RAF Binbrook – 14 April 1988

[steved]

A visit to RAF Binbrook shortly before the end of RAF Lightning operations and service.

A few still active with 11 Squadron and many inactive placed on the airfield in various states of disrepair after being stripped of useful or valuable spares.

Lightning F.6 XR770 RAF


Lightning F.6 XS901 RAF


Lightning T.5 XS452 BT 11 Sqn RAF


Lightning F.6 XR725 RAF


Lightning F.6 XR753 BP 11 Sqn RAF


Lightning F.6 XP727 BH 11 Sqn RAF


Lightning F.6 XP727 BH 11 Sqn RAF


Lightning F.6 XS901 RAF


Lightning F.6 XS922 BJ 11 Sqn RAF


Lightning T.5 XS452 BT 11 Sqn RAF


Lightning T.5 XS452 BT 11 Sqn RAF


Lightning F.6 XS922 BJ 11 Sqn RAF


Lightning F.6 XS901 RAF


Scrap/Dump area

Lightning F.3 XP702 RAF


Lightning T.5 XS457 RAF


Lightning T.5 XS420 RAF


Lightning RAF


Lightning RAF


Lightning RAF


Lightning RAF


Lightning F.6 XS927 RAF


Lightning F.6 XS933 RAF


Lightning F.6 XR756 RAF


Lightning T.5 XS417 RAF


Lightning RAF


Lightning XS919 F.6 RAF


Lightning XP748 F.3 11 Sqn RAF


Cheers
Steve Doyle

[The Flying Barrel]

Great post of what is an iconic machine, remember those old air frames dotted about the airfield . Do remember visiting Binbrook during one of the Elder Forest series of exercises and of a Lightning chasing an A-10 ! Needless to say one definitely out turned the other!

[hunterxf382]

Great photos of the end of an era at Binbrook....
I was sent there on detachment in '88 to assist the riggers with an urgent check on spars after a Saudi one was lost I believe. Somehow we managed to check the entire fleet - airworthy and non-airworthy ones dotted around. One thing I learned from the experience - how to correctly enter the very tight space around the radar to get down the intake to strip the covering panels for the NDT checks to be carried out. Getting out again was just as much fun - I was somewhat slimmer back then....lol

[NickB]

Fantastic pics - wish I was older when Binbrook was operational as I would love to have made the trip up there to stand at that famous crash gate.

[Wrexham Mackem]

Great stuff, and such memories of the mid/late eighties at Binbrook.

Its ace to see the Golden Oldies forum so active lately too.

[King Cobra]

Always pleased to see images of the mighty Lightning. Brings back memories of happy times watching them at Binbrook.

[BigClick67]

very cool! Lightnings are always great, though the series of 'dead' aircraft is saddening...

[patrouille2001]

Great Photos. What Happened to the Gate Guardian ?. Cheers

[Finningley Boy]

I'd agree with Bigclick 67's comments, it's depressing to see the scrapped Frightnings scattered around the dispersal. I was first at Binbrook in October 1978 on detachment from Boulmer while the latter was continged for the ASP (Annual Servicing Period). What struck me when I draw comparison with today at any similar operational location, is the level of day to day activity at Binbrook, Lightnings seemed to fill both the day and night skies. We were also introduced to the Flight Simulator by one Tony Paxton, whom some may have heard of before. later in the week, we finished up at Coningsby, similar deal, but oddly the lack of activity at Coningsby despite the large presence of personnel everywhere was odd to say the least, although the few times a Phantom or two thundered off into what seemed to be ever present cumulus, was quite dramatic. They were always getting airborne in full reheat, whereas the Lightnings were rather more conservative in the use of their burners. A nice SACW, as the rank for female/WRAF personnel was known at the time, was our escort for the period at Coningsby. But to look of pictures taken of Binbrook on other websites, taken over the last 20 years, is makes me feel a Hundred years old.

FB

[NAM Updater]

An interesting picture of XS417 amongst those, just before it was moved to Newark Air Museum (4 September 1988).

[jag636]

And if you all would like to see 417 now then take a run over to newark as she's even sporting a pair of firestreaks and she's a cracker

[FarnboroJohn]

Fantastic pics - wish I was older when Binbrook was operational as I would love to have made the trip up there to stand at that famous crash gate.

It was some place - post and rails fence with the locals sitting on it with their feet inside and pilots waving on their way past before afterburner takeoffs and then stand on the tail..... they used to fly well into even summer dusk, as well, unlike most 9-5 bases.

Legendary unreliability though, I remember hearing the pow - fwoosh of the starter going off loads of times in the early mornings from the crash gate and hoping for a squadron launch, only to see two (or even one) Lightning come out - we always assumed some unfortunate pilot had been scuttling down the line desperately trying to find one that worked!

John

[andrewn]

Great Photos. What Happened to the Gate Guardian ?. Cheers

XP748 ended it's days on the Pendine ranges as a target - sadly as it was in excellent condition, though as late as 2012 the tail-fin was reportedly sold on ebay!

http://www.aviation-picture-hangar.co.uk/xp748pendine

http://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2012/01/tail-fin-of-former-raf-binbrook-gate-guard-lightning-xp748-sold-on-ebay/