Lightning anyone?
Discussion
Perhaps sir would prefer a Vampire?
https://aerodynamicmedia.com/vampire-se-dxu-for-sa...
https://aerodynamicmedia.com/vampire-wz507-for-sal...
https://aerodynamicmedia.com/vampire-se-dxu-for-sa...
https://aerodynamicmedia.com/vampire-wz507-for-sal...
If you hover over the inventory menu on here - https://www.historicandclassicaircraftsales.com/in... you will see they have the Thunder City Buccaneers too and the Hunters.
But I'll take the Dove - https://www.historicandclassicaircraftsales.com/dh...
But I'll take the Dove - https://www.historicandclassicaircraftsales.com/dh...
Edited by FourWheelDrift on Tuesday 5th May 20:59
The US is probably the only feasible market for the ex-Thunder City Lightnings & Buccaneers.
The fact that they have MiG-29's, MiG-21's, Sea Harriers, A4's & an F-4 operating on the civil register & the FAA's approach to 'experimental" category a/c makes it possible but certainly a long shot given the Lightning's record in RAF service, the parts & maintenance personnel situation and the support infrastructure.
There is a Lightning under restoration in the US - but I'd guess it's quite unlikely to ever fly.
The fact that they have MiG-29's, MiG-21's, Sea Harriers, A4's & an F-4 operating on the civil register & the FAA's approach to 'experimental" category a/c makes it possible but certainly a long shot given the Lightning's record in RAF service, the parts & maintenance personnel situation and the support infrastructure.
There is a Lightning under restoration in the US - but I'd guess it's quite unlikely to ever fly.
Penguinracer said:
There is a Lightning under restoration in the US - but I'd guess it's quite unlikely to ever fly.
There were indications that it was going to fly this year, as static engine runs and systems tests were being done late last year in readiness, but the current virus situation will knock that into touch for a good while yet now I would think.Well I hope I’m wrong about that US restored Lightning & that it goes indeed find a way of screaming into the stratosphere like the supersonic manned missile that it is!
The market for these things is obviously incredibly small, so the ex-Thunder City a/c are much more likely than not to remain static & depending on their storage situation, possibly deteriorate until they’re not even an attractive option to the possibly three people in the world who might have the skills, wherewithal, resources & commitment to seriously consider getting them into the air.
It’s interesting if you follow someone like Kermit Weeks. He has almost too many projects & too little time in which to complete them.
I’d dearly love to see his vision of “Act III” for Fantasy of Flight come to fruition, but at 66 he knows it’s now or never to get his project completed after spending almost 40 years acquiring & restoring pre-Korean War aircraft.
The market for these things is obviously incredibly small, so the ex-Thunder City a/c are much more likely than not to remain static & depending on their storage situation, possibly deteriorate until they’re not even an attractive option to the possibly three people in the world who might have the skills, wherewithal, resources & commitment to seriously consider getting them into the air.
It’s interesting if you follow someone like Kermit Weeks. He has almost too many projects & too little time in which to complete them.
I’d dearly love to see his vision of “Act III” for Fantasy of Flight come to fruition, but at 66 he knows it’s now or never to get his project completed after spending almost 40 years acquiring & restoring pre-Korean War aircraft.
Penguinracer said:
It’s interesting if you follow someone like Kermit Weeks. He has almost too many projects & too little time in which to complete them.
I’d dearly love to see his vision of “Act III” for Fantasy of Flight come to fruition, but at 66 he knows it’s now or never to get his project completed after spending almost 40 years acquiring & restoring pre-Korean War aircraft.
Kermit's operation is too much smoke and mirrors. He's a compulsive hoarder, and while he's 'saved' a huge amount of stuff that might otherwise have been lost/scrapped, his 'dream' of FoF is and will be only a dream. His video's make it seem a lot more is being done than it really is. He likes collecting logbook entries, and then moves onto the next thing. So much of his stuff has been flown a couple of times, and then it stays on the ground, after a few niggley problems that then never get fixed. His recent video of the B-25 is a classic case in point.I’d dearly love to see his vision of “Act III” for Fantasy of Flight come to fruition, but at 66 he knows it’s now or never to get his project completed after spending almost 40 years acquiring & restoring pre-Korean War aircraft.
He eyes and dream are far bigger than his wallet, despite that being quite a deep wallet, its just not deep enough for his dream. Most of the stuff he still has that hasn't even been started, will never get started in his ownership/lifespan, let alone the stuff he's started that will never be finished.
Totally agree with what you said about Kermit - well put.
He’s stretched himself too far. He should long ago have started concentrating on the “quality of presentation’“ of a much smaller collection rather over-reaching himself through constant expansion to acquire aircraft which may only fly a couple of times.
Better to complete something smaller & less ambitious than to leave a trail of half-completed grandiose projects in your wake.
There are some wonderful museums which have “staged’” their exhibits beautifully.
I agree that Kermit’s habits of a lifetime will ensure his vision for FoF never gets realised. Again, I hope I’m wrong.
He’s stretched himself too far. He should long ago have started concentrating on the “quality of presentation’“ of a much smaller collection rather over-reaching himself through constant expansion to acquire aircraft which may only fly a couple of times.
Better to complete something smaller & less ambitious than to leave a trail of half-completed grandiose projects in your wake.
There are some wonderful museums which have “staged’” their exhibits beautifully.
I agree that Kermit’s habits of a lifetime will ensure his vision for FoF never gets realised. Again, I hope I’m wrong.
Penguinracer said:
Totally agree with what you said about Kermit - well put.
He’s stretched himself too far. He should long ago have started concentrating on the “quality of presentation’“ of a much smaller collection rather over-reaching himself through constant expansion to acquire aircraft which may only fly a couple of times.
Better to complete something smaller & less ambitious than to leave a trail of half-completed grandiose projects in your wake.
There are some wonderful museums which have “staged’” their exhibits beautifully.
I agree that Kermit’s habits of a lifetime will ensure his vision for FoF never gets realised. Again, I hope I’m wrong.
You're not wrong. Its the view held by most of those who are involved within the field/industry. He’s stretched himself too far. He should long ago have started concentrating on the “quality of presentation’“ of a much smaller collection rather over-reaching himself through constant expansion to acquire aircraft which may only fly a couple of times.
Better to complete something smaller & less ambitious than to leave a trail of half-completed grandiose projects in your wake.
There are some wonderful museums which have “staged’” their exhibits beautifully.
I agree that Kermit’s habits of a lifetime will ensure his vision for FoF never gets realised. Again, I hope I’m wrong.
Only the Kermit fanboys who can't see beyond the glossy video's believe otherwise.
And, yes, look at the way Stephen Gray, Rod Lewis, Jerry Yagen, Tom Friedkin etc have done with their much smaller collections, which have been constantly revised/traded as well as flown, without getting too big to manage.
Only the massively deep pockets of Paul Allen that allowed the building and now continuation of the Flying Heritage Collection in Seattle and Kermit isn't in Paul Allen's league in terms of wealth by some considerable margin.
I can remember all the fanfare in the warbird mags when he bought the remains of the crushed ex-Strathallen Lancaster that got flattened in the Woodford roof collapse, and how it would be flying within 10 years.
30 years later, it still all sitting the same shipping containers it was shipped in!
I'm guessing that one of those 3 was the last Lightning I saw fly in anger, departing Cape Town while I was waiting for a flight. It was 1996, the day Panis won the Monaco GP.
I also 'bumped into' an L-39 flying from a private field near Port Elizabeth a couple of times while I was poodling around in a rented 172.
I also 'bumped into' an L-39 flying from a private field near Port Elizabeth a couple of times while I was poodling around in a rented 172.
hutchst said:
I'm guessing that one of those 3 was the last Lightning I saw fly in anger, departing Cape Town while I was waiting for a flight. It was 1996, the day Panis won the Monaco GP.
If you are sure of the May 1996 date, then it couldn't have been one of the Lightnings, as they were all still at Exeter airport in the UK in 1996.They didn't get sold and be exported to South Africa until the following year, and it was 1999/2000 or so before the first one was reflown out there.
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