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.

[Oberon]

Get out! That's fantastic news!

*rummages*

PIC!

https://www.facebook.com/shortfinaltv

[Jimbuna]

Crackin news

[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.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[vienna]

Originally Posted by Oberon

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.

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


<O>

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Oberon

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.

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.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Oberon

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.

You sir... are full on correct

Good news!

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

[Herr-Berbunch]

[Jimbuna]

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

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by Oberon

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.

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!

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by 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!

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.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by TarJak

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.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Oberon

It worked for the F4.

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