This just made me cry. Oh the memories and feelings and the unofficial air little mini shows the pilots would either coincidentally or deliberately give us over our little primary school in New Waltham near Grimsby in the last few days of the Lightnings at lunches and break times. Coming in fast and low over the houses and then a roar a brief flame and spurt of afterburner before tearing upwards into the sky, not just your rib cage shaking violently but every organ in your body including many you were not even aware that you had vibrating at different frequencies. As a young boy I bloody loved it, some of the younger kids and girls who ran back inside crying, perhaps not so much, but the law of averages kicks in. Oh what I would give for a time machine right now!
@jameswade409714 күн бұрын
I never got that close, but i was an Airfix nut in the 60s/70s my favourite was the Spitfire M1X and the Lightning 111 sqn with the lightning bolts decals. here in Scotland in the 60s anyway, that contrail moving so fast, and so high could only be a Lightning
@rickrichards28295 жыл бұрын
A true British Icon , The last all British built interceptor, utterly a magnificent piece of aviation engineering
@buy.to.let.britain6 ай бұрын
it won plane of the year in 1961
@johndavid56182 ай бұрын
"The best dont make anymore.
@JW-eu7br3 жыл бұрын
I was stationed at Binbrook for the last four and a half years of my service - April 1969 to December 1973 and to see these great aircraft fly every day was a great pleasure.
@jimdavis83914 жыл бұрын
I have never seen ANY other aircraft make the transition from horizontal to vertical so abruptly as the Lightning. Then to climb at that astronomical rate and yet enjoy remarkable manouverability, it was a phenominal machine.
@keithdonnellan55643 жыл бұрын
It's British before we joined the EEC (EU) pyramid scheme.
@LV_FUD803 жыл бұрын
The only other aircraft I've seen that could do something comparable, is the F-22.
@LeeHarris3 жыл бұрын
@@keithdonnellan5564 Trolololoooo
@paulgreen69803 жыл бұрын
@@LV_FUD80 yes but the lightning was doing this in the 1950 untill the late 70s
@peteconrad20773 жыл бұрын
@@keithdonnellan5564 it had naff all range and naff all weapon load. Almost useless. Unlike the world beating Typhoon built in the EU and with our European partners.
@johnreed36388 ай бұрын
Could still eat a lot of modern aircraft for breakfast in speed and manoeuvrability. What a CLASSIC.
@andrewhickling82255 ай бұрын
The lightning can climb as high and as fast as any modern fighter. It’s a thing of beauty and it’s British
@johnsmith-nk1tp5 жыл бұрын
I was in the RAF in the 80's and once visited Binbrook for a cross country race. The lightnings were flying and i was awestruck by the power, noise, speed ..amazing.
@Simonize413 жыл бұрын
I was there with my father that day. In fact we used to visit Binbrook regularly. The memories that have come flooding back. Boy oh boy. Still the greatest military jet ever built.🙂
@mattbates68875 жыл бұрын
Oh yes, I remember seeing the Lightning flying at the West Wycombe airshow, back in the 80's. The noise and speed to a vertical climb to altitude on one afterburner, was awesome to see and totally unforgettable!
@englishkernigit82946 жыл бұрын
Being a boy from Grimbob who grew up practically under Binbrooks flight path, this has brought back great memories. Always an exciting time going to the end of the runway (On a public road), standing on the 5ft fence post and feeling these bad boys screaming over your head. Absolutely fab. Deffo had an influence on my decision to join the RAF when I was 17
@tweeny556 жыл бұрын
If by Grimbob you mean Grimsby then I grew up on Sunk Island opposite side of the riverand remember the lightnings well,and the A10 warthogs practising at Cowden bombing range.you could hear the cannons miles away.
@englishkernigit82946 жыл бұрын
twe enyss yep. Grimsby. The days out at Donna Nook were also a blast. The Lightnings used to use Grimsby dock tower as their waypoint to landing. Met Chris Black (pilot and author) who told me that on occasion- just for the fun of it- they'd buzz the tower.
@tweeny556 жыл бұрын
We lived on a farm on the edge of the humber and my dad drove the combine,to this day he's convinced military jets used to practice target farm stuff on sunk.
@markrayton63856 жыл бұрын
Excellent. I spent some of the happiest days of my life up at Binbrook watching these. So sadly missed.
@trafficsnitch35053 жыл бұрын
5:10 That was how I remember Lightning take off at airshows as a child. Absolutely awesome flyovers of the crowd line
@vannessar323 жыл бұрын
I remember watching them at gaydon air displays. The Lightning would come down the runway at zero feet and go into a vertical climb until it disappeared from view, amazing..
@branofattrebates28473 жыл бұрын
@@vannessar32 absolutely the same at Greenham common with the phantom and starfighter. But Lightning tops them all . Its obvious jets are better now but for such a jet from the the 1950s perspective nothing else touched it . Sleek beautiful 50s futuristic design whats not to like .
@stevegreene9149 Жыл бұрын
Me too. It left an indelible mark on me seeing a Lightning go from horizontal to vertical so quickly and then seemingly accelerate vertically with full reheat on. As a teenager, it was the most awesome display of power I had ever seen!
@mikebusby14715 жыл бұрын
I went to Binbrook in the 70's for an ATC annual camp and was out flying in a Chipmunk parallel to the runway at I guess about a thousand feet when two Lightnings took off together with full reheat below. Awesome planes. A sight I won't forget.
@jeremylister895 жыл бұрын
Convinced these have more agility than modern fighters. Remember a display, slow pass then basically it just flipped vertical, seemed to be motionless over the runway and then just went up at tremenous speed with full power, full reheat ever faster until you could barely see it, a pinprick in the sky in about 40 seconds. Absolutely incredible. Similar to 5:25 on the footage, but a slower lower pass and more powerful climb. Shame HD cameras weren't around then..
@brianchester42185 жыл бұрын
Was at Binbrook 72 to 77 watched one of these bad boys scream across the runway then vertical clime gone in seconds awesome power
@britshop13 жыл бұрын
Worked on repairing the undercarriage to these bad boys.
@peteconrad20773 жыл бұрын
They can’t sustain the high alphas of some modern fighters, they really can’t. Also, the lightning had diabolical range and weapon capability.
@jeremylister893 жыл бұрын
@@peteconrad2077 yeah maybe.. it was a LONG time ago, but for a really ugly plane it was tremendous.
@sezziek16 жыл бұрын
Wowwwwww absolutely wonderful footage with gorgeous sound!, I SO wish we could have these still flying today! ❤️❤️❤️
@martinwilson26605 жыл бұрын
sezziek1 completely agree. My heart hurts a little bit knowing we’ll never get a chance to see something like this again. Sad
@mattbates68875 жыл бұрын
Yes those certainly were the glory days of airshows for sure with the Lightning flying, forever missed, a great iconic RAF British interceptor.
@johnstevenson17094 жыл бұрын
They're beautiful but the w were bloody out of date by this stage of the game. Would you ou really have wanted to face a mig 29 in a lightning
@cristinamorenolamin32175 жыл бұрын
Yes I remember going with my dad at a very early age to watch these babies. He flew them and was at RAF Binbrook, Got me forever fixated on aviation and I became a Tornado pilot. Happy days.Those RR Avon engines were a sound I will never forget.
@mattbates68875 жыл бұрын
Yes neither will I, happy days indeed.
@graycloud0575 жыл бұрын
Christine Lamin - I really love those Tornados! I was in the gulf war 1991, on the battleship Missouri. We were in port at Bahrain and out of no where these two Tornados flew over us quite low. I nearly pissed my breeches!
@mpoyart4 жыл бұрын
Those jets áre unforgetible!
@sichere4 жыл бұрын
The Tornado was originally envisaged as the replacement for the Canberra bomber but from design stage it became apparent that it would be able to perform many of the roles needed by the RAF. The P1 Lightnings were very different to the F6 and the Tornado took a lot of the design data from the P7 and TSR. On it's introduction the Tornado was labeled as being a Jack of all trades and not being very good at any of them but as with all newly introduced platforms once they reached squadron they ironed out a lot of the bugs to ensure that it was the master of one - Being the Jack of all trades. Despite it not being as fast as the Lightning or as good at low level as the Buccaneer it was never designed for those purposes but it became a fantastic all weather weapons platform. In the hands of skilled pilots it was flying Truck with sports car performance I witnessed Two Tonkas @ less than 100 ft going supersonic on an simulated bomb run of RAF Odiham - the second pilot was inverted !!!!
@donaldellis36093 жыл бұрын
Wonderful bit of kit 👍
@Midasfan7876 жыл бұрын
this brought back some great memories,my dad was based st binbook and had married quarters with my mam. These pictures brings it all back ,thanks
@edwardchivers34636 жыл бұрын
Some of my best memories from Binbrook 82-84. There is something magical about the Lightnings.
@gravydavy41885 жыл бұрын
7 Russian 'Bear' pilots disliked this video.
@paulgreen69803 жыл бұрын
and 14 yanks playing warthunder that think a phantom was faster!
@hank11ish6 жыл бұрын
I am so glad I was around to watch these magnificent beasts strut there stuff. Spent many many hours travelling between York and Binbrook ('87 to '88) to watch these bab es (The like of which we will NEVER see again AND it was all BRITISH)
@markbailey35085 жыл бұрын
Spent my last Air Cadet camp there in 1983 all week was spent with the linies on the flight line. Learning to fix lightning's at the the age of 16 was a fantastic experience
@ozzy82864 жыл бұрын
You must have been there about the same time as me. It was a brilliant camp and what an opportunity to get up close to the Lightnings. I was in 1271 Bathgate squadron.
@markbailey35084 жыл бұрын
@@ozzy8286 272 sqdn wisbech
@ozzy82864 жыл бұрын
@@markbailey3508 Happy days!
@binarybox.binarybox5 жыл бұрын
During my electronics training , I spent a few weeks at Strand Road, Preston and sat inside a Lightning. The cockpit was very nicely finished off and I learned all the controls. I then went to Salmsbury, Preston where they we made ready to fly over to Warton. I saw them having engine tests and taking off...I was told one tail did hit the ground when it went vertical...I can quite believe it...a fantastic aircraft.
@briannelson605419 күн бұрын
I was at RAF Laarbruch in the late sixties when it was announced that the RAF were to get Phantoms. Spangdahlem sent acouple of F4s to LBH for a "friendly" fly off to show off their prowess. Needless to say the Frightning tore them to shreds and, one occassion, following a F2A/F4 pairs takeoff the F2A was airborne and waiting for the F4 to get off the groumd before he called a guns kill (being a gentleman!). A USAF Colonel (smug git that he was) walked away in disgust muttering to himself. All his illusions about F4 superiority totally shattered. We still ended up with F4s. On a later "friendly" flyoff between RAF and USAF F4s I witnessed the same Colonel (now a Brigadier) walk off muttering again after a 6 nil defeat by the RAF. Oh dear, how sad,never mind!
@neilpearson4887 Жыл бұрын
I can just about remember seeing them at Binbrook, when I was growing up, Me and my brother would sit and watch this in the seventies! Happy Days!!
@isthereanybodyoutthere93975 жыл бұрын
Beautiful and deadly and bloody quick! I was lucky to witness a supersonic flypast (Booommmm!!!) by one of these at Biggin Hill Airshow when I was a child. They will always give me goosebumps!
@kevinpierce34584 жыл бұрын
EE Lightning’s and the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds ❤️
@patlee65 жыл бұрын
The days when we had a real Air Force.
@alantoms32633 жыл бұрын
Fantastic footage - just 'found' this now. Pity it wasn't HD, but the content is superb. Thanks for sharing. Al.
@martinwilson26606 жыл бұрын
Great bit of footage. Thanks for posting!
@trevordixon40176 жыл бұрын
Lovely plane brings back memories sitting in that plane was awesome
@deecamp85515 жыл бұрын
I was very lucky being in Air Traffic, i was often out on the runway, waiting for it to clear, so saw these take-offs very often- just another part of my day
@3204clivesinclair5 жыл бұрын
Days gone by when the thought of ‘training costs’ wasn’t even considered.
@simonsimon2888 Жыл бұрын
Truly 'a master-piece' in the history of aviations. 'Catch me if you can'...lead you horizontally with a sudden vertical 'up-thrust'.
@tonywright82943 ай бұрын
The lightning growl ,superb !
@chrisgilbert43755 жыл бұрын
I went to this show named "The Last Lightning Show" as a 9 year old boy. I remember the sheer gut-wrenching power of the engines as it climbed vertically. What a plane.
@mandh144 жыл бұрын
Absolutely tipped it downed all day but still flew the diamond 9 and 2 solo F3 displays!
@truthseeker72423 жыл бұрын
@@mandh14 - Yes, I was there as well - regarding the Diamond 9, I recall the guy in the control tower commenting "Eat your hearts out Red Arrows!"
@tonyguest974411 ай бұрын
This was a daily scene at RAF Akrotiri in the late 60's early 70's. My father was a Sqd Ldr Doctor at the RAF Hospital and we were lucky to see the Lightning's and many visiting aircraft.
@ThePorridgeGobbler3 жыл бұрын
When I was on Phantoms @ RAF Leuchars in the early 80's as young L Tech AC J/T I had a secondary role of Lightning OTR Man F and they would fly in off the North Sea to be re-armed and fuelled and take off again within 1/2 hour, watching them do a combat takeoff was awesome as they went vertical, afterwards the Stn Commander would award us with a barrel of beer in the Sports and Social Club in the evening. Happy Days.
@curiouslarry69335 жыл бұрын
I saw the last [very tight and low] Diamond 9 formation achieved by Lightnings at Binbrook - it was the last Air Display Day there, the weather was lousy with a very low cloud base - the guy in the tower's comment was, "Eat your hearts out, Red Arrows!" A great, if short on legs, aircraft with ballsy pilots. A former test pilot I knew who had flown many types, including US and Soviet, said it was his favourite aircraft for speed, acceleration, and climb.
@rupertchandler3 жыл бұрын
I love em.. Very special.. Used to be the absolute highlight of the air display at Greenham.. Wait ALL day for the big beast to do its display..
@cerij42425 жыл бұрын
When I was a kid my father ex RAF always took me to RAF St Athan every time these did the vertical I had my hands over my ears hoping my innards wouldn't drop out the feeling though frightening at the time was incredible.
@jameskirk5782 жыл бұрын
Imagine being a liney on them! Bet the pan trash never got to finish a cup of NAAFI instant brown chicory between see off and see in. A fine display of the magnifcent dedication of gentlemen groundcrew.
@ericdenyer42935 жыл бұрын
This was REAL POWER I believe the only jet of its time to achieve this kind of vertical speed " amazing "
@evilelf59679 ай бұрын
40 odd years ago i had the fortune to not only get to steer a 4,000 gallon bitumen tanker delivering to binbrook down the runway,but also got to climb aboard a decomissioned lightning,no engines just the airframe.a giant tube with wings, never forget that day nor the lightning.
@bodieofci54185 жыл бұрын
I just remember them flying up and down the coast past Mablethorpe and Skegness. Happy days.
@truthseeker72423 жыл бұрын
bodie of ci5 - Not forgetting the AA Bloodhound 2s pointed seawards at RAF North Coats
@paulpalmtree92953 жыл бұрын
What an amazing aircraft, I just love it.
@marjoriebacon3764 жыл бұрын
This is a real jet that was a joy to see when we had areal Air Force
@adiedonoghue15 жыл бұрын
1 x Twin Rocket 1x cockpit & a mad pilot 2x wings strapped on The Lightning lol.....AWESOME
@phillipneal92895 жыл бұрын
Such an iconic and fabulous aircraft
@TheClareybrown611706 жыл бұрын
Pure bliss!!! Nothing like it now.Probably never will be..............
@johnstill14515 жыл бұрын
Right on, Steve...I have some amazing footage from Farnborough 1967...I think. After- burner blow out, with a black stormy sky in the back ground! The Lightning was my favourite plane, EVER!! Caught up with one art RAF Duxford...in 2004 and 2013...I'm in Australia now, so don't get too many chances to see this awesome airplane...
@johndavid5618 Жыл бұрын
"Truely epic till this day.
@craigmoloney44863 ай бұрын
Reminds me of when the RAAF retired our F111s Mothballed airframes used for parts sitting there
@eddiefinney85093 жыл бұрын
Fantastic iconic plane best ever thanks for shAring the video.
@andyhinds5422 жыл бұрын
Just watching that really gave me goose bumps!
@myleschilton34735 жыл бұрын
Poor guys sitting there watching their fuel gauges plummet
@Adrian-jk4kx3 жыл бұрын
120 Litres.....per min at low level. Thirsty............imagine seeing none of these in 1966! Fantastic
@genefortney9133 Жыл бұрын
Fantastic aircraft!!
@buttonworld77 Жыл бұрын
That snap transition is pretty spectacular. Pulling some G there I imagine.
@petyrkowalski98874 жыл бұрын
I think the Lightning still holds the record for the greatest rate of climb. A true rocketship.
@laurencethornblade11953 жыл бұрын
No
@petyrkowalski98873 жыл бұрын
What does then?
@nigeh53263 жыл бұрын
The F15 can climb at an initial 67,250 feet per minute from sea level. A few others are also faster than the Lightning. In its day the Lightning was amazing but that day is long past 😔
@jockwood23983 жыл бұрын
@@nigeh5326 true, many modern jets have a higher initial rate of climb, however i believe that the lightning still has the record for sustained rate of climb
@sichere Жыл бұрын
@@nigeh5326 That's a highly modified F15 and not a fully combat ready operational aircraft with full load - totally different beats. The EEL would get to 30,000 ft from standing in 120 seconds.
@astral276 Жыл бұрын
5:28 That transition must reposition every organ in your body.
@stephenrice45543 жыл бұрын
I remember them flying over the R A E Farnborough and being always impressed
@rooramblingon8954 жыл бұрын
That noise...that climb-rate! WOW
@simonsimon2888 Жыл бұрын
Four streaks of lightnings across the sky with the loudest ear-deafening claps of thunder.." when shall we meet again...in thunder, lightning or in rain".
@dhakaboy12 жыл бұрын
Like many British aircraft, this was a magnificent piece of aeronautical engineering, with amazing performance statistics. but alas, a fuel guzzler with a limited combat radius. Kinda like the Concorde and the A380 if I may add. But, I am proud of the Lightning and love the vertical 'get-aways !!!
@eatthisvr66 жыл бұрын
5:15 !!!! wow
@ianjackson75152 жыл бұрын
That was a busy day !!! - end of their time so they just kept using-up the airframe hours. Best from NZ.
@xyzaero Жыл бұрын
The Lightning is unexpectedly maneuverable 🤩
@cryptohunt25526 жыл бұрын
Brilliant!
@suepenny52233 жыл бұрын
Love this beast, so sad never got to see one fly 😭😭😭😭
@distortedreality46034 жыл бұрын
Great video! Brings back memories of going to Finningly airshow as a young lad, loved the Lightning! It did have genuinely blistering performance for it's time, however there's a lot of comments here suggesting that nothing can beat it in a climb ect, the Typhoon beats it hands down! That's not taking anything away from the Lightning
@stanleybuchan46103 жыл бұрын
The Lightning was designed in the 50's, so don't praise a European mash up please.
@distortedreality46033 жыл бұрын
@@stanleybuchan4610 Think you need to read my comment properly
@tommoseley92623 жыл бұрын
Spent many a weekend at crash gate 3. My dad was an engineer for 11 (Mucky Ducks) Squadron
@lesthiele49212 жыл бұрын
Why can't the RAF still have one or two still flying? as part of a memorial flight, similar to the BOB Memorial flight. Hey just a thought and a question.
@claudemarchand1196 Жыл бұрын
I miss these birds so much. I have cry almost every day since they retired these gems shame on Art. b. schworst for that bad move.these babies could have protected the empire for another half century by jove !!!
@raycarter60372 жыл бұрын
Wonderful video 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
@texhow16 жыл бұрын
Two went vertical at the center of the Runway after arriving from each end at a Woodford Airshow outside Manchester.
@shaunwalker2557 Жыл бұрын
i think it was about 1963 when i was 6 that i got to sit in a ENGLISH Electric Lightning at an air show..
@Pedro8k8 ай бұрын
It was a one man rocket with wings I remember it as a kid going over similar to the vulcan
@nervo63212 жыл бұрын
2022 still breathtaking
@noodles1694 жыл бұрын
Nothing is gonna beat one of these badboys in a dragrace to the clouds
@distortedreality46034 жыл бұрын
Typhoon 😉
@Biffo12625 жыл бұрын
These monsters still make my chest flutter every time I see one. There has been nothing like them before or since. Yanks eat your heart out!
@darrenwood11016 жыл бұрын
what were the 4 you see on left as they take off spares?
@leemingmerlin5 жыл бұрын
They are/were decoys to attract attacking aircraft!
@Radio4783 жыл бұрын
The best of British
@iannoble47275 жыл бұрын
Saw one at greenham Common, and lots more1978 ish?!!!
@Gez4925 жыл бұрын
Wow great footage, you really get a true impression of the sheer power of this amazing aircraft. Still can't be beaten for climb rate and the ceiling was classified but many have suggested over 60,000ft. So much power to weight! Wasn't it the only fighter capable of catching Concorde but none could stay with speedbird for long as the fighters were on reheat most of the time. Two sublime aircraft though.
@distortedreality46034 жыл бұрын
Lightning had a fantastic climb rate and was excellent in it's day but the Typhoon beats it
@terrysmit46293 жыл бұрын
After another 40 years of fighter development, this is hardly surprising !@@distortedreality4603
@distortedreality46033 жыл бұрын
@@terrysmit4629 That's true, and I'm not taking anything away from the Lightning, it's just there's a lot of comments saying nothing can beat it's performance, nothing comes close ect ect. 👍
@teamdarkhorse11 ай бұрын
@distortedreality4603 it woild be interesting to know where the tsr2 features in the performance stakes, i watched a documentary featuring roland beamont ( tsr2 test pilot) who stated that would leave the lightning on one engine in the day, yhere was a sad story of politics ruining another great piece of british aviation history
@teamdarkhorse11 ай бұрын
kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYnHe6ugq7aNjZY
@KeplersConjecture3 жыл бұрын
"Like a bullet out of a gun" was how pilots described taking off in the Lightning.
@danhunt9926 ай бұрын
Fly- bys are real good!
@urmo3455 жыл бұрын
Altitude, Speed, Maneuver, Fire - Pokryshkin formula. This plane fulfilled at least two: altitude and speed. It could out climb anything
@clintfalk5 жыл бұрын
But, did it ever shoot anything down?
@gravydavy41885 жыл бұрын
@@clintfalk it didn't have to, it was ready if it was needed.
@trespire5 жыл бұрын
The way these Lightnings accelerate down the runway is insane. I don't think any other jet can match it in power to weigh.
@@All_Noing Maybe but watch this kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnXHhqp_na5gkKM These figures may be correct but it doesn't reflect reality
@sichere Жыл бұрын
@@All_Noing That's the TWR of early F6 EEL's with the Avon 301 engines - By the 1970's they had Avon 302r's that produced over 25% more thrust.
@Radio4783 жыл бұрын
I worked for EE Bae, we were the best
@NIGUAVIUS950 Жыл бұрын
Fast boi
@simonpeart7981 Жыл бұрын
They’re 11Sqn Lightnings, they fly Typhoons from Coningsby now
@charliehmi766 жыл бұрын
The Lightning’s had ridiculous performance
@robertpowell563911 ай бұрын
I was there right at the end on ASF, wonder what C/T Chris Story is doing now ?
@The_BIG_salad6 ай бұрын
Holy climb rate batman
@waiotahi523 жыл бұрын
Lovely...
@andywilliams949 Жыл бұрын
A fuel critical Beast like the lightning has to taxi two miles before it gets to the runway.then they soak on the runway waiting for clearance to take off doesn't make any sense.ive never seen F15 waiting.i love this aircraft though the best of ( British ) engineering what a beast
@paulboyle68578 ай бұрын
And the Lightening was doing this in 1960! So much for the Eurofighter?
@nickclements16832 жыл бұрын
Don’t forget chaps, one of the few a/c types that have successfully intercepted a U 2.👍
@sichere Жыл бұрын
And SR71
@DirectDemocrat11 ай бұрын
Fabulous! Binbrook is no longer though
@rgadave5 жыл бұрын
As one pilot said "Now you know what the wings are for..........to separate the navigation lights" !.
@shanedavis91665 жыл бұрын
Proper jets :)
@buy.to.let.britain6 ай бұрын
the pilots called them frightnings due to the speed the fuel would disappear. *which was 1ltr per minute and 1.2ltr per minute afterburner.