English Electric Lightnings

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jalfrezi
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Re: English electric. Lightnimgs

Post by jalfrezi »

From the Cranfield Lightning FB page:

Many of our followers are interested in when 458 will return to a fully live condition again. We've not had an update for a while so here goes.

The winter months have not been kind and are not conducive to open air work on the aircraft. Storm Doris recently had a go and spun 458 around ending with one main wheel on the grass! Thankfully, apart from a couple of minor scrapes there was no damage.

The major issues to be resolved are engine problems, Terry and his small team hope to make better progress now that we're emerging from the winter months. Replacement of the No 1 engine is the main priority, work on this has been delayed because there is the possibility of a foreign object within the replacement engine. This has to be resolved before ancillaries are attached and the engine installed. Once installation has taken place then 458 becomes alive again and static runs can be carried out to exercise and check aircraft systems.

For 458 to become fully alive again a starting problem also has to be fixed on the No 2 engine. Nothing is easy on the Lightning and it is likely that the engine will have to be removed for access. Removal requires use of a crane or a hoist inside a hangar so I'm sure you can appreciate the extent of the work involved.

We remain hopeful and optimistic that the work can be completed to allow us to run again later this year but please be patient and bear with us.

This is what we all long to see once again!! And in case you're wondering, I wasn't carrying out trials on grass, 458 was on the runway!!

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Jakub.Zurek
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Re: English Electric Lightnings

Post by Jakub.Zurek »

They host a twilight taxi run around the end of November. It includes two Lightnings doing a reheat run after dark, and then a short nightshoot in the Q sheds. You can expect dates after the August CWJ at Brunty. Their website tends to show one event at a time.

The proper/dedicated nightshoot is held around February. The Q sheds are cleared out of any bits and bobs and the aircraft are positioned in and around the Q sheds, featuring reenactors.

16th/17th June this year will see a day time photoshoot featuring their 3 Lightnings, plus the one from Cornwall undergoing restoration at the moment for the RAF Cosford show. It will be stopping by at Bruntingthorpe on its way back to Cornwall just for the event.

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