Lightning Legends: Ian Hollingworth

Ian Hollingworth, the very pilot whose name is on the side of XS459, came to visit us and shared his experiences of flying the Lightning

[@davidbertram880]

Top bloke ! Talented & committed as they all were. Very humbling to listen to the stories !! ❤

[@DessieTots]

Ian Hollingworth and his generation are bloody heroes. Quiet, resourceful and very intelligent people making a fantastic fighter jet and the guys flying them. Running out of fuel, no radar, cockpit fire, atrocious weather, looking for Russians. Dealing with all of this while remaining calm and doing his “mental maths”.

[@johndavid5618]

"It was before me time, but lovely. ♥️"Till this day." Best of british. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@Scottyhasti]

There's just something about the Lightning and the pilots that flew them. I could listen to Ian for hours and hours. Thank you for recording this

[@lightningtown5785]

He is brilliant isn’t he? We will be speaking to more Lightning Legends soon!

[@Scottyhasti]

Yes I always love hearing stories like this. I'll have to come upto Binbrook and have a look at the Lightning I'm not far from there

[@TINY5BB]

Totally agree , huge respect for these men

[@jfan4reva]

"A superior pilot should rely on his superior judgement to avoid situations that require the use of his superior skill." I don't know if that's an original quote, but it's a darn good one. 1983-1988. A mere flash of time, but when you're doing something of high importance and high risk, with the best equipment and the best people, it can be the core of your life.

[@stephaniekent8483]

the one I was taught was as follows, "a superior pilot should never have to use their superior skills to get them out of inferior situations" :)

[@timhancock6626]

It's one they throw at cadet pilots from day one. I was only an air cadet and would never have got near being a jet pilot in my wildest dreams..but visiting aircrew giving us lectures ( poor souls 😂) always threw this one at us back in the 1960s.

[@MrGster308]

Love this and you can tell how much this meant to Ian. Thanks for posting!

[@mickleem]

What a wonderful interview. Pleased you made it through Ian. Thanks for this👍

[@ThePorridgeGobbler]

Hello Ian, that was very interesting listening to you reminiscing about your exploits on the Lightning. I was a young L Tech AC/Avionics just out of training @ RAF Cosford and posted to RAF Leuchars in June 1980 until Dec 82 on Phantoms and one of my secondary duties was OTR Man F when you guys used to take off from Binbrook do a Sortie out over the North Sea then stage into Leuchars for an OTR, our Station Commander would put on a barrel of beer for us if we turned you around in under I think it was 30mins doing fuel, missiles and oxygen. We have quite possibly met all those years ago along with Dennis Brooks and Andy Williams, It used to give me such a buzz knowing that I was part of the Cold War deterent, as you say we were part of a team. At the same time my Brother in Law was a young F/L Fighter Controller sat in a bunker and would have been directing you, another part of the team looking after you at " The Sharp End " in a Frightning.

[@michaelhamilton7111]

Absolute Legend. Thanks.

[@sarahwayment7292]

Wow - what a story. Amazing to hear. Thank you for sharing.

[@bipolar1968]

Ian was always a gent while I was a 11 Liney, Mavis,

[@derekstocker6661]

Ian talking about his time on such a very special aircraft, thanks for this wonderful few moments in Ian's life and his life in the RAF and his association with a super special piece of aviation history. Thanks also to the Folks that look after these superb aircraft now for all of us to still enjoy.

[@steini6771]

A super exciting story from a fab pilot -

[@nicholasdavies6264]

Great respect to this guy and all pilots of fast jets!

[@TCMontyDibs]

A brilliant watch , thank you to all concerned in achieving this.

[@jimbobwalton1048]

Both the Pilots and the Lightning’s are Legends .

[@RiDankulous]

I'm glad you are alive and well Ian Hollingworth after taunting fate with an awesome aircraft!

[@justsmith32]

Amazing. We visited the old RAF Binbrook site on 26th June 2021. Wow,.......

[@user-co4rs7ob1t]

Эх...где та молодость!!!Одни воспоминания....

[@aorakiboydog]

Great interview with a very humble talented man.

[@jimbobsterful]

Very well said Bucket!

[@binjuice59]

Worked with 5 11 & LTF Squadrons at Binbrook in my time as a scopie @ RAF Boulmer love the jet so unique nothing like it 👍

[@alanwitton5039]

Total respect

[@bugler75]

Enthralling insight into the Lightning, glad you’re still with us Sir! Subbed immediately.

[@jaywalker3087]

Best times I ever had was an ‘erk at Binbrook , posted to the one place my favourite plane were being flown , and they paid me too!!!

[@stewsretroreviews]

Brilliant

[@leesatterthwaite4719]

I remember visiting the q shed at binbrook with the air cadets and one of the cadets asked why the pilot s boots had L and R written on them !? Left and right he said ! Woken at 2am in the air in minutes it’s very easy to put your boots on the wrong way apparently lol

[@1903chrisholden]

would love to visit her

[@jasoncole767]

A day when the men were men....no bull just pure adulterated passion, and skill....

[@alexmarshall4331]

He can waffle for England 👉🇬🇧👈❗

[@rumik-stahnke6512]

👍😁

[@magna4100]

Where is this?

[@thisisnumber0]

There appears to be a wild cat trapped in your cockpit.

[@thesceptic1018]

Peacock

[@kevanmallison8610]

Nothing will test a man to his limits more quickly - and perhaps break him more easily - than a beautiful woman. Or a fast airplane.