Accidental Lightning pilot

[MartG]

Straight from the officer involved, the full version of the infamous accidental flight in a Lightning....

http://www.historicracer.com/aviation/accidental-f...

[Hooli]

Fascinating read, thanks for posting the link.

[miniman]

[paintman]

I think this may have been on here before:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfeN3FoZYj0

[CAPP0]

Worst "I once flew a Lightning" post ever

Good man. I started the article thinking "yeah right, who ever 'accidentally' takes off?" but the article comes across as very sincere and honest (and very interesting).

[HoHoHo]

What a great story

[HoHoHo]

What a great story

[ApOrbital]

Wow just wow.

[MaxNg]

Also, a great comment after the article about "the ghosts of "the few" being on his wings."

[Simpo Two]

MaxNg said:

Also, a great comment after the article about "the ghosts of "the few" being on his wings."

Profound indeed.

[aeropilot]

Story here and with a nice video clip with Taff Holden himself adding a few comments standing next to the very same Lightning, XM135 which is on display at IWM Duxford.

http://www.danrostron.com/2013/10/14/wing-commande...

[Mojocvh]

"Some years after the incident, my hidden fears of high speed flight came to the surface and I had to spend two periods in hospital. I had not come to terms with the emotional side of the event. To return to my wife and family after five close encounters with death, was indeed a miraculous experience, but I had not been honest with myself, to accept it as such, so I needed psychiatric help. I could recall the technicalities of the flight without any hang-ups, but was unwilling to talk about that emotional side of the ordeal until I was placed under medical drugs and to bring those emotions to the surface. That was a rewarding experience and it gave me a much better understanding of people who might need that same kind of help, after similar unfortunate occurrences."

This individual suffered terribly from what we would now call PTSD.

Thankfully times have moved on...

[carreauchompeur]

How terrifying... Lucky he had rudimentary flight experience I reckon! Great story, thanks for posting.

[ApOrbital]

Not a pilot but i would have shat myself a few times when that engine kicked in.

[Druid]

I was told this story in the early 80's by a Naval Officer that I was showing round the Lightnings at RAF Binbrook, he knew the 'pilot' well and described the event almost exactly as I have just read it.

Great to have confirmation and the rest of the detail.

[Krikkit]

carreauchompeur said:

How terrifying... Lucky he had rudimentary flight experience I reckon! Great story, thanks for posting.

More than rudimentary! Not exactly qualified on a lightning though.

[Ayahuasca]

I like this comment on the article:

Joe said:

Sir, if you had the time, which in the situation you found yourself in you obviously did not, to look above you and around you in your perilous flight you would have seen the ghosts of the pilots of “the few” on your wings. They were with you And there was no way they were going to lose you because you are them and they are you. Thank you for your service.

[Brother D]

as I stood in front of Air Marshal Sir Kenneth Porter, he read the proceedings, asked me if I agreed with his view that “With the limited flying experience that I had, the test would have been better left to an experienced and current Lightning test pilot.” I agreed of course. He then told me to remove my hat, sit down and proceeded to tell me some of his unfortunate flying incidents in Mesopotamia in the Middle East.

Couldn't imagine many 'leaders' nowadays taking a pragmatic view like that...

[Waynester]

Remarkable story, remarkable man. A situation unlikely ever to be repeated...but you never know.

[Dr Jekyll]

If the same situation occurred in a Typhoon or Tornado, would landing safely be easier or harder? (I'm sure there are lots of reasons why it wouldn't happen nowadays but that isn't my question).