Lightning

[Guest]

This famous picture was taken by a chap called Jim Meade and is of English Electric P1B Lightning XG332 (used for test flying by BAC and DeHavilland) being departed by test pilot George Aird on September 13th 1962. The aircraft suffered an engine fire which burned through the tailplane actuator rods causing XG332 to go into a violent pitch-up about 10 seconds before landing at the DeHavilland aerodrome at Hatfield (not Wattisham). The pilot ejected and landed in a greenhouse. He broke both legs, but was flying Lightnings again a year or so later.

The photo was the centre page spread in the Daily Mail on October 9th 1962.

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[Guest]

wow thanks Bunk, never seen that before! just reminds me of pogo's lovely lightening he made.lol

[wonwinglo]

Was it really that long ago ? I remember that centre spread in the Daily Mirror,in fact still have it somewhere,the Lightning was some hot ship,remember well sitting at the end of R.A.F Gaydons runway watching a formation take off of six aircraft,after roaring down the runway they went vertical into a climb into cloudbase.

And there is another true story of a R.A.F Mechanic who was running up a Lightning and the engine opened up,he did a shaky circuit and managed to land the aircraft,it frightened him so much that he became a nervous wreck shortly afterwards,can you just imagine that happening ?