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MartytheMartian
Legendary Knight
On the subject of Global Nuclear war @DD67 I remember an interview with a V-Bomber pilot about the dark days of the cold war, what they were trained for and what they could expect. It was really chilling as he described how they expected that, within a few minutes of getting airborne, their home base, family and friends would probably have ceased to exist and how, if they successfully managed to reach their target and drop their bombs, they were then to put out a call to try and find out if there was anywhere within range still in existence to then fly on to and try to land or, if not to try and find anywhere where they might be able to bail out with best possible chance of survival.
Of course that wasn't the role of the Lightning Boys. They were Quick Reaction Force to deal with incursions into British airspace. Went like stink, roared like the end of the world and could outmanoeuvre most other fighters they might encounter but had very limited weaponry oh and my mother tells me that I used to scream the house down when I was brought home from the hospital (after being born) each time they were scrambled off the base at Leuchars which, at the height of things was up to once a day or more. Whoever thought that putting married quarters at Leuchars at the end of the runway was an evil bastard.
One of the saddest stories I read about Lightnings was about a T5 trainer that was operated by Thunder City in South Africa and crashed around twelve years ago. The very aircraft featured in a programme with Dr Brian Cox where he was flown up to see the 'thin blue line'. The pilot was putting her through her paces when she suffered hydraulic failure which resulted in a fire. He tried to eject but the canopy failed to jettison so he was trapped. Unable to do anything else he flew away from the display area while also being put through to his wife and family by the tower so he could say goodbye before he was forced to crash land and was killed instantly.
Of course that wasn't the role of the Lightning Boys. They were Quick Reaction Force to deal with incursions into British airspace. Went like stink, roared like the end of the world and could outmanoeuvre most other fighters they might encounter but had very limited weaponry oh and my mother tells me that I used to scream the house down when I was brought home from the hospital (after being born) each time they were scrambled off the base at Leuchars which, at the height of things was up to once a day or more. Whoever thought that putting married quarters at Leuchars at the end of the runway was an evil bastard.
One of the saddest stories I read about Lightnings was about a T5 trainer that was operated by Thunder City in South Africa and crashed around twelve years ago. The very aircraft featured in a programme with Dr Brian Cox where he was flown up to see the 'thin blue line'. The pilot was putting her through her paces when she suffered hydraulic failure which resulted in a fire. He tried to eject but the canopy failed to jettison so he was trapped. Unable to do anything else he flew away from the display area while also being put through to his wife and family by the tower so he could say goodbye before he was forced to crash land and was killed instantly.
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Don the Don
Legendary Knight
@MartytheMartian that era threw up a lot off issues that today would be considered wrong like the Vulcan with up to a crew of six yet only the pilot and co-pilot had ejection seats the rest had to try and get out the best they could
The V-Bomber Ejector Seat Controversy | Hackaday
As for Leuchars all bases that have QRA [quick reaction alert] gave people sleepness nights, when they looked at the possibility of basing the F-35 at Lossiemouth It was noted that the town of Lossie would need treble glasing to withstand the noise, thankfully they went to Marham
The locals still complain about the Typhoon,
One day some years ago a pilot due to retire was on his last sortie over the moray firth decided "fook it" and engaged re-heat every thing ruddy shook like an earthquake windows cracked and folk phoned the police citing an earthquake, it was later confirmed that a Tornado had hit the sound barrier, to have that power on tap and hardly use it unless permission given [in normal use] must be frustrating must be like owning a sportbike and only riding at 30 all day every day
The V-Bomber Ejector Seat Controversy | Hackaday
As for Leuchars all bases that have QRA [quick reaction alert] gave people sleepness nights, when they looked at the possibility of basing the F-35 at Lossiemouth It was noted that the town of Lossie would need treble glasing to withstand the noise, thankfully they went to Marham
The locals still complain about the Typhoon,
One day some years ago a pilot due to retire was on his last sortie over the moray firth decided "fook it" and engaged re-heat every thing ruddy shook like an earthquake windows cracked and folk phoned the police citing an earthquake, it was later confirmed that a Tornado had hit the sound barrier, to have that power on tap and hardly use it unless permission given [in normal use] must be frustrating must be like owning a sportbike and only riding at 30 all day every day
MartytheMartian
Legendary Knight
Indeed there has always been a big problem with sound and the Lightnings were incredibly loud. Awe inspiring machines though especially when going vertical on take-off. Was Concorde not heavily speed restricted because of noise levels? I worked at Prestwick back in the 90's and I can tell you that, when they were running up the engines in Maintenance they were Earth shaking!
Was the Victor not a really tricky aircraft to bail out from @Don the Don I seem to recall that at least one of the crew, Navigator maybe? had to go through a weird procedure in order to bail. I guess though that, if you have just dropped some nukes getting out may not be a real priority any more.
On the subject of the Lighting I found myself going through histories of those that had been in service some years ago and it's pretty sobering just how many of them went down for one reason or another. I think fuel fires were a major issue in particular and of course a lot of pilots didn't even fare too well ejecting from a dying 'Frightning' at several hundred mph.
Was the Victor not a really tricky aircraft to bail out from @Don the Don I seem to recall that at least one of the crew, Navigator maybe? had to go through a weird procedure in order to bail. I guess though that, if you have just dropped some nukes getting out may not be a real priority any more.
On the subject of the Lighting I found myself going through histories of those that had been in service some years ago and it's pretty sobering just how many of them went down for one reason or another. I think fuel fires were a major issue in particular and of course a lot of pilots didn't even fare too well ejecting from a dying 'Frightning' at several hundred mph.
Don the Don
Legendary Knight
Aye @MartytheMartian the Victor did stirling service also as a tanker and was as good as the vulcan it certainly out lived it
![50c0d9ede6d11983f84ad2658ae1b671[1].jpg](http://phoenixknightsbikerforum.com/Forum/data/attachments/7/7518-07bcf9aaab3866e14c8a97063261c5f8.jpg "50c0d9ede6d11983f84ad2658ae1b671[1].jpg")
On the subject of awkward positions the PR9 Canberra [photo rec] took some beating, jocky up top with ejecter seat and the other guy stuck in the nose cone and the last three where only retired in 2006
On the subject of awkward positions the PR9 Canberra [photo rec] took some beating, jocky up top with ejecter seat and the other guy stuck in the nose cone and the last three where only retired in 2006
Don the Don
Legendary Knight
Aye the sight and sound off the Vulcan was impressive, I remember taking a younger brother to a Cosford air show many years ago everyone looked up and everyone sounded aaawwwhh as it made a low level slow pass with it's bomb doors open "except" our kid who shouted out "cor look at the piss flaps on that" I had to cringe as everyone looked our way in disgust.The Vulcan was a regular visitor to the Eastbourne air show- and when it went overhead the sound was earth shaking
The Spitfires, Hurricanes, and Lancasters aren’t too shabby either
It’s a great event hopefully will return next year.....
Sarky B’stard
Legendary Knight
Yes….. I went round RAF Stafford circa 2002. They had something like 11 Canberra left wings in storage but only one right one and hundreds of dusty ribs and bits that would NEVER EVER be used and had zero value except to spotters! The book value? Oh something ridiculous that bore no relationship to reality.
Don the Don
Legendary Knight
That does not surprise me, since 2006 it's Beacon Barracks or mod Stafford the Army took over all our main spares come from tri service mod Donnington telford
Don the Don
Legendary Knight
Sarky B’stard
Legendary Knight
My local playground
