' collection :cool:

[Oberon]

I always found the Lightning to be butt ugly (*dodging incoming Oberon fist*) but it's always nice to see some piece of history take to the sky again.:rock:

:O: The Lightning doesn't fly through the air, it punches the air into submission and then leaves it crying in its wake. That's the screaming noise you hear when she flies past. :03:

[vienna]

:O: The Lightning doesn't fly through the air, it punches the air into submission and then leaves it crying in its wake. That's the screaming noise you hear when she flies past. :03:

I see...it's the Chuck Norris of planes, then?...


<O>

[Oberon]

I see...it's the Chuck Norris of planes, then?...


<O>

Actually...I'd say that probably goes to the A10, but the Frightening is more Bruce Lee. :yeah:

[Herr-Berbunch]

:O: The Lightning doesn't fly through the air, it punches the air into submission and then leaves it crying in its wake. That's the screaming noise you hear when she flies past. :03:

You missed out either the bit where she runs out of fuel, or spits fuel from a split hose on to of the engines.

It is a beautiful thing to me, their last base only a bike ride in my youth, many a primary school lesson drowned out.

[Oberon]

You missed out either the bit where she runs out of fuel, or spits fuel from a split hose on to of the engines.

It is a beautiful thing to me, their last base only a bike ride in my youth, many a primary school lesson drowned out.

Well, I didn't say how long she'd be punching the air into submission for. :O:
Less an aircraft, more a Surface to Air Missile. :03:

[vienna]

You missed out either the bit where she runs out of fuel, or spits fuel from a split hose on to of the engines.

It is a beautiful thing to me, their last base only a bike ride in my youth, many a primary school lesson drowned out.


Back when I was in grade school, and jets were fairly new (mid-50s on), the most annoying part of the school day was when we'd get hit by a sonic boom from jets flying over the city of San Francisco, my hometown. The booms would startle the bejesus out of us (worse yet since it was a Catholic school and they were trying to scare the bejesus into us). On rare occasions, the booms were strong enough to rattle objects off shelves or crack window glass. At first the military denied any of their jets were responsible, but, since they were basically the only ones with supersonic aircraft, they had to 'fess up. There was a popular theory that the military were experimenting to see what sort of effect the booms would have on buildings and such in urban areas. The initial defense the military used was an old, tired one of "it's vital for the national security". The argument failed. They did succeed in raising the ire of the citizens of San Francisco to such a degree lawsuits were threatened against the offenders and soon after the "tests" were stopped...


<O>

[GoldenRivet]

:O: The Lightning doesn't fly through the air, it punches the air into submission and then leaves it crying in its wake. That's the screaming noise you hear when she flies past. :03:

You sir... are full on correct

Good news!

incidentally... are there many of these flying anymore??? talk about an antique

[Oberon]

You sir... are full on correct

Good news!

incidentally... are there many of these flying anymore??? talk about an antique

That's the only one flying. There were a couple at Thunder City in South Africa, but the crash in 2009 kept the rest grounded until now. Not many countries will allow them to fly because of their history of...well...not flying. :dead:

[TarJak]

That's the only one flying. There were a couple at Thunder City in South Africa, but the crash in 2009 kept the rest grounded until now. Not many countries will allow them to fly because of their history of...well...not flying. :dead:

That would be because they stuck a pair of wings and a bloody big motor onto a pallet of bricks just to see if they could make it fly.

[GoldenRivet]

Yes, the old military aviation theory that with enough "thrusties" the "draggies" can be overcome and anything can be made to fly.

Thats the thing with those old pig jets... they fling through the air more than anything.

Those wings... I would be as nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rockin' chairs if i had to count on those things to get me anywhere.

approach speed has got to be in the neighborhood of mach 0.65 LOL

EDIT: not knowing much about the type, i had assumed this would be the only flying example. If he can manage to continuously return it to the earth in the same condition as when it left... GOOD ON HIM!

[Oberon]

That would be because they stuck a pair of wings and a bloody big motor onto a pallet of bricks just to see if they could make it fly.

It worked for the F4. :O:

[GoldenRivet]

It worked for the F4. :O:

true!

some people say those are such UGLY airplanes.

if you ask me, that old girl puts out as much sex appeal as she does smoke

[Schroeder]

true!

some people say those are such UGLY airplanes.

if you ask me, that old girl puts out as much sex appeal as she does smoke
Finally someone with taste here.:yeah:

[TarJak]

It worked for the F4. :O:

QFT. I love the looks of the Phantom menace. Particularly the RN version with the Spey motors.

Found a cool list of aircraft nicknames. http://www.b737.org.uk/aircraftnicknames.htm. some I'd not heard before.

[Jimbuna]

Aye...uncovered at last :)

[Stealhead]

Yes, the old military aviation theory that with enough "thrusties" the "draggies" can be overcome and anything can be made to fly.

Thats the thing with those old pig jets... they fling through the air more than anything.

Those wings... I would be as nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rockin' chairs if i had to count on those things to get me anywhere.

approach speed has got to be in the neighborhood of mach 0.65 LOL

EDIT: not knowing much about the type, i had assumed this would be the only flying example. If he can manage to continuously return it to the earth in the same condition as when it left... GOOD ON HIM!


Most of the Century Series aircraft must have been pretty tricky to fly they all had fairly high crash rates.I was reading in a book about F-100 units in the Vietnam War.They had a pretty high crash rate due to the high landing speed(both in Vietnam and throughout the Huns service life) which was tough under ideal conditions at most bases in Vietnam the general rule was to get near the base and eject if your plane had any real damage as the odds of making a safe landing where low.

I understand that the F-101 was the most challenging of the Century Series and some of the most ballsy flying recon over 1961 Cuba or North Vietnam also Republic of China (no doubt some CIA pilots) recons into China of course that plane flew the fastest combat recon missions in history.

[Herr-Berbunch]

There is the potential for one to fly in the States - XS422 - with the Anglo American Lightning Organisation at Stennis International, Mississippi. :up:

http://www.lightning422supporters.co.uk/

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/survivors/xs422-stennis-010916.jpg