UK now has a 4th working Lightning

[aeropilot]

After many years of hard work the team at Gatwick Aviation Museum have successfully run up their ex-RSAF F.53

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vp0bO2efTw&fe...


Shame they don't have any runway though to enable them to stretch it's legs

[HoHoHo]

Looks lovely.

Surely if they pointed it left a bit, opened the throttle and went through a fence there's a perfectly usable runway just there

[AlexC1981]

I feel a visit to the museum at Gatwick coming on. I didn't even know it was there!

[aeropilot]

HoHoHo said:

Looks lovely.

Surely if they pointed it left a bit, opened the throttle and went through a fence there's a perfectly usable runway just there

Indeed, somewhat frustratingly close.....yet oh so far

However, even if they could build a short taxiway to the LGW peritrack, I'm not so sure that LGW would be too keen on the idea.

[Regiment]

aeropilot said:

Indeed, somewhat frustratingly close.....yet oh so far

However, even if they could build a short taxiway to the LGW peritrack, I'm not so sure that LGW would be too keen on the idea.

Stick an EasyJet sticker on the side and glue a few drunken football fans underneath, they'd blend right in.

Beautiful aircraft, one of the planes I had on my bedroom wall when I was younger.

[Shakermaker]

AlexC1981 said:

I feel a visit to the museum at Gatwick coming on. I didn't even know it was there!

It's pretty small, and is run by a small amount of enthusiasts about a mile from the perimeter of the airport, rather than by the airport themselves.

The school bus used to detour past it sometimes when the cut through was blocked.

I can't believe I've never been though given how close it is, looks quite nice.

[EarlOfHazard]

So is it in a flyable condition?

[lee_fr200]

EarlOfHazard said:

So is it in a flyable condition?

I suppose there's only 1 way to find out

[aeropilot]

EarlOfHazard said:

So is it in a flyable condition?

No.

[Halmyre]

At this rate there'll be more working Lightnings than Lightning IIs.

[trickywoo]

Shakermaker said:

It's pretty small, and is run by a small amount of enthusiasts about a mile from the perimeter of the airport, rather than by the airport themselves.

The school bus used to detour past it sometimes when the cut through was blocked.

I can't believe I've never been though given how close it is, looks quite nice.

Its well worth a visit. When I went an old boy who flew Shackletons in the 50s gave me a five star tour.

Edited by trickywoo on Tuesday 27th September 11:33

[HoHoHo]

trickywoo said:

Shakermaker said:

It's pretty small, and is run by a small amount of enthusiasts about a mile from the perimeter of the airport, rather than by the airport themselves.

The school bus used to detour past it sometimes when the cut through was blocked.

I can't believe I've never been though given how close it is, looks quite nice.

Its well worth a visit. When I went an old boy who flew Shackletons in the 50s gave me a five star tour.

Edited by trickywoo on Tuesday 27th September 11:33

When I went many, many years ago the owner (I forget his name) opened up the museum just for me and gave me a private tour.

I happened to call by and he made me fell most welcome

I think at that time it was only called 'Vallance By-Ways' or something similar.

[aeropilot]

HoHoHo said:

When I went many, many years ago the owner (I forget his name) opened up the museum just for me and gave me a private tour.

I happened to call by and he made me fell most welcome

I think at that time it was only called 'Vallance By-Ways' or something similar.

Peter Vallance, hence the original name.

Pete passed away in 2013, sadly not seeing the fruition of what he spent years trying to achieve.
See here
http://gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk/pgv/pgv.html

[HoHoHo]

aeropilot said:

HoHoHo said:

When I went many, many years ago the owner (I forget his name) opened up the museum just for me and gave me a private tour.

I happened to call by and he made me feel most welcome

I think at that time it was only called 'Vallance By-Ways' or something similar.

Peter Vallance, hence the original name.

Pete passed away in 2013, sadly not seeing the fruition of what he spent years trying to achieve.
See here
http://gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk/pgv/pgv.html

Yep, that's the man.

I had a tour of everything and went inside the Shackleton which I remember very well.

[r1flyguy1]

Can someone tell me what the odd 'white' object is in the sky at 2m.44s travelling upwards and diagonally right to left in the background left side of the cockpit as you look at the video, (starboard in reality) ???

And later again at 3m25s prior to transitions to Leak testing above the cockpit travelling horizontally left to right???

I'm guessing departing aircraft maybe, just looked strange

Edited by r1flyguy1 on Tuesday 27th September 23:05

[anonymous-user]

trickywoo said:

Its well worth a visit. When I went an old boy who flew Shackletons in the 50s gave me a five star tour.

Edited by trickywoo on Tuesday 27th September 11:33

Same here. I remember some guy in charge having to hurry him up as he was taking so long.

He was engrossed in making my son and I reenact torpedo drops on Russian submarines. He was quite enthusiastic about it all. I felt like I was there over the North Sea.

The new reopened museum isn't exactly the Smithsonian but it's well worth a visit.

[V8 Fettler]

Hopefully, XR724 at Binbrook will join the ranks of working Lightnings at some stage in the future.

[bumpymark]

Regarding xr724 at binbrook it is capable of running , however it has been a while since it's been fired up,im ex asf binbrook,did two stints on these aircraft back in the 80,s many happy memories.