Interview with Ian Black on the Lightning

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Ian Black talks about flying the Lightning, Tornado F3, Mirage 2000 and being a nav on the F-4 Phantom. He tells some great personal stories as well as talking about each of the types.
As well as his flying career he also chats about his books and being a photographer.
Thanks to Gatwick Aviation Museum for hosting us and allowing us to film with their aircraft.
www.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk
www.firestreakbooks.com
Thanks for watching and please subscribe:
www.aircrewinterview
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Snapchat: aircrewtv

[@Penguinracer]

Ian has captured so many remarkable aviation images which would otherwise have been lost to history. His body of work will be a valuable legacy for future generations of aviation historians and enthusiasts. He has ultimately and successfully enjoyed and combined both the careers he always wanted.

[@meertenwelleman4600]

Ian Black is a very honest person, and it is great to see he now devotes his life to create books about his aviation life and talk about it aswell, which is rather unique.

[@gdfggggg]

He’s done exceptionally well in the field of aviation and given that he wasn’t academically gifted it makes it even more of an accomplishment. Kudos to this chap!

[@phmwu7368]

Up to the 1980s, jet pilots could be NCO... but nowadays all jet pilots are Officers...

[@darrenmcdermott8849]

😅😢🎉😢🎉😮🎉 😅😅😢😅😢o o😅ie😅ooyo😅🎉😅😅ieet🎉😅😮wyi😅😮😂😂😮🎉😅😢🎉😢🎉❤😢😂😢😢😮😮😢😂❤😅ujtte😢🎉😅😢🎉uitieohiy😮😂😮i😅😢🎉🎉it’s😅😅oooo😅🎉uyrr we😂😂wt😮😂😮😢😢😢🎉😢😢😂🎉😂😢😂😅😂❤😅❤oettere😢😂😅😢😂😂😮😢😂koipyyyu😮😅🎉😢😢Odysseus😢😅😅😅😅iotoyoo😮io o😅😅oitotoot I’m uo😢itiooioooo Lo iroy😮😅😂eoororkoooyoooo I’m😅😅😅🎉😂😢😅😅😅😅😅😅ooetiiooouioiyio o😅😅rloo😊t🎉😊😢😮😢uo ooooo uo😅o🎉🎉😢🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😢😢u🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😅😮😮😮i😅🎉😂😮😅😢😅😅😂😮😢😮😂😢😂tu😅u🎉🎉🎉🎉😢😅🎉😢🎉🎉🎉🎉😂😮🎉😂😂🎉😂u😮😮😅😮u😂y🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😂😊😢🎉😢😮😂😢😂😂😢😂😂😂🎉🎉❤🎉😢😅u😂😂😂😂😂😮😂e🎉r😢😢

[@darrenmcdermott8849]

@@phmwu7368 😢😢😅e😢ruuwuu Iur😮😂r❤😅y😢🎉😢😢😮😮🎉😮😅😮😅hi😂😮😮🎉🎉😮😮🎉😮😮😮😂yi🎉😢😮🎉😊😮😮😢😂😂😢rirttof it😅😮😮😂🎉😂😂😂😢😅🎉😮😅😮🎉😂🎉😮aweeet et😮🎉🎉😮😅🎉😅🎉😮😢😢😊😅😮we at😮😮😊our I yeeyo😂😮😮😮😢😮🎉🎉😢😅😮😅😮uuyueu😂u😢😢😅😢sy😅😢😢😮😢😂🎉

[@Bobsnobuilder]

Thank you Ian, I enjoyed that. You have had a great career, so fortunate and accomplished! I am ex 5 Sqn Binbrook (Sooty Chief) and have “Lightning, The Manual” in front of me as I write!

[@dnally7864]

This is the best interview I have ever watched. He is so modest and unassuming a credit to our Air Force. He is totally different to what I thought a fast jet pilot would be. He admits he wasn't t academic so he achieved success in flying thru hard work. This video should be set viewing for anyone who worries about self doubting their abilities in any field. He would make a good teacher or motivator. He strikes me as a man who wouldn't t bark or bellow but bring young employees on by building up their confidence. He sounds so modest if you engaged him in conversation at a bus stop not knowing who he was you not have any idea of what he does.

[@colrobertson]

Ian mentioned Chris Allen at the end, which sparked a memory. I was based at RAF Gutersloh in 1984 to 87. Lightnings were visiting and one of the pilots was introduced to me when I was working in the Electrical Bay. He wanted a control system built that could operate independently 2 x SLR cameras fitted to a Carrier Bomb Light Store (CBLS). I was told I could have any asset or assistance I needed to get it done and had 5 days and if I had any questions. I asked what it was for. I was told not to ask any questions. I designed an built a simple system with cable looms and relays operated by the reconnaissance control panel feeding into the CBLS, got access to a Harrier, tested it out and it worked. I presented the equipment and instructions to the pilot on day 4. I was given a bottle of Bacardi and 20 Marlboro for my good work. Never heard any more about it until I opened a magazine a few years later with some great air to air shots of military aircraft taken by Chris Allen and his wonderful new system he had invented. So that's what it was for.

[@colonelkurtz2269]

So..this guy says he's not an academic but he's flown multiple aircraft in peace and war time, and learned French to fly the Mirage? Very understated humble man.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Ian is a true aviation legend and he comes from an amazing aviation family.

[@welshparamedic]

Ian Black; A modest chap, but he was obviously a competent RAF fast jet pilot (and Navigator too!) He gives a real good picture of what an 80's Lightning pilot's life was like, i.e. AWESOME (he said, with a huge amount of envy!) All in all another good 'Air crew Interview' Well done, and again Thank you for your channel, a brilliant series.

[@bigbill74scots]

Hugely talented photographer as well as a pilot. Some of his work is genuinely jaw dropping, just excellent.

[@exsappermadman25055]

This is why the RAF have the best pilots on the planet, they are cool, thoughtful and calm in the face of extreme pressure. The Lightening jet is mostly all engines with a small air frame bolted on!.....An absolute speed weapon.....

[@jimramsey8887]

One of the best interview of a modest but highly competent pilot in your excellent series. I particularly liked Ian's experiences during his exchange posting. Thanks very much!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Your welcome Jim. I am glad your enjoying the series. Lots more to come!

[@LRRPFco52]

Love your video series on pilot interviews. As I've grown older and after my own military service, I've seen how much more important the human element is. This channel really captures a lot of that from the pilot perspectives.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thank you very much. We are going to try and get more ground crew on in the next year also.

[@paulgibbons2320]

Such a humble guy. Litteraly had a boys dream career. Very informative. Such a great looking aircraft.

[@somethingelse4878]

My Dad once took me aside and said we British did things you must never forget and be proudly British for them. We made this aircraft, the hover craft and the jump jet. Fun fact for our US friends, they were going to power this on Tea but realized it wouldn't fly, something about tealeaves in the fuel filters. :-)

[@kpsig]

Enjoyable, honest, puts the listener in the action. I can get it why Ian Black is popular!

[@howegav]

Great interview. Britain should be proud of its RAF veterans as well as aircraft like the Lightning.

[@nigeh5326]

I have a couple of Ian's books and IMO he's a bloody great photographer and a very good person to interview

[@paulyflyer8154]

What a fantastic unassuming guy.

[@Thunderdog73]

Thank you for your highly appreciated body of work, and this video with Mr. Black is exemplary.

[@SteveAttwood]

Great storyteller, humble yet vastly knowledgeable and experienced, Loved this, off to buy the books now!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Great to hear you enjoyed it, Steve. You won’t be disappointed by them!

[@bigcahoona7931]

What a gorgeous aircraft and a wonderful interview. Thank you!

[@maxflight777]

Utterly compelling dialogue. Fantastic questions.... all so admirable. Thank you.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Much appreciated.

[@chrishewitt4220]

Great books and a legend...

[@user-co4rs7ob1t]

Приятно что люди историю авиации своей страны берегут!

[@MegaBushdoctor]

Excellent Interview, with one of my Favourite Pilots, Authors/Photographers, Mr Ian Black. Keep up the excellent work, Aircrew Interview.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Joolz Adderley Thanks very much, Joolz.

[@thisisadebrown]

Really cool and original concept for KZbin channel, and you are compiling an interesting series of videos thank you for your efforts

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thank you for the kind words, its much appreciated.

[@oliverwilson7903]

will echo Ades comment was thinking the same the other day. Hats off to you.. love the series

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thank you very much, it's great to know the hard work is appreciated.

[@1903chrisholden]

Aircrew Interview thankyou for sharing all these fantastic interviews

[@Aircrewinterview]

You are welcome. Glad you are enjoying them.

[@Zinnia82]

This is a fantastic interview. One of my favourites to date.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Nathan Dawson Thanks once again Nathan.

[@nicholasjohnson6724]

Old aircraft. But twin engines on top of one another actually makes some sort of sense. Gorgeous old bird, the Lightening......

[@steve13stocker]

Very interesting interview, Ian has had an amazing flying career and appreciate him sharing his passion.

[@richardcreaser308]

Excellent. Thank you both Aircrew Interview and Ian Black.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Richard.

[@richardcreaser308]

You asked all the right questions and Mr Black gave straight answers without 'shooting a line'.

[@rjo3737]

Thoroughly enjoyable, many thanks.

[@trevorgarmey3078]

Great watch, thanks.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Trevor.

[@TakisDiakoumis]

I really enjoyed that. thank you. great to get this perspective for someone whose books I've enjoyed and whom I've read a lot about. thanks again 😀

[@Aircrewinterview]

Your very welcome Takis, really glad you enjoyed it!

[@thebgpikester]

Wow, this is so interesting, thank you for capturing ian's so valuable memories and experiences there.

[@Aircrewinterview]

You're welcome. Ian is a top bloke.

[@84rainx]

Great interview. thank you!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers!

[@seancoppinger1569]

I really like your channel being a bit of a warbird geek myself. I've watched several of your vids and the small details you get from the interviews that you don't read about elsewhere are fascinating. The ones like this with pilots who have done exchange tours are the best. Keep up the good work.

[@Aircrewinterview]

nom urbzness thank you, glad we can help provide that little bit extra!

[@murrayangus]

That was a very interesting and enjoyable presentation. Thank you Ian for your insight into a fascinating aviation career.

[@derekstocker6661]

Exceptionally interesting interview with Ian, I would imagine he would make a fabulous flight instructor on any aircraft let alone fast jet. Thanks for this, very entertaining.

[@magna4100]

Most interesting. Would have been good to have heared Ian's take on the Dick Coleman ejection.

[@andrewmullen4003]

Top lad, respect Sir, from a 24year rigger.

[@nicholasroberts6954]

Wonderful interview. Hats off to Mr Black and the programme makers. Should be on the BBC. Reminds me of the "Reach for the sky" series done in the late 1980s. With what's gone on since that date, Gulf War's I & II, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and the tranche of new and improved aircraft, civil and military, on the books and in prospect, I would have thought there's sufficient material and accounts for a new series. Interesting - The "No comment" on the outcome of the service comparative evaluation of Mirage, Tornado, Harrier . . . "For fear of embarrasing the airforce" . . . and the real world training techniques and timelines of other airforces.

[@darrenhillman8396]

What a great guy! Got his books - pride of place in my collection. Great interview! Very interesting.

[@Aircrewinterview]

He is indeed and he had quite the career! Glad you enjoyed it, Darren.

[@Guhonter]

Could you link his amazon page please?

[@bibostin1182]

He says in the interview that he doesn't sell his books on amazon due to how much they take as a share guhonter, but if you look at the video description there is a link to firestarter books which is Ian's own company as far as I am aware.

[@graemedicks6938]

Hehe, enjoyed this. Especially when he spoke about Thunder City CT. And mentioned "Langebaan", where I live, to the north...

[@raptorman0]

Excellent stuff

[@calummacfarlane8476]

Excellent, thank you.

[@Aircrewinterview]

You are welcome.

[@carsonhaught9934]

Just found your excellent site. Mr Black has much to say that is fascinating. Am looking forward to your other interviews.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Roystone Szweda Thank you. I hope you enjoy what we do :)

[@MrJetexjim]

Great interview. The comments about the Mirage 2000 are very interesting.

[@robhornsby6362]

One of the best interviews I have seen what an amazing life Love planes, Old RAN Sailor ROBH

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Rob.

[@colinnaylor126]

Very informative & interesting thank you for sharing your experiences

[@martyndemers1264]

Really enjoyed that, different to the usual Discovery channel type programs. I will definitely be following your channel

[@Aircrewinterview]

martyn demers Cheers :) glad you enjoyed it.

[@davidcowley]

Hate to say it, the Mirage 2000 is a sexy aircraft

[@cgmp5764]

Very modest, like the honesty, sounds a tough but exciting career.

[@ricdavid7476]

Great vid thanks

[@bikenavbm1229]

great guy I imagine real honest just one of the boys very good thank you, remember the lighting at the shows always number 1.

[@finchleyflyer]

Superb again. Fascinating career, real insight into flying some iconic planes, including the Chipmunk!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Peter. I loved that segment also!

[@finchleyflyer]

Aircrew Interview I did that Chipmunk course at RAF Swinderby too. Ian's description of the instructors just letting you get on with it brought back a few memories. First time I got in the Chipmunk. The instructor let me take off. Having zero experience, we were soon careering at an angle off the runway. Managed to get airborne before we hit the grass!

[@simons.2948]

Very interesting chap, enjoyed listening to his recollections

[@TheClareybrown61170]

This man is just what this chavy country needs.Has flown severe jet missions in severe jets of which most of us used to dream about and is still around to tell us.WOW. When are you next at Gatwick Aviation Museum?

[@ianbeedles1329]

I first met Sqn Ldr Black during 'Op Granby' (1st Gulf War), when I drove him, and the other aircrews of No. XI (Composite) Sqn, from their accommodation, to their briefings, then to their aircraft for their CAP missions, then back again for their debrief, then finally back to the accommodation off-base. He also allowed me to accompany him on one of his photo sessions to the flight line (he had special permission from the Saudis to photograph on one of their Airbases) , where he got his action shots that appeared in his later books, and I allowed to take close-up, detailed shots of an F3, which I have used in my model making.

[@nomis777]

Best interview I think can feel you are in the plane etc

[@ianmangham4570]

He's going BALLISTIC ⚡⚡🇬🇧🤟

[@paulmivvi7828]

Keeps you locked throughout. - 20/10 - (Top bloke & Top channel) - 🤜🤜🤜🤛🤛🤛

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Paul!

[@espeneriksen6758]

What a great series!!! I really enjoy them, thank you!! Please add some from the less glamorous types as well if you can, like the Gannet, Argosy, Etc.

[@davidboardman7827]

good interesting video i am a big fan of david gledhill and have two of his books. the f4 phantom is my fab aircraft

[@Aircrewinterview]

Glad you enjoyed it. Dave Gledhill is a great bloke and has some great books.

[@IrishManJT]

Well done.

[@Aircrewinterview]

+Jacobs_Rifles thanks.

[@SteveK3899]

Great interview gives a good insight in to a RAF pilots life.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Simon.

[@johnp1657]

At 14 years of age,I flew the Chipmunk on its wing tip doing circuits watching an F2 race at Aintree

[@alisonhilll4317]

Really addictive these videos , nice one ☺

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thank you :)

[@arvsupr2354]

Excellent interview, keep up the good work :)

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thank you.

[@charlescoulson]

What an interesting guy. The classic example of a late developer probably over shadowed by his Dad but he has got over that to carve out his own channel. Great stuff and i wish in many ways I had had so much fun. Mind you I have a a fair mount of fun amassing 20 k hours albeit in civil aviation.

[@griffn14]

This was really nice. When a man talks about recovering from a spin in a Mirage, don't hesitate to ask him for details. :-)

[@jowenjv4463]

Hail to the JV44.

[@philpettit3523]

Great story, great bloke and interesting insight - would be great to see a book from the ground crew's perspective (having been there myself!)

[@Aircrewinterview]

Phil Pettit that would be a great idea!

[@strandloper]

Interesting interview. I'm sure to have seen Ian flying the Thunder City Lightnings as I attended all the local Cape Town shows. Such a pity that a fatal crash put an end to their operation. Learning that Ian flew Mirage 2000 makes me wonder if he might ever have flown in the Cheetah when he was at Thunder City, and if so how the Cheetah compared to the Mirage 2000?

[@garyshuttleworth3459]

very interesting

[@dougdauer5562]

Flew phantoms in the 80s (wso), then the vark in the 90s! Great !

[@adamcotton1830]

Brilliant> Hugely interesting!!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Glad you enjoyed it Adam.

[@michaellaw1694]

Great interview, I have many of Ian's books so very interesting hearing about his career. Keep up the good work

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Michael. His books are brilliant I must say.

[@swtruckerpv]

Superb 😎👍

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Paul

[@thefrecklepuny]

Once again, a very good interview. I guess you'd want to go to into actual combat in an F-4, Tornado F.3 or Mirage 2000 over a Lightning any day.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers :) Oh yes of course.

[@anthonyleadley.74]

Lighting is far better. I have seen it as a 11 year old in 1985.

[@WilHenDavis]

Nice interview, most interesting, but the voice of the interviewer seemed muffled, which might have been due to the bad placement of the second microphone (if indeed there was a second microphone), also lots of background noise! (OK, I realise it was in a hangar under a live airport) also, I feel that Mr. Black might be well advised to do something about that cough! (…but as my old Dad used to say "…its not the cough that carries you off, but the coffin they carry you off in!" ;) ) - nice video, and many thanks for sharing! ;)

[@dannycochrane1001]

Remember Ian from his time as a student on LTF at Binbrook. If memory serves correctly, Blackie was the last to qualify on the Lighting.

[@jaguar3248]

He is right about the low level maps back in the day lol. Jaguar Pilots used to take a full size UK area OS map, find the relevant chunk you want out of it and dump the rest of the map on the floor. Rinse and repeat until you have all of your route and targets covered. Some even went the extra mile and for each target chopped up a map. It got the job done but today it would not be allowed. Far more map was on the floor than in the Pilots pocket, also remember no fancy colour photocopiers back then, each pilot in a formation needed his own set of maps.

[@avpinstarter]

Brilliant

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers

[@sammygirlie345]

Amazing story with a spot of Bob Fleming does fast jets

[@Seminal_Ideas]

I'd love to see Bob Fleming talking about his Spit experience.

[@DumbledoreMcCracken]

Came here for the Mirage, but appreciated the Chipmunk the most. I've intentionally stalled a friend's Chippy a couple of times, and didn't know it could become a monster (she seemed to be the most docile AC I've stalled). I could listen to Mr. Black for another two hours.

[@woodthorpe100]

Great interview. I had his first two books.Like a fool I lent them to someone. I haven't got them back and i can't remember who got them.

[@Aircrewinterview]

John Brackenbury Cheers John. Ah yes I am sure a lot of people have had that problem.

[@MrOlgrumpy]

as we all do when we get older

[@nervo6321]

What a life...phew...humble guy too.

[@SNATCHYDBS]

THE lightning " An absolute beast of an aircraft and i still think its the best fighter of its day... Yes very biased view but hey its just my own view.

[@Odysseuss.]

So what is the Tornado varta battery and associated Alcon connector/wiring for?

[@peterdoonan3144]

Unassuming pilot but very gifted and bags of experience on various aircraft, and making the most of it... Brilliant. 😉

[@jameswebb4593]

Best interview I have ever heard from a pilot. Absolutely brilliant , Just a bag of nails , can't be more descriptive then that. The paucity of flying hours in the RAF was to save fuel costs .

[@jimdavis8391]

Two minutes in. Pressed 'subscribe' button.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Jim!

[@grahamariss2111]

Excellent Interview with a pilot with a very interesting career.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Graham Ariss Cheers!

[@Seminal_Ideas]

He must be a very smart individual. To learn French from scratch to interpreter level and turn his hand to any aircraft.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Indeed

[@TheDarwiniser]

Far too few first hand pilots accounts of the Frightning. Bravo.

[@ogscarl3t375]

A question I would have asked is how much did your navigator's training help whilst flying the Lightning ?

[@glendooer6211]

When you do interviews can you ask about living arrangements did they rent overseas getting settled in etc .Thanks

[@sichere]

They would be housed in the Officers quarters within the base and if married this would usually be in a house on the base.

[@DPG214]

Very interesting interview. I was studying A level Maths (pure and with mechanics), was an Air Cadet for a number of years and got "A1G1Z1" ratings three times at RAF Biggin Hill OASC testing. Yet Mr Black, the son of an RAF pilot, studied less mathematics and was accepted for Navigator training. I am now more convinced than ever that my mixed racial heritage was fatal to my RAF and RN Aircrew (TIA) applications from 1981 to 1985. I became a police officer for some years and later emigrated. I was right to emigrate; Britain wasn't even interested in British people like me helping to defend it.

[@pparker768]

I think you would be correct. Also the fact his Dad was a pilot of course. UK's loss. I hope it's changed.

[@DPG214]

@@pparker768 I have seen only one non-white RAF pilot in the years since, and he ended up as a Station Commander (Group Captain rank). I'm not sure that anything has really changed in respect of British military pilots. We accept that minimum standards must be met for such a technical and skilled role, but there are many non-white pilots in the American and Canadian militaries.

[@phmwu7368]

49:08 🤫Mirage 2000 ... hence the French leather flying jacket PN (Personnel Navigant)

[@thetreblerebel]

Does Ian have any photos of Yankee Phantoms?

[@bipolar1968]

I knew Ian at Binbrook he a pilot (witha Tash!) me a liney (skinny and under fed!) worlds apart ....1986 -1988

[@Aircrewinterview]

Everyone does their bit so I thank you for your service, Ade!