1988 Mildenhall Lightnings

Back in 1988 we saw the last two Lightnings leave at the end of the show a sight and sound never forgotten!........

[@michaelcousins3188]

I was there,the Mildenhall airshows were amazing.Hours of non stop flying,the smell of the burgers being cooked and cans of american beer and coke being cooled in large 205lt barrels of water and ice.What wonderful days.

[@shaunwild8797]

It's a shame it all ended.

[@norwichnorfolk1584]

Great times spent there seems a long time ago now… they knew how to put on a show

[@alanlake5220]

Yes I can remember the burgers being cooked in Beer

[@michaelwalsh7846]

I was there , end of the day they flew low and high and loud!

[@richardmarshall4322]

I remember them well from '76. The 75 show was at nearby Lakenheath. Last show i did was 1990. No Lightning😢.

[@nervo6321]

30 years old then and still tearing the sky apart.....

[@davidskillen4424]

Remember this as if it were yesterday, Lightnings, burgers, Roger Hoeflings superb commentary, Mildenhall Air Fete at its superlative best

[@daviddrummond9277]

I was there that day and they flew at the end of the day. Never forgotten and totally unique. Only us Brits could have bulilt the Lightning. We were so lucky to see them and it was also my last Air Show once they retired.

[@rhurbstafalcon4807]

Well....I was in the ATC as a kid and went to an airshow with the rest of the lads in our sqdn.....we were all enjoying it immensely and chatting away over who was impressed with what up until that point...... It was however at this juncture that whilst talking away I'd somehow missed the Lightening being introduced for it's display...suffice to say he came barreling across the airfield and I (if you will excuse the description) nearly shit myself as he howled over our heads.....by the time I'd recovered my composure ( thankfully it was a wonderful day ....sunny clear skies)...he was at about 20,000 ft.....heaters ablaze...and climbing like a homesick angel)....my God was I proud to be British.....got lump in my throat just writing this and thinking about it..... Meanwhile as successive governments send us down the toilet....!!

[@barrytaylor6565]

well said mate, I have similar memories with bith the LIghtenings and a flight if 4 Vulcans from RAF Gaydon, good times never to be forgotten.

[@stealthych]

can you imagine being lucky enough to be posted to a lightning unit in the 70s and 80s and going to work every day with a massive grin on your face

[@marktrevett881]

stealthych - I WAS 'lucky' enough to be posted to Binbrook in 1983 straight from training and from the moment I was told where I was going, I was shitting myself! - it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Yes, it had its moments like everywhere else but the station was out in the middle of nowhere in the Lincolnshire Wolds, most of the time it was freezing cold, the rest of the time it was winter! Two pubs (at the time, now only one) in the nearby village, both were a bit, well, you know, 'Lincolnshire' ('ere, get orf moi laaand!). And that was about it really, nothing much else to do of an evening with a wad of cash in your pocket and being single... But a massive grin? Noooo, not at all. A grimace more like as you trudged to work at 7am from your accommodation block in 3 foot snowdrifts and a wind chill factor of -10 degrees - and that was April. Seriously! I remember the runway being blocked once with snow one Easter (possibly 1984/5) and my parents who lived in Devon at the time were sat in their garden getting a suntan, I later learned! I was there until the place closed in July 1988 and having been there nearly 5 years, watching the gradual drawdown of the fleet, the departures to other stations for fire training airframes, the stripping of aircraft of all their spares and equipment after being flying less than 24 hours earlier, it was quite sad in the end to see the effective scrapping of this country's military assets and by association, its magnificent aerospace industry, experience and skills. We'll never see the likes of those days ever again. Give me a time machine and I'd set it on repeat loop from 1983 to 88!

[@Doves96]

Mark Trevett good post mate

[@howardsix9708]

and a bus to grimsby every day 4 the families........

[@comeonset]

Not sure i could have stood up straight without standing to attention

[@malcolmosborne6765]

Must have been he'll of A Buss for lads who flew em on take off, im76 never forgotten the shows at Leconfield vertical climb and noise fantastic

[@markmackay6439]

I was 23 and this was my first air show, remember all the car alarms going off, fantastic memories seeing the lightening's leave, also the SR-71A Blackbird.

[@tonyguest9744]

I was at RAF Akrotiri in the late 60's and the EE Lightning was a regular visitor fitted with overwing ferry tanks. Nos 54/76/111 Sqds spring to mind. The 90° climb after rotation was always a joy to see - Happy days.

[@neilrobinson5115]

I was there too,I was 18,loved the lightning,air shows are crap now

[@thomashumber9762]

We are from same generation. I first saw Lightnings at Coltishall in 70s as a boy. Yep it is all crap now....so so bloody sad we aint great anymore as a country.

[@Simonize41]

I was there and I remember it like it was yesterday. Oddly I was only looking at my slides of their departure a couple of days ago. Best aircraft, ever!

[@Radio478]

Nothing like it and it's 2022

[@nervo6321]

As old as they were then, could still take your breath away....

[@commandingjudgedredd1841]

Oh aye. Saw the one at Hendon in 2012. Though just a static jet, it still exudes a certain charm.

[@billbonnington7916]

was there, weather was not good, low cloud, one second they were there on the low level high speed pass, then they were gone forever - my all time favourite

[@Radio478]

"You can't beat this "

[@ianwalker6453]

Wow what a blast from the past....they were just awesome! British Engineering!

[@mktm1290]

Would love to have seen one fly!!! So wish I was born 10 years earlier! Airshows are crap now!

[@kevinhoughton9134]

I attended air shows religiously until 11 years ago, they just aren't worth going to now! Red Arrows, Typhoon, a couple of visitors from overseas and that's it, and the entry price is ridiculous now.

[@_chipchip]

Come to Avalon airshow in Melbourne. It's amazing!

[@jamesmulligan7413]

@@kevinhoughton9134 prolly going to the wrong ones

[@kevinhoughton9134]

@@jamesmulligan7413 Hi James, can you recommend any please?

[@jamesmulligan7413]

@@kevinhoughton9134 because of covid I'm not 100% if it will run, but riat is normally good

[@mikeb4432]

These videos are fantastic i was at many of these shows brillant memories thanks for these uploads awesome stuff.

[@james78ish]

I was 10 years old on my brothers shoulders! i was that kid in the sweet shop .. Great days great memorys.

[@gdrums7733]

I heard that one took off and didn’t stop until it reached Skylab and then shot it down. 😂😂😂

[@tech4pros1]

Launching an anti-satellite weapon would be well within the Lightning's capabilities.. it could reach 80,000ft

[@Echo-of-the-MessiYAH-316]

MAN THAT GIRL CAN CLIMB…YEEEEHAAW! Cheers! F-14 lover from America!!!

[@thomashumber9762]

Most exciting plane I ever saw at an Air show!

[@Radio478]

Feet off the ground, perfect

[@keithwaites9991]

The sight of a Lightening sitting on its tail pipes...over 30.000ft in less than 2 minutes. .

[@Radio478]

Lightning the best ever aircraft in the world

[@danrkelly]

Almost no one wearing a hat, baseball cap or otherwise. Looks more like 1978 than 88. Thanks for sharing.

[@Radio478]

The best ever

[@donweigel6337]

Saw them at Finningley air show fantastic think some of today's aircraft couldn't catch it

[@steveashforth5097]

RAF Binbrook, 11 Sqn was my first posting after trade training at RAF Halton. Working on the Lightning was my best time ever in the RAF. In my career I had the pleasure of working on three of the most iconic Cold War aircraft: The Lightning, the Phantom & the Victor. Three aircraft I'm very pleased to have on my C.V.

[@kevinmcfadden7205]

Used 2 make the 'afterburners' for them in the 70's/80's at rolls-royce mountsorrel leices now a housing estate!

[@kooperativekrohn819]

British terms ‘reheat’ i believe

[@tonyguest9744]

We made the Avons at RR Derby before the Spey came on line. The Avon build moved to RR East Kilbride in Scotland we concentrated on the Spey 101 / 202 and 250 for the Buccaneer, Phantom and Nimrod.

[@mikehill3076]

I was ground crew on 74 sqd. from 1963 -1966 and actually flew in T4 at Leuchars

[@rhurbstafalcon4807]

I dare bet your still wearing the grin...👍🏻

[@tonyguest9744]

We used to get 56/74 and 111 Sqds out in RAF Akrotiri in the late 60's on detachment. The take off was a regular sight, the Lightnings disappearing into the lovely blue sky.

[@bill8784]

Amazing, going vertical. I went to the Mildenhall show from memory 1986 and 1989. I was also lucky enough to go up in a Lightning a few years before having watched them as a child screaming over my parents’ married quarter.

[@nelsonwhaley6348]

The Lightning and Vulcan..much missed.

[@Radio478]

Amazing 👏

[@dandonovan4999]

While in ATC on camp at 16 yrs old at Gütersloh, I was fortunate to see a lighting scramble at close quarters... A lasting memory, I loved this aircraft only second to a spitfire...

[@adiedonoghue1]

Take a rocket....strap on some wings The Frightning!!

[@ianstewartaviation2634]

Remember it well can't believe it was 30 yrs ago I was 35!!!!

[@Radio478]

Last of the best

[@77Stringer]

Best day out as a kid. Period 👍

[@smoothieblues]

I was 18 then and can't believe it's 30 years ago😐

[@neilmchardy9061]

My band mate was at raf guttersloh in Germany in the early seventies he was lac radio opps. They used to have scrambles where they launched in a vick of four and climbed out at an incredible angle and speed. He told me they reached Mach 1 climbing up to 40,000 in literally minutes.

[@79byob]

vick ?

[@neilmchardy9061]

@@79byob vee formation

[@doogleticker5183]

So...unique!! Just wow.

[@ericdenyer4293]

This was an awesome aircraft, in my opinion " before it's time "

[@TR6Telos]

I was there, I think this was about 5pm, there were ladders to the cockpit to take a look and it's a very small space.

[@harryo6126]

The way the just go up vertical is so intimidating.

[@KrisRamJ]

That was the last time I saw a Lightning fly - looking at my photos I must have been standing a few feet away from you

[@tedliddiment5448]

Thank you thank you thank you for posting this! I was there as a young lad! Cheers!

[@trevordixon4017]

I was at binbrook when 5 squadron was there what a sight this aircraft was what's append to this country

[@dodibenabba1378]

What's "happened" to the spelling in this country Trev!! 😉

[@kevinpierce3458]

Append? I rest my case

[@marcayres8635]

Ahh 11 squadron :) was a kid living in RAF Binbrook when they were based there in the 80's such a fabulous aircraft

[@rovercoupe7104]

Lovely, thank you. M.

[@Sterlingjob]

That’s a fucking rapid machine!

[@chrismorin6663]

One of the last true gun fighters...

[@aaronhughes4724]

I was there and witnessed this. It was a sunday and they were meant to go home on the monday but they left near the end of the show . Can believe its 30 years ago

[@Spizzoid]

If I remember correctly the show itself had finished but the commentator said if anyone wanted to wait on for a while the Lightnings would be departing. Not many left the airfield. Of course after 30 years my memory may have failed me :-)

[@martinsmith8463]

@@Spizzoid Yes that's what happened, they weren't supposed to fly when the crowd was there.

[@IVFlaviaFelix]

Jeezus that's a mighty trip down memory lane..there are only two things I remember from that day... the Lightnings and Roll Cloud and haven't seen either since!

[@billbonnington7916]

I remember that cloud, quite spectacular...

[@BriggCoupe]

Ian Black in the F6 XR754 what a departure

[@xr770a]

Thankyou for posting....amazing !!!

[@riggers6214]

Obviously one of many Airshows, not just at RAF (USAF) Mildenhall, but like at MANY of the RAF bases around the UK back in the day, when we actually had a wide range of aircraft to display - alongside our NATO allies who would visit and display their aircraft too. What have we got today? A stately hall in Yorkshire!

[@ibanez856]

My grandad used to fly these, what a thrill!

[@kevinpierce3458]

Drive?

[@malcolmosborne6765]

Late 1960 lightenings Station Leconfield East Yorks ,only 14 mls from my home Hornsea display over the sea every day ,fantastic plane ,a rocket with wings

[@ibanez856]

@@malcolmosborne6765 wow!

[@Radio478]

Wheels up almost instantly

[@TheClareybrown61170]

Just the VERY BEST

[@Radio478]

Best in the world

[@Radio478]

I was there

[@markwheatley3265]

The lightning is still an impressive aircraft can out run today's modern warplanes

[@markdennis4257]

What was the inevitable question?

[@mlwise24]

RAF Mildenhall?

[@Radio478]

Yep 6ft above ground wheels up

[@bethankm]

This is amazing! Do you have an email address I can contact for a media enquiry?

[@Radio478]

Off at 12 ft wheels up

[@trevordixon4017]

As it happens

[@Radio478]

Climb out, yer that's uk on top

[@Radio478]

No f35 or anything

[@pwareham61]

Just a blur, they were that fast, it would give any plane a run for its money.

[@mikelightowlers6594]

0-40000 75 sec

[@brain8484]

I see myself and my gf in this video

[@andywilliams949]

Britain makes what these days. let me see this might take a while to answer

[@Radio478]

Out performances of f 15, yet 40 years earlier

[@larsfillmore4765]

What a loss to British aviation

[@habibasqah5184]

Will burn a hill of fuel in that takeoff

[@trevordixon4017]

Sorry mate you can’t win them all