A few more snaps from the Lightning Press Day ( More added)

[Fryboy]

Hi All
I thought I'd start a new thread to avoid hogging Mad Dans space, and as I've received a few requests by PM.
Heres the background;
"Hi Mad Dan
Thanks for sharing those pictures-bought back happy memories of a grand day out. I was the Herc captain that day and it was quite a challenge from up front as well. Probably still not wise to go into details but lets just say the aircraft was well broken on return to Lyneham......
I poked my nose down the back at one stage hoping to take some snaps myself for the logbook but walked into a cross between the Somme and the Millwall terraces so gave up and went back upstairs. I've got some pics taken from the flight deck windows and cupola which may be of interest. You may have also noticed another Herc lurking in the background, I have some pics taken from that of the whole formation - we were hoping to get a shot of a Lightning at 90 deg ie vertical alongside the Herc camera ship. Never quite managed it but it was fun trying. The lightning boys were superb to work with. On landing at Binbrook I was offered a ride in a T-bird as a thanks, but gave it to my co-pilot as the lightning pilot was an old mate of his. The deal was I'd come back in a couple of days and get my ride then. AOC 11 group suspended all pax flights in lightnings the following day. Bugger. Good job it wasn't my lifes ambition to fly in a lightning since the age of 4.........
I'll try and dig out those pics and get them up here,"
And here are the pictures;








Hope they are of interest - I've got more and I'll try to dig them out
Cheers
Dave

Private messageE-mail

[Fryboy]

I forgot about this one languishing in the garage........

[Westy]

Now there'e pictures to cherish

[APG]

Stunning set of images

[Phoenix]

Dave,

Thanks for posting these shots...I flew in XS452 BT..on 11 Squadron....A memory that I will never forget...If only for having to take the barrier on landing...!!! OOOPPPSSSS...!
55 minutes of heaven low over the wash and I mean LOW...Coningsby...Flamborough Head etc;

Cheers.

Neil.

[320psi]

Superb, and our 728 as well

[HOLTY]

My God!!

[lightningdes]

I tell you ,I'm not at all jealous one tiny little bit at you getting shots like that (very nice shots by the way )

[Fryboy]

I should point out that I only took the first 3 shots, the better last 2 pics were given to me after the event and I sadly can't remember the kind donor. I would hope that they wouldn't mind their handiwork getting an airing after all these 20 odd years. I always thought the last one was taken from the other Herc but another member here thinks it was taken from the T-bird. I'll do my best to dig out the rest but am on standby at the mo so may disappear for a few days.
Cheers
Dave

[CH2]

Again seems like only yesterday. The one with BE kicking in the reheat and breaking formation is a cracker.

[Westy]

The one with BE kicking in the reheat and breaking formation is a cracker.

XR769 - the last Lightning to crash in RAF service April 1988. The incident captured in photographic form in Ian Blacks excellent "last of the Lightnings"

[Fryboy]

Morning All
Glad some of you like the pics heres some more;











And finally the grinning bloke in the lightning is my co-pilot who 'pinched' my ride in the T-bird. DD if you ever see this you still owe me a lot of beer......



Have a good weekend all
Dave

[AndyBeau]

Wow!

Superb Dave, thanks for digging these out!

Please post more if you have them.

[320psi]

Superb, just superb, many thanks for posting,if you ever fancy getting back up close to XR728 just drop me a line, shes tucked up safely in the Q shed

[320psi]

The one with BE kicking in the reheat and breaking formation is a cracker.

XR769 - the last Lightning to crash in RAF service April 1988. The incident captured in photographic form in Ian Blacks excellent "last of the Lightnings"

Hi, I was under the impression that the BE in the shots above was XS923, she was the last Lightning to fly from Binbrook for Cranfield in June 88 for Arnold Glass, and she died there in 1998 at the hands of the scrappie, cockpit saved though

XR769 was, like you say the last to be lost in RAF service on 11th March 88, Dick Coleman ejecting safely

[Westy]

Hi, I was under the impression that the BE in the shots above was XS923, she was the last Lightning to fly from Binbrook for Cranfield in June 88 for Arnold Glass, and she died there in 1998 at the hands of the scrappie, cockpit saved though

XR769 was, like you say the last to be lost in RAF service on 11th March 88, "that looks more like a Mouse's head!" Coleman ejecting safely

Yeah I make you right now - confussion as XR769 also wore BE coding when she went down. Small detail though, she crashed on 11th April

[320psi]

Hi, I was under the impression that the BE in the shots above was XS923, she was the last Lightning to fly from Binbrook for Cranfield in June 88 for Arnold Glass, and she died there in 1998 at the hands of the scrappie, cockpit saved though

XR769 was, like you say the last to be lost in RAF service on 11th March 88, "that looks more like a Mouse's head!" Coleman ejecting safely

Yeah I make you right now - confussion as XR769 also wore BE coding when she went down. Small detail though, she crashed on 11th April

Yeh sorry, getting my 3's and 4s mixed up, 11/4/88 not 11/3/88 doh !

It was late last night when I was typing it

Interstingly all of the 760 series were lost in some form or another, strange

Hey ho

[XL391]

Fantastic images these, thanks for posting!

[747woody]

Lovely stuff Dave!

[CH2]

The one with BE kicking in the reheat and breaking formation is a cracker.

XR769 - the last Lightning to crash in RAF service April 1988. The incident captured in photographic form in Ian Blacks excellent "last of the Lightnings"

Yes unique shots, also I never realised (not until reading the book) that the first Typhoon OC 17 was a Lightning ejectee after a freak accident with banner bits and pieces.

Many thanks for the post.

[CH2]

Just something else, is that IB in the T5 with your mate who nicked your seat?

[John(txic)]

That was a super day out - many, many (belated) thanks!

[3Greens]

Thought the following pic might be of interest regarding XR769. This was taken during a visit on 9th March 1988, and she was just being taken back to the hangar after an afternoon on engine runs.

As you rightly confirmed Fl.Lt. R.K. Coleman (RAAF) elected to 'throw her away' on 11.4.88 whilst attempting to rtb Binbrook with Ian Black in close attendance.
Incidentally the flying boots of pilots who thankfully were able to return for pint, were nailed to the ceiling of the bar in the Nickerson Arms in Rothwell village just along from Binbrook - Richard Coleman's were the suitably displayed along with 'role of infamy' on a wall plaque.
Cheers
Keith

[canon55k]

Hi,
A Couple more for you, scanned from kodachrome slides dated late 70s early 80s.
If you want to see more please let me know and I will post
Cheers
Ian

[PeteM]

Yes please, always like to see some Lightnings. Lovely photos by the way.