Cold War Jets Day May 2014

[robdsn]

The poster for the first CWJ Day this year, and all being well the first taxi of ZD241.

Yesterday all 4 engines on 241 were started at Bruntingthorpe for the first time in just over 12 months.

[Gargamel]

Looks good

Do any VC10's still fly, I was fairly sure I saw a VC10 last weekend near Farnborough, but I was driving at the time so couldn't get a really clear look.

Definite high tail, no engines under wings, but I know there are a few Exec Jets with that configuration and I may simply have got my perspective sizing all wrong.

[robdsn]

None flying after September last year. As you say a few T tail bizjets around though.

[Eric Mc]

LOTS of biz jets have that configuration. Whilst it no longer is popular for airliners, it is still the most popular configuration for executive jets.

[tobinen]

I didn't realise there was a Lightning (or Lightnings) still flying. One of my all time favourites

[Eric Mc]

tobinen said:

I didn't realise there was a Lightning (or Lightnings) still flying. One of my all time favourites

None in the UK and a couple recently returned to flight in South Africa (after a grounding due to a fatal accident a couple of years ago).

Another is almost ready for flight in the US.

They are extremely complex and dangerous beasts.

[tobinen]

Thanks Eric. Is the OP misleading then or is there one coming over, do you know?

I recall seeing the flights on offer in SA and was very tempted. Would've made a big dent in savings though.

[Boatbuoy]

Who's operating the former Thunder City Lightnings now Eric?

[Eric Mc]

Boatbuoy said:

Who's operating the former Thunder City Lightnings now Eric?

Same people under a different set up.

Not altogether convinced that this would happen in the UK.

[Eric Mc]

tobinen said:

Thanks Eric. Is the OP misleading then or is there one coming over, do you know?

I recall seeing the flights on offer in SA and was very tempted. Would've made a big dent in savings though.

There will be no civilian operated flying Lightnings in the UK as long as the CAA are in charge - including foreign registered ones - especially from an outfit that seemed to show scant regard for safety procedures resulting in the death of a pilot..

[lufbramatt]

Eric Mc said:

tobinen said:

Thanks Eric. Is the OP misleading then or is there one coming over, do you know?

I recall seeing the flights on offer in SA and was very tempted. Would've made a big dent in savings though.

There will be no civilian operated flying Lightnings in the UK as long as the CAA are in charge.

I don't really think that's a bad thing to be honest. Not enough deserted landscape in the UK to guarantee that a Lightning with a problem isn't going to end up embedded in a house/school etc.

[Eric Mc]

Not disagreeing. For once, I think the CAA are right when it comes to Lightnings.

[tobinen]

Righto. I will not be going then. Thanks

[aeropilot]

tobinen said:

Thanks Eric. Is the OP misleading then or is there one coming over, do you know?

Nothing misleading in the OP.

You are just assuming something, without reading what it actually says.

[lufbramatt]

I don't think they do any flying at these days at Bruntingthorpe (apart from the Victor that had an unintentional hop a couple of years ago!), just engine runs and fast runs down the runway. There are a number of groups based there that keep a selection of jet aircraft that can't be flown in the UK in "live" condition. The Lightning QRA demo is pretty cool, they have built a new QRA shelter that really looks the part.

http://www.airshowspresent.com/lightning-f6---xs90...

Edited by lufbramatt on Wednesday 2nd April 13:31

[Eric Mc]

Watching the aircraft run on the ground can be quite exhilarating, especially when afterburner is engaged.

[FunkyNige]

tobinen said:

Righto. I will not be going then. Thanks

It's worth going for the noise - you'll see the Lightning going fast down the runway, it just won't take off at the end. There's loads of videos on Youtube showing what they do at this event (I guess you search for 'cold war jets bruntingthorpe' but I can't check as I'm at work).

[SydneyBridge]

havn't some planes 'accidentally' taken off there over the years, even if only for a few metres?

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

lufbramatt said:

they have built a new QRA shelter that really looks the part.

Technically it's not a new Q Shed but the old one from Wattisham that they have refurbished.

[Boatbuoy]

SydneyBridge said:

havn't some planes 'accidentally' taken off there over the years, even if only for a few metres?

Yes, as mentioned a bit further up. The Victor in question: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh2YSzBdWFg