This man enjoys his job

[V8 Fettler]

texaxile said:

We had a school trip there in 76 (It was bloody hot on that day I remember that). Went into the radar room and had a look in the hangars. If memory serves me they had some Phantoms there back then and also some lightnings. We were allowed to "look but do not touch ANYTHING".

Wasn't there an old lightning in a Scrapyard somewhere on the A1 visible from the road years ago?.

Yes, gone now though.

[Simpo Two]

texaxile said:

We had a school trip there in 76 (It was bloody hot on that day I remember that).

CCF?

[texaxile]

Simpo Two said:

CCF?

No, Gusford County Primary school in Ipswich. From what I remember it was a great day, personally I enjoyed the Radar room, the bloke operating it told me he was watching for “baddies”.

[Tango13]

silverfoxcc said:

USAF alconbury open day 1972?

Lighting batted down the runway at about 50-100ft, then pointed upwards and disappreard in seconds.Lots of noise. only beaten by the yanks on base jaws hitting the tarmac

Smug smiles from all the brits, having just before seen four F4 doing 'A fast pass' according to the commentator Yea my ford angiai could have out run them

If the septics had ever seen Anthony 'Bugs' Bendell doing a 'fast pass' they would've probably shat themselves inside out

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IDZU7HK/ref=dp-kind...

[Some Guy]

[Some Guy]

[Europa1]

V8 Fettler said:

texaxile said:

We had a school trip there in 76 (It was bloody hot on that day I remember that). Went into the radar room and had a look in the hangars. If memory serves me they had some Phantoms there back then and also some lightnings. We were allowed to "look but do not touch ANYTHING".

Wasn't there an old lightning in a Scrapyard somewhere on the A1 visible from the road years ago?.

Yes, gone now though.

It was sad driving along that stretch every once in a while, seeing how it had deteriorated since the last time (the Lightning, not the A1).

[AshVX220]

I was in Fort Worth a couple of weeks ago for work, as I left work 8 F-16's took off one after the other on full burner, it was dusk so the flame coming out the back was fully visible, I grinned like a 5 year old at Christmas, the hire car was rattling like mad, it was awesome!

[spitfire-ian]

Europa1 said:

V8 Fettler said:

texaxile said:

We had a school trip there in 76 (It was bloody hot on that day I remember that). Went into the radar room and had a look in the hangars. If memory serves me they had some Phantoms there back then and also some lightnings. We were allowed to "look but do not touch ANYTHING".

Wasn't there an old lightning in a Scrapyard somewhere on the A1 visible from the road years ago?.

Yes, gone now though.

It was sad driving along that stretch every once in a while, seeing how it had deteriorated since the last time (the Lightning, not the A1).

For those on Facebook, someone has saved the cockpit from it and is slowly restoring it.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/205368676297107/

Thread from another forum: https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?140...

[boyse7en]

Simpo Two said:

silverfoxcc said:

Lighting batted down the runway at about 50-100ft, then pointed upwards and disappreard in seconds.Lots of noise.

The Lightning 'tail stand' is never forgotten - I saw mine at RAF Wattisham c.1976 and the ground shook.

Mine was at the RAF Chivenor Airshow on a very hot day in the Summer of 1978/79ish.
It did a low-level fast pass of the airfield. I remember it because the guy on the Tannoy was telling us all about its capabilities when he was completely drowned out by this thing coming across the airfield. I was sat on the bonnet of my Dad's Hillman Avenger and remember feeling it shake. It was a blink-and-you-miss-it glimpse of the plane as it roared across at what looked like about 50 feet.
Then he turned, came back real slow and over the runway just tipped it up, opened the throttles and went straight up. Totally amazed.

Got a photo of me stood next to it after it landed and went on to the display area somewhere.

[55palfers]

Another fabulous British achievement designed and built by men (and women) in cow-gowns with just slide-rules and drawing boards.

And buckets of dedication and skill.