English Electric Lightning | with Dennis Brooks *EXTRAS*

Dennis Brooks chats about flying the English Electric Lightning during his RAF career that includes explaining the different marks and also sharing some eventful stories.
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[@ozzy8286]

As an air cadet I attended an annual camp at RAF Binbrook I think in 1983 or 84. The Lightnings were still operational then and it was quite an experience to watch these beasts nose up at the end of the runway and climb vertical and disappear in seconds. Absolutely phenomenal performance. A very special aircraft .

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Those take offs are never forgotten!

[@kelvinware875]

@@robertp.wainman4094 Denis was my boss back at Binbrook. We are also working to allow other people to experience the sight and sound of these take offs. Check out this site lightning422.com/.

[@robertp.wainman4094]

@@kelvinware875 Thanks for that - would be wonderful to see a Lightning take to the skies once more!

[@colinmiller5502]

I was the driver of the crash ambulance at Wattisham when the 3 bird incident happened, won't ever forget that day.

[@ianmangham4570]

🤟🇬🇧🙏

[@bigbill74scots]

Love listening to Dennis. What a career and what a character!

[@mickboakes7023]

What a lovely bloke. Could listen to him for ages. As far as I’m concerned Frightning, sorry Lightning pilots had to be a little bit special . All the best to one and all. Regards Mick🇬🇧

[@andrew_koala2974]

There were and remain special - even for us Vulcan pilots - we would hold them in high esteem - and would welcome them when they occasionally flew into RAF WADDINGTON and RAF COTTESMORE It was decades ago - and seems like only yesterday We were much younger then. Time passes quickly 01:13 -- SYSTON is in Leicestershire -- and close to my home City of Leicester My late mother was a Aircraft QC inspector. After migrating to AU - she found work at a Machine tool Manufacturer - Where they never saw a woman who could read a micrometer -- and in those days there was no such instrument as a DIGITAL micrometer. My mother was paid the same wage as the Men - in an age where Women were paid two thirds of what a Man was paid -- My mother went on to training other WoMen as QC inspectors - What they weer paid I do not know - though I expect that they were paid below the wage of Men -

[@paulcousins1168]

My old boss Sqn Ldr E Jones RAF. Was a Lightnig pilot in the Display team a real gentleman RIP.

[@bjjace1]

I did the Patreon thing. Should’ve done it sooner. This channel is more genuine than anything the History Channel produces.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Wow thank you very much and thank you for the very kind words!

[@alanmccormick3583]

As 29 Sqdn groundcrew, I saw the 3 bird incident. As a witness, I had to attend the Board of Enquiry. They just asked if it was burning when I saw it as they were trying to find out when it caught fire. Whilst I was waiting to go in, some 111 Sqdn ground crew who were also waiting to go in also the pilot. The asked him why he didn't eject. He replied that had he let the controla boxgo to fire the seat, the aircraft would have cartwheel so he had to ride it out. I think he had to change his underpants afterward! Truly a frightening sight.p

[@nervo6321]

Great interview with a very humble but obviously very special man...

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers

[@paulholyoak5436]

Looking at me now, how on earth did I slide into those intakes to do A/F'S & B/F's?

[@beagle7622]

“ Very Unforgiving Instructors” ! It surprises me that the Air Force has any pilots at all .

[@gazza2933]

I have found through my own experiences, working with military aircrew and here listening to Dennis,most of these guys are extremely modest. Very interesting interview, thank you.

[@theralphster8492]

So jealous, almost 2,000 hours, clearly a very competent pilot...

[@davidgrainger3431]

I remember doing starter crew for Dennis a few times while on111 squadron always a gentleman, i also remember both of the incidents he referred to and we were all pretty sure that things might not have gone so well with the 3 ship incident if it had been anyone else at no 3. He had a nickname amongst the ground crew at the time as the Steely eyed killer as nothing ever seemed to faze him and i think he proved it that day. Thanks very much for the interview and the chance to hear from the man himself.

[@angusmcangus7914]

I flew with Dennis when he was a Tornado QFI and I was doing my Tornado conversion at TTTE in 1982. Good man. I last saw him at a Tornado aircrew reunion bash earlier in 2019.

[@user-vs4it9rk8x]

What a cool aircraft! I love aircraft with nose intakes, there seems to be a certain charm with them...

[@brianbridle951]

Understated as usual Dennis. It Was spectacular, you rolled 360 starboard (longitudinal) still with wheels down before getting upright again before picking everything up to climb away. Your second was also with me on duty.

[@Scoobydcs]

Oooo more light ing interviews pretty please

[@arthurbaldwin1804]

The dream of every boy of my generation was to fly one of these. British engineering at it best they would scream overhead and go into a almost vertical climb. Even all these years later I become a boy again when I see these beautiful planes flying.

[@jackgambino2687]

Had a very chance flight with Dennis in a Grob at Cranwell whilst on a course there. Brilliant human being. Aerobatics over Grantham, good company, personable and professional. True gent.

[@andyhargreaves5329]

What an interesting chap. Thanks for posting

[@chaz01br]

First aircraft I can remember seeing. RAF Finningley 1981

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Me too - breaking the sound barrier over the hangars - until they stopped that sort of thing!

[@iancarnell5020]

Typical highly capable and modest chap.

[@Pedro8k]

I remember the lightning flying from RAF binbrook many moons ago I had a uncle who was an engineer and worked on them

[@Pedro8k]

Was an amazing aircraft

[@nevbird6510]

Strapped him in many a time both at Raf Honington and Raf Bruggen what a Gent

[@zumwild]

Brilliant channel. Keep it up! More Lightning stuff please for a new subscriber!

[@TonyKitchen471]

Great tales

[@kevinshettle8965]

wow I was in the RAF with these things...and others like the Vulcan's that the N bombs onboard...scary, but we look back in the past with a kind of glory.....these aircraft would fuck you up ...wow They where there to show a strengh to the Russians.....but now we have lost are Balls....What an aircraft...I was stationed at RAF Binbrook in the cold war....most people did not understand what was realy going on ......these aircraft where always ready for a fight .....and now we don't have the taste for it .....some times the need of a few should out shine the need of mass. How sad.

[@publicmail2]

A little like a British James Whitmore

[@Scoobydcs]

Dcs needs the lightning

[@grahamjordan1040]

People make such a fuss about flying the lightning I found it easy

[@Geoff-m7j]

I doubt you would even know what a lightning was.

[@grahamjordan1040]

@@Geoff-m7j is actually not was

[@Pinzpilot101]

Really pisses me off is that...Turkish Invasion..UK doesn't want to look agressive so moves it's best air asset back to UK??? US U2 still do regular sorties from Akrotiri??? Hmmmmm.

[@buchanjay]

FELL ASLEEP

[@Geoff-m7j]

Why bother watching then.?

[@Geoff-m7j]

Tell someone who cares.

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

Delete all of the "um"s, and the clip would last for less than a minute!

[@Geoff-m7j]

Why don’t you do a video then and show us how to do it?