A thing of beauty is a joy forever

I have the EE Lightning Pack 1and 2 from Alpha. Since seeing those shots, I'm going to have to get it off the back-up and put it back into my sim. I've been working on my trusty Alpha TSR2 lately... just about got it where I want it. I can remember logging onto the Alphasim website way back when and seeing the EE Lightning when it was first released. Nice shots, Dave!:ernae:

BB686:USA-flag:
 
When I were a lad, they were all bare metal, and the only colour to see was the two orange circles as they climbed vertically away "in excess of 50,000 ft/min"...
Yes folks, supersonic in a vertical climb - magnificent.:icon_eek:

MikeW
 
emfrat said:
When I were a lad, they were all bare metal, and the only colour to see was the two orange circles as they climbed vertically away "in excess of 50,000 ft/min"...
Yes folks, supersonic in a vertical climb - magnificent.:icon_eek:

MikeW
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Once seen, never forgotten Mike. Just occasionally there is an advantage to being *ahem* of a slightly more mature age group

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2BVsNdT0ec

Apologies for the slightly OTT commentary. Just enjoy the ride.
 
I saw the real thing at Duxford many years back and was amazed by the sheer SIZE of it! I thought it was one of the most impressive items there with the Sunderland, a B-29 and an SR-71 (i think?)!
 
I'm an old Weapons Loader, I always wondered on the Lightning models with the fuel tanks and weapons stations on the upper wings, how they loaded them, and what the procedures were for stores jettison ? I would assume you would have to roll over but what if you can't ?
 
T Square said:
I'm an old Weapons Loader, I always wondered on the Lightning models with the fuel tanks and weapons stations on the upper wings, how they loaded them, and what the procedures were for stores jettison ? I would assume you would have to roll over but what if you can't ?
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Seem to recall reading that the pylons were equipped with explosive bolts that were supposed to lift the tanks and/or stores clear of the aircraft; it wasn't an ideal solution and the jettison system was disabled by the 1980s.

Apparently the tanks were rarely, if ever, filled on the ground, the extra weight just burned so much fuel on take off that there was little advantage; so they would take off with standard internal fuel & then top up from a friendly passing petrol station (see here). Actually, it's interesting that Wing Commander Carroll should be comparing her to the F-15, as I recall seeing photos in a book on the Lightning (published by Ian Allan I think) which showed a brand spanking new F-15A Eagle neatly captured by the gun camera of an antique Lightning F6!!
 
AndyG43 said:
Apparently the tanks were rarely, if ever, filled on the ground, the extra weight just burned so much fuel on take off that there was little advantage; so they would take off with standard internal fuel & then top up from a friendly passing petrol station (see here). Actually, it's interesting that Wing Commander Carroll should be comparing her to the F-15, as I recall seeing photos in a book on the Lightning (published by Ian Allan I think) which showed a brand spanking new F-15A Eagle neatly captured by the gun camera of an antique Lightning F6!!
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The tanks were fitted to certain aircraft at the end of their operational life - more to allow them to use up what airframe life remained in the time they had left than for any extra ability. Overwing tanks did cause a 'G'-limit to be applied - similar to that used while there was fuel in the ventral tank (4G).

Even at the end of their Service life, the Lightnings were capable of holding their own against just about anything.

Old, bent, poorly armed and with a 600 knot speed limit -- she'd still get ya!

Funnily enough, the best of the breed was the F.2A. The guns were still in the nose, so there was more fuel in the ventral tanks. She was lighter than the F.6, so the older engines weren't an issue. A two-hour sortie length wasn't uncommon over RAFG.

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.....

Dave
 
dhazelgrove said:
Student pilot's prayer:
"Dear God, please crash the Tub into the Simulator....."

Dave
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I'm sure i heard that one from my Grandfather as well... he used to absolutely love the Frightning, so much so that he shed blood over it (walked into the leading edge a couple of times, we used to joke that that must be the reason he was as daft as a brush!), though his job was Propulsion related on the things... must be where i got my love for the Frightning!
 
I found me copy the ALPHA EE Lightning Pack 1 (F.1 - F.3) but for some odd reason, I cannot find Pack 2 which had the later variants. Oh well. It's been so... so long ago. Nice shots Dave, and I believe you are correct about "The Tub".

BB686:USA-flag:
 
All about following fashion Dave. Perceived wisdom in the West was that dogfighting was done, and all combat would be fought beyond visual range; so most of the Lightning's contemporaries (the Delta Dart, Phantom, Voodoo) were designed as the best possible platforms from which to launch a missile are the longest safe range to take down approaching bombers. The main exception to that rule was the Mirage which retained guns; rubbish dog fighter though.

Sadly for that idea, the Soviets didn't follow fashion and the American's found themselves in dogfights over the Ho Chi Minh trail with gun armed fighters trying to achieve a Sidewinder lock .... so back on went the guns!
 
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