The English Electric Lightning jet

John Nichol flies in The English Electric Lightning which is a supersonic fighter aircraft of the Cold War era. It was designed, developed, and manufactured by English Electric, which was subsequently absorbed by the newly formed British Aircraft Corporation. It was then marketed as the BAC Lightning. The Lightning was the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The Lightning was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). Although it was the RAF's primary interceptor for more than two decades it was never required to attack another aircraft.

[@poreilly55]

Back in the 1980s I was stationed in RAF Station Akrotiri, Cyprus. The new OC Engineering was very nice and chatty lady. She told us she was once stationed with a Lightning Squadron and had previously came out to Cyprus on training detachment to Akrotiri. She got a ride in a Lightning during that time and the pilot few a matter of feet above the sea, obviously at very high speed. He then proceeded to push the aircraft's nose down and the bow of the air pressure push back and did not crash into the sea. She said a memory never to forget!!!

[@kpikid]

My father was the chief engineer/instructor at Warton Lancs. Every open day at BAC I had access to the simulator (seat and dials) and tried out the ejection system (ouch). He worked at the Saudi branch at BAC for many years. He could maintain the Lightning all by himself including the RR engines. We lost him some years back and this video really brings back the memories.

[@whisthpo]

My condolences... Lost but, not Forgotten kpikid Respect

[@denegillespie5767]

'The nav lights apart'. I treasure my memories of working on these beasts. Mk 3, T5 and F6. Very labour intensive but the reward was watching them go. One big memory is seeing Flt lt Jock Byrne on his farewell flight over 11 Sqn line hut squeezing between 3 and 4 Hangar side on then giving us all burst of burnt Avtur. An astounding pilot and a true gentleman.

[@marklynch3149]

I think the lighting is the best fighter we've had since the spitfire... I saw one flying when I was a kid and it's performance was phenomenal 👍

[@blzbob7936]

Least interesting fact about this aircraft . . . My Dad used to fabricate parts for the wing assembly in Preston at English Electric. He thought nothing of it, but I am very proud!

[@braidiedog]

and so you should be and are entitled to be.....

[@johnconlon9652]

Born in "Proud" Preston in 1949, I remember the EE works not far away; thousands worked there producing Canberras then the fabulous Lightning. Even the prototype Concorde flew over our house. All gone.

[@redblade8160]

BLZBOB. That's nothing, I built the whole aircraft from scratch and the parts were made by Airfix!

[@551taylor]

I worked on these with 19 Squadron, RAFG, and they were a nightmare. It was estimated they needed 2000 manhours maintenance for every hour in the air. They were built with expansion room in the panels, so it leaked fuel constantly while on the ground. The main-wheel tyres were so high pressure they only survived 5 landings maximum, and landings were so high-speed they were likened to a controlled crash. They had emergency arrestor hooks in case of hydraulic failures prior to landing, and always landed with the over-run barriers raised. The engines were started with a mono-fuel called Avpin, but the fuel tank was in the spine and could detonate if struck by the barrier’s top suspension wire. It was also prone to brake seizures and fires due to the energy needed to stop it on landing if the brake-chute failed or, as sometimes happened, fell out on deployment. On the good side, it could scramble from cold in 3 minutes and be over the East German border at Angels 5-0 in 5 minutes from the bell. It carried 5 weapons: 2 Firestreak or Red Top AAGMs, 2 Aden Guns, and the ‘Aloominum Deathtube’ itself. One aircraft allegedly got jammed in max reheat, and the pilot ejected over the sea. Radar tracked the aircraft until it ran out of fuel, but its maximum estimated speed was never released for security reasons. However, the plane was so massively overpowered that it could be safely assumed that it exceeded Mach 2 and was probably in the region of Mach 3, which would have been a record for its day. In real life, it could take off, rotate at the end of the runway, and accelerate vertically until it reached its operational ceiling. Incredibly noisy, we practiced this every Sunday during the local church service! Flight duration could be as little as 20 minutes clean, or it could cruise on one engine and a ventral fuel tank for around 3 hours. It also did air-to-air refuelling for transit trips or guarding our nuclear bombers on ops. The original aircraft were mostly polished aluminium to protect them from nuclear fall-out and flash, and to facilitate decontamination, but this changed to green in the early 70s, probably after the retirement of Britain’s nuclear V-bomber force.

[@Pete90125]

Good old RAF Gutersloh 😃👍🇬🇧

[@Pete90125]

I worked at supply squadron just opposite 19 (F) squadron, RAF Gutersloh. 😃😃😃🇬🇧

[@navnig]

Minor details old chap, minor details! lol

[@MaverickSeventySeven]

Terrific information!!

[@guyfromthe80s92]

Wow, that truly does sound like a nightmare.

[@moreheff]

One of my treasured memories as a kid is standing on a beach somewhere on the English Kent Coast one day in the early 1970's, when from nowhere a great roar came from behind us. I looked up just in time to see a pair of Lightnings fly over our heads a couple of hundred feet overhead, bank to the left and then streak off down the coast. I can still see myself standing there in wonder, jaw wide open and agog as these two beasts of beauty, glinting in the sun left us all standing and staring in wonder at these thoroughbreds of the skies. It is criminal there are none flying in Britain. I finally got to see one close up at Hendon RAF Museum a few decades later. A true thing of beauty...............

[@Xemwood]

I remember the RAFs Lightning’s well from airshows in the 60s and 70s at Biggin Hill and West Malling - it was loud!! Sure, the military jets of the era were loud as a rule, but the Lightning was a breed apart that really rattled your teeth from 50 yards away. Watching them climb out was absolutely breathtaking.

[@cristinamorenolamin3217]

Those Rolls Royce Avon engines were amazing. Very impressive machines, the vertical take offs were something to behold.

[@pulseskills4412]

I worked on the EE Lightning when I was an apprentice at Strand Road Preston along with the TSR2, what a aircraft only fifteen years after the end of the second world war

[@britshop1]

If you worked on this aircraft. Please response

[@brubeker12]

Me to tsr2 and lightnings in apprenticeship

[@Glee73]

always loved the lightning, what an amazing aircraft. great to see a man like john nichol, a combat veteran in the panavia tornado, shot down, tortured and survived still so excited like small child in the lightning.

[@tonyjames5444]

Nothing better than watching a Lightning take off and go vertical on full power.

[@micklobb4957]

Other than being in it when it did!

[@nounoufriend]

Use to see them doing this at Binbrook airshows . also use to come over our house very low and fast when they were on intercept They were that low you could smell Paraffin (jet fuel ) after they went over

[@robertcharlessceats3647]

Absolutely right sir ! An awesome sight indeed

[@user-mc2bc8wu6v]

More like a rocket when in vertical climb. Stationed at RAF Gutersloh in the 70s I had the privilege of watching 19 and 92 Squadron Lightnings taking off and landing almost every day.😊

[@user-mc2bc8wu6v]

One of our excellent 18 Squadron Wessex pilots went on to fly lightnings, ejected in an almost vertical dive resulting in life changing injuries. Flt Lieutenant J. H. ⭐

[@user-ei3dq2dw6i]

This has to be the best BRITISH fighter we ever had great plane

[@nicholasdavies8795]

John Nichol - you are a national hero , the same as your buddy pilot ! It's good to see you enjoying what you like best . We all remember those pictures and videos of your capture and torture . True British GRIT!

[@jasonrushton5991]

respect.

[@paulbell3723]

Epic fail. Shot down before reaching target on 1st mission.

[@vincitveritas3872]

Telling John Nicoll how to eject! "It's OK I've done this "

[@Kohl423]

a powerful and quite magnificent interceptor from the days when the UK and some of its leaders were still proud of their own country and had confidence in it (unlike today's wet blankets). American air commanders were very impressed when viewing the Lightning perform one of it's near vertical fast take offs ( nose suddenly lifted down the runway and engines on full blast, straight up). During an interception test featuring the top fighter planes from many countries including the USA the task was to intercept a Concorde flying over at maximum speed, from a cold start. Not only was the Lightning the only fighter to achieve this it actually over took the Concorde! Like many others I saw this plane as a youth and the impression never left me.

[@Johnketes54]

I thought the Starfighter was almost as good and found recently to my surprise it retain a 20mm Gatling in fuselage strange for a Interceptor even mig 21 had done away with guns

[@stoopingfalcon891]

I have never forgotten the memory of watching a Lightning take off when I was a boy about 9 years old (about 1964). It was the most incredible thing I have ever seen in my life, The roar it made as it zipped down the runway, then as it lifted off the ground the wheels went up, and it just stood on it's tail and went straight up, disappearing in about a minute. I instantly decided I wanted to be a fighter pilot and fly one, but sadly that was never to be. Lol. However, about 10 years later, after I joined the Royal Navy, my first ship was the Ark Royal, and I got to watch Buccaneers and Phantoms take off, during daylight and night time flying exercises. Even after watching that, I never forgot that first impression of the Lightning.

[@sg-hd9fz]

love this!! i have a similar experience as a 10 yr old witnessing an SR-71 at full noise at mildenhall airshow :) i can feel my chest rattling 35 yrs on!!

[@stoopingfalcon891]

@@sg-hd9fz Me Too!

[@daytriker]

As a young boy in Essex, England these used to fly over my house & for a few seconds I was airborne flying right along with them. Nice to see these old aircraft still flying. Thank you.

[@GS-in8zf]

that is a beast , no doubt about it ,was so impressed when i was 14 years old , im now 57 and its still hard core,

[@johnlumb1078]

Dad was in the RAF and when Stationed at Watersham we had lightnings there and see them go it was amazing........

[@johnbockelie3899]

I like the two engines stacked like that.

[@hughmowat7550]

The first military aircraft I ever saw was the English Electric Lightning. It was at the Prestwick Airshow around 1966. It taxied out started it's take off run and flew about 20 feet above the runway and as it got level with me it just went straight up and just kept on going. I was very impressed. When I retired from air traffic control in 2009 I was going to spend a quite sizeable sum of money from my lump sum to go to Thunder City in South Africa for a flight in one. It would have been incredible, straight up till the sky turned black, level out where you could see the curvature of the earth and back to the airfield. Unfortunately before I got to do this there was the fatal accident with Dave Stock and Thunder City was closed down. A very beautiful aircraft and a great shame to see so many sitting in museums instead of in the air where they belong.

[@heinbasson3313]

Hi Hugh, saw the owner, as far as I know Mike, go up as you described while building on a site next to Thundercity a couple of years ago. The noise was so incredible, everybody including the heavy machinery operators stopped. The next moment a Lightning was climbing at what seemed to be at a 90degree angle about 200m from me. Words fail to describe the sight. He continued over to the sea and around the mountains and the landed some time later. I desperately wanted to show this to my son of about 5 or 6 at the time, but the receptionist said the owner was not going to fly for a couple of months due to some reason. The owner passed away, RIP. Unfortunately we are working on a construction site at Cape Town Airport again, but now it IS Thundercity. It is so sad seeing all the jets, helicopters, extraordinarily boats, cars and such, literally just standing and corroding as if it was just a weekend pastime... If I could just hear that sound and see that climb again with my sons, I would feel I have shown them the best of engineering.

[@hughmowat7550]

@@heinbasson3313 Thank you Hein for the reply. It's a great pity your son missed that spectacle of the near-vertical climb, once seen never forgotten. The only thing that ever came close was the sight of a Vulcan bomber doing low level manoeuvres over my local beach during the airshow a couple of years back. For such a big aircraft it was very nimble indeed. Unfortunately it's now been retired but just glad I got some video of it before it did.

[@hughmowat7550]

@@heinbasson3313 Hello Hein, It was always exciting to see and hear the Lightning in action. Not much chance of witnessing that these days.

[@Johnketes54]

@@hughmowat7550 Many years ago over the Thames southend airshow a Vulcan flew up the Thames not very high went into a maybe 400 feet of the ground close down the engines to a idle i thought something was wrong and was going to crash momentum kept it going for a couple of seconds stopped and started to fall backwards towards the water and shoved the engines to full power i thought the lightning was the noisiest aircraft I heard this is atleast 200 yards away the ground shook the Thames turned too spray and this mighty Vulcan went straight up like a Titan rocket into the clouds could still hear it when it levelled out and flew over still in the RAF following year flew around wagging wings and then "retired" by the RAF WOW THAT SPECTACULAR

[@suebonnington]

That was my first memory of the Lightning too! I remember watching open-mouthed as it disappeared into the stratosphere.

[@brentnicol6391]

The year 2009 airshow was a saddest ever when Dave Stock lost his life. I was at the airshow and seen the lightning go down. That changed a fun day to a sad day. Rest in peace both Dave and Mike.

[@tanyano9]

Mike..?

[@BillCarrIpswich]

​@@tanyano9 Mike Beachy Head maybe? He died in 2017.

[@themagicrat8803]

I grew up in a small village near Wattisham airfield in the 70's, lots of RAF kids at our primary school. Lightnings, Phantoms and Hercules would regularly fly low level across our playground. Great times, didn't even realise we were engaged in a cold war.

[@Johnketes54]

Hardly a war just sabre rattling bit of cat and mouse they do it today like to "test" us Tom and Jerry bit of fun nothing will come off it they fly the "Bear" it's a NATO name remember it from my childhood building airfix models of the time and the observers book of military aircraft great stuff perhaps the Americans were expecting a Nuke the British government were but i never felt threatened no emergency drill at school except occasional fire drill,fire as in something catching fire

[@johncliff5417]

What a fantastic video and to see John Nichol having a jolly in the Lightning. I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Air Commodore Bostock who was visiting my sons old school at Mexborough some time back. He had been the CO of RAF Binbrook when it had the lightnings there and was happy to talk to me about it.

[@tectorama]

Just coming up to ten years since Dave Stock lost his life in ZU-BEX..... RIP

[@pdt7991]

I was fortunate to witness 2 of these wonderful aircraft putting on a display a few years ago, at an Airshow at Ysterplaat. This was when Thundercity was still in operation before Dave Stock's fatal accident at Bredasdorp. There were a number of British tourists, that flew all the way to Cape Town, just to see the Lightning perform. The smiles on their faces when the 2 went supersonic over Cape Town is something I'll never forget.

[@MrGoblin60]

What a refreshing piece of viewing! Lightnings were the fodder of conversation in my years in the Air Training Corps back in the '70's. Real Boys Own stuff.

[@sparkypeter]

I actually got to sit in a Lightning through being in the ATC, great memories!

[@josephburke7224]

Side by side seating. At this speed and capability. I am very impressed. Hard to do. Pretty does not mean function, neither does ugly. 20 years on the front line, at a time when the U.S. was introducing two new aircraft a year. My absolute respect to the Brits from a bloody yank. And a bit of jealously.

[@MrTangolizard]

Joseph Burke sitting side by side makes it easier when its tea time also when u fist bump

[@kazsmaz]

Joseph Burke they one they flew in must have been a trainer as the usual lightning was a single seater. It could quite happily sit at mach 2 still though

[@ErikssonTord_2]

Side-by-side seatings usually mean lower drag than tandem seating, as proved over and over, like the two-seat version of the Skyraider being faster than the single seater (all other things being equal). The amount of 'wet' area is the most important part, most other factors of much less importance.

[@derekblake8516]

Side by side made it easier for the instructor to punch the trainee.

[@cyborgbadger1015]

the lightning was never meant to be a fighter, it was an interceptor.

[@pauldavey]

I watch this every year Such an amazing aircraft loved it ever since Thorney island when I was a child

[@blitz21]

As a child we we’re dragged to various air shows to watch what was the main event, The Lightning. I miss the variation of the RAF’s fast jet fleet. I’m now in my 35th year with the Air Force in uniform and out. I’ve see a massive change over the years. It’s so good to see the Lightning still survives today even if it is abroad.

[@dufus7396]

This staggering of two engines inline within.the fuselage was inspired.

[@supersexyfatguy]

Added bonus, if one engine fails you don't have to worry about asymmetric thrust.

[@garypeatling7927]

But difficult to maintain I read . Loads of hours to do most basic task

[@johncrosley1]

I saw a display at Nicosia airport in the late 60’s. The lightning came down the runway seeming to be flying horizontally but at an angle of about 60 degrees. It turned on the afterburners and went straight up like a rocket. What a sight it was and the noise. I still can’t choose between the Lightning or the Fairey Gannet as my favourite plane.

[@russpaxman3660]

I saw/felt this aircraft in the 60’s at farnborough, doing a low level pass along the runway then after burners on, standing on it’s tail and heading to the heavens. It was a deafening sound that you could feel in your chest and your feet, quite literally awesome!

[@Johnketes54]

Ya i saw it a air show maybe 20 feet above us in 60s my guts were rumbling my legs and feet and ear ringing days afterwards perhaps the Vulcan was less noisy by about 2 decibels

[@ClipperDays]

I too remember seeing/feeling them and the Vulcans. As a kid I lived in Lincolnshire and spent many a happy hour or two, laying on my back outside the fence, at the end of a runway just watching the planes flying just feet above me. Probably why I'm half deaf now. 🙄

[@Cholseyroyal]

I was at Farnborough in the early sixties when a squadron of Lightnings took off, two by two IIRC,. When the after burners kicked in the noise was incredible and you could certainly feel them. The rate of climb was unbelievable!

[@mikeneill6813]

@@ClipperDays YOU WHAT!!!!!?🙂

[@ClipperDays]

@mikeneill6813 Sorry. Didn't hear what you said.

[@richardnorris5274]

Thank you George Pollen for posting. I have this footage on 'steam age' video but couldn't resist watching again here. Having just read through the posts on the English Electric Lightning, I'm sad to see, that as usual, much of the debate has gravitated to the very lowest level. Chrissey D also mentions this on a post on this thread. Having spent time with a variety of aircrew and ground crew from many countries I find they don't discuss comparative performance in the manner that is on this thread, and on most other military aircraft forums. My opinion: The Lightning fulfilled all its design and operational objectives over its 28 year service career. Initial requirement was for a short range, high speed (point) interceptor that could intercept incoming Soviet bombers in minimum time. Later F6 version and modified F2A had extended endurance. Great success when adapted to the low level role in the former West Germany protecting NATO airspace based at RAF Gutersloh. Apart from UK and former West German defence also protected Near East (Akrotiri) and Far East (Tengah) serving with a total on nine RAF front line squadrons. Although it's export potential was not maximized in Europe, the Saudi contract for the Lightning F53 and T55 represented, at that time, in the mid-sixties, the UK's largest export contact for any product. This has lead to the Tornado and Typhoon contracts, so the Lightning is the 'mother' of all this valuable business. Comparisons with other aircraft is difficult and again aircrew in mixed gathering do not enter into these discussions. What is clear, from talking to aircrew of the period, is that all air forces regarded the Lightning as a potent interceptor and in NATO it was highly regarded. It is widely accepted that until the advent of the F15 & F16 it commanded much respect. The Phantom, Draken, Mirage et al were all great aircraft so please stop the immature bitching and let's celebrate a great British aircraft, the English Electric Lightning. Like all machinery, it wasn't perfect but it did what was asked of it, in style.

[@tropicsandoceans7945]

If interested, have just uploaded videos of first taxi of a Lightning currently being made airworthy here in the States.

[@sugoidessho]

'Sexy and raw power ...' the Lightning was a Cold War hotrod/interceptor/dogfighter with brutal acceleration and climb. British built some of the most iconic and beautiful-looking planes: Spitifre, Mosquito, Lancaster, Hunter, Buccaneer, Harrier, Lightning, Victor, Vulcan, Comet, VC-10, Concorde ... formerly 22 aviation companies and now we're down to two (BAE & RR).

[@Johnketes54]

Once again the Spitfire gets the glory the Hawker Hurricane don't get a mention the workhorse more Hurricanes made the Spitfire the same engine but was wood and canvas not all metal construction the Mosquito was all wood and a twin engined bomber no armaments(guns) but way faster than a messashmit

[@joiningthedots1155]

A great reminder of a flight I had in a Lightning in the early 80's, when we flew past the speed of sound twice and once with me with the joystick going Mach 1.2. It was a fantastic experience and absolutely unforgettable.

[@timothybaxter7392]

I will always remember (I hope) the gut wobbling vibrations, the noise and the sheer awe I felt as Lightning display pilots blew the crowds away at airshows. The floor shook, our ears hurt and we jumped and clapped like maniacs as they zoomed around. There's no feeling quite like it.

[@jp-um2fr]

A station commander told a young pilot before his first English Electric flight that the wings were only there to keep the position lights (red and green on the wingtips) apart.

[@andrew_koala2974]

I remember when being based at RAF Waddington, and on occasions Some EE Lightnings would fly in. and as much as the sound of the Vulcan Engines is music to my ears it was always a pleasure to have the Lightning visitors and welcome their pilots in our Mess. All that remains are memories. Time passes quickly. Often watch them depart on Radar (Midland Radar) to continue their journey North.

[@malcolmlindley4465]

I was at Northern Radar from 66 to 70, and Midland from 71 to 73, I think Northern controlled climb outs and let downs to Binbrook, console 7 IIRC.

[@DONALDSON51]

RIP Dave Stock. That ejection seat came back to haunt him

[@sionmarcsimpson7487]

Its sickening to see all these classic British jets that cant even be kept flight worthy in there own country...And foreign nations seem to have no such problems. This and the Vulcan, break my heart ;(

[@barrierodliffe4155]

Many others too but maybe it is better to keep them on the ground when they have had long careers rather than have to spend a fortune to keep them flying, at least we get to see them close up and they are being preserved.

[@clintfalk]

@broomsterm "The bastards mothballed the last two"' Hysterical fool. Bastards? Who are these bastards you speak of? I bet you don't have a clue. The SR-71 were long OBSOLESCENT (ever hear of satellites?) and were expensive to operate. USAF has to chose between keeping them flying or putting money in modern and useful equipment.There were not many built in the first place. Around 33 by my count. Nearly a third of those were lost in crashes. Not a lot of spare parts lying around. In any case, a plane of that nature CANNOT fly forever. I guess you weren't aware that supersonic military aircraft have to be retired for safety reasons, or they crash. They aren't like the DC-3 or the B-52. The remaining units are in a good place - museums or at NASA.

[@bdh985]

@@clintfalk there are actually quite a few retired older supersonic aircraft still flying in private hands in the US. F-104's, an F-4 Phantom, several MiG-21's, an F-100, and T-38A/F-5B's, among others, still flying quite safely. Not to mention all the subsonic retired military aircraft like F-86's, MiG-15s, and T-33s. Just because it's obsolete from a military perspective doesn't mean they can't still be safely flown. They don't just arbitrarily crash because they are of a certain age.

[@manicmute9440]

And who do you expect to put the money into keeping them flight worthy? And what foreign nations don't have this problem?

[@michael32A]

Hang on here folks: In November 2009 a Thunder City owned EE Lightning (likely this very one) ploughed into the ground having suffered a double engine fire - this also severs the hydraulics to the control surfaces - which was a disturbingly normal ailment for the Lightning when you look into it. The UK CAA wrote to their SA counterparts expressing *major* concerns this sort of event could happen when the new owner began the process of registering the aicraft in SA in the 1990s. At that time, the SA CAA largely dismissed their UK counterparts' concerns and also ignored the fact BAE Systems (EE's successor) already did not and could not offer any technical support. Moreover, the ejector seat failed to deploy and the pilot, Dave Stock, tragically perished. The crash was so violent no discernable human remains were found. It is a wonder nobody else was killed on the ground. Wider failings in TC's maintenance schedule were flagged up in March 2010. The 136 page accident investigation report (publicly available) makes for heavy reading and the consensus seems to be that that Lightning should not have been in the air that day or at all for a whole multitude of reasons. I *totally* agree with you that I’d love to see a Lightning and or Vulcan XH558 (a diecast model is sat next to me as I type this) fly again, but the reality is that safety must always be paramount. Sorry to be misery, but please take a moment to consider this.

[@TheClareybrown61170]

Dave Stock RIP. You were a great pilot and probably still are.

[@anglo-swedish244]

"If i say 'Eject' don't stop to ask questions or you'll find yourself captain of this aircraft - I shall have gone!" Words of wisdom from a fighter pilot when I had a fault-finding trip in a Javelin Mk 8 in the navigator's seat.

[@redroostermcmlxxl]

Haha, that tickled me, very good,

[@beejayex1516]

I wouldnt say eject to mikey meatball, who knows what sort of FOD we might experience ....

[@markdennis7038]

Reminds me of when Jeremy Clarkson did his ride prep for a trip in an f-15 eagle, pilot was saying if we need to eject I'll say "bail, bail, bail". Clarkson just said "any word beginning with 'b' I'm off!!".

[@kevvywevvywoo]

I'm glad John Nichol is having fun in aeroplanes these days. I haven't forgotten the footage of his bruised face paraded on iraqi TV. Respect to the RAF

[@anthonythomas1735]

I thought it was him...Thanks for confirming.

[@1903chrisholden]

@@anthonythomas1735 Op Granby

[@paulbell3723]

His face wasn't bruised. That was the pilot who got the kicking!

[@seltaeb3302]

Shows here how a story via Press headlines & wrong facts gets a life of its own. The pilot only had bruising thru his ejection, then the photo in the Tabloids made it seem he had been beated by Iraqis (this is how propaganda works) in fact they both got treated well & the Iraqis propaganda showing them like war trophies just backfired. Having them drinking tea & cakes reading the Times with a waiter might have been better.

[@mattypearce9976]

I met John many years ago at RAF Cosford as a child. (I'm 35 now) he was inspiring gentleman that kept me an aviation fan all these years!! My brother is an bigger fan than me!! We love aviation and its history at its finest 👏 👌

[@AMStationEngineer]

Around 1982, and while stationed at Thule, our KC-135 somehow wound up at RAF Lakenheath for ten days. We lucked out with a two-day leave, while new avionics and associated equipment were being installed. We managed to visit Biggin Hill during their summer air show, where three 'Lightnings' performed a flawlessly executed program. You need only see the Lightning perform once - to become hopelessly hooked!

[@soozikins]

Big Bro was a Jnr Tech RAF Leuchars, so was a thrill to sit in the pilot's seat when I was a nipper. Immense aircraft.

[@jimlyon7276]

As was I on 23 Sqdn from '67 - 69 Jim Lyon

[@butterflybud1]

I used to watch them at Leconfield in East Yorkshire.The dancing diamonds in the exhaust when they used the reheat on take off was a wonderful sight.

[@SISU889]

Yes me too , saw them vertically climb awesome !

[@phil_nicholls]

January 11th 1987. As a NUAS cadet that happened to live close to Binbrook, I was lucky enough to get two trips in a T5. It was only supposed to be one trip, but the ‘chute detached itself on landing, and we weren’t going to stop, so diverted to Waddington. Once a new ‘chute was packed, and the aircraft refuelled, I got my second ride - doing Aeros over my parents house in one of these is something I’ll never forget! To date, by far my favourite aviation experience, and I’ve had quite a few. I doubt I’ll ever top it.

[@nelsoncook1298]

What an exciting video. Thanks to all the pilots risking their lives in these old birds, rest in peace Dave Stock who can be seen in the sequence starting at 07:26.

[@SistorCarrera]

John as a man that was beaten to crap I salute u as fellow RAF well done you

[@JohnSmith-us2jx]

Worked as ground crew on the Lightning with 1 Squadron, Royal Saudi Air Force at Khamis in 1967/68. My intro was a visit to the first-line shack, where the line chief (RH) seeing a young, slim fellow, asked if I could go the third Lightning on the line and check the lower and upper engine intakes as one of his mechanics had lost a spanner. I went down the line, found some steps and negotiated the engine intakes for long minutes by finally squeezing past the radome (tight fit and I only weighed 9-stones soaking wet) having finally got inside I crawled down the lower duct - all clean. Backed up and went into the upper engine duct - at which I heard footsteps climbing the external steps to the cockpit, then ground power going on, followed by the inverters ... engine start up would come next ... JHC ... I was out of the duct at about Mach 2, past the radome as though it wasn't there; landing in a heap on the concrete ramp below. You who have served know the rest - a dozen ground crew standing in a semi-circle cheering and applauding the young idiot! JS (Trenchard Brat)

[@tropicsandoceans7945]

Ah the British sense of humor....priceless!

[@edwinhoffman141]

They did it to everyone, kind of Ritual. I remember when a biggish guy, he got stuck when he tried to launch himself out. I was thin as a rake really then at 143 lbs. Or 10 stone 3lbs and launched like a RedTop. All good fun I believe.

[@johncliff5417]

Cruel basket cases.

[@georgethompson4788]

In the late 60's, before the era of health & safety, I was watching an airshow at Usworth Aerodrome (now the Nissan Car Plant), Washington, England. My father and I were on a pit heap about a mile away from the aerodrome when a Lightening came over us at about 100 feet, obviously using the pit heap as a reference. It made a silent approach, which was one of it's party tricks, and you couldn't hear the engine at all. What an amazing sight it was as it flew in behind the crowd in total silence and then immediately over their heads roared into life..... afterburners on and took off like a rocket, heading for the stratosphere. The people in the crowd must have all had sweptback and slightly singed hair styles that day! As young as I was I'll never forget it.

[@metalmicky]

Whilst at school at Bestwood Nottingham in the mid sixties a Lightning flew past over the extensive playing fields at a very low level,the noise was memorable and it was the biggest wonder there was no classroom windows broken as it felt like everywhere was shaken to its limit,never to be forgotten ,only surpassed by a Vulcan turning back to its base on a summer evening,a truly awesome experience .

[@SgtSteel1]

Great find! Thank you George Pollen. When I was in the Air Cadets we actually got to meet John Nichol and John Peters. They told the story of what happened to them in the Gulf War at a lecture given at RAF Cranwell. Happy days. I really miss that time.

[@1tonyboat]

I spent some time on 111 squadron in the 70s as aircraft armourer and fond memories of the Red top and Fire streak missiles plus the Aden gun. I can still remember sitting in the cockpit doing before and after flight checks, just wished i could have flown one !!!!!

[@oysterman250]

At Wattisham...? My dad might have been your CO... Peter Collins...?

[@davidtams1218]

60 yrs and I can still remember seeing and hearing these taking off from Middleton St George.

[@stanleybuchan4610]

Aye, Teeside airport now I believe

[@MrMoggyman]

You lucky devil. What a piece of engineering that aircraft is. An experience of a lifetime to feel the power in your pants, and ride in that beautiful machine with an expert handler. The noise alone must be enough to leave anyone gobsmacked, never mind the sheer climbing capability. Even modern jet aircraft have to watch out if they want to scrap it out with one of these mighty beasts. Awesome!

[@mikehale8441]

To answer John Birkett's question. Throttling back quickly out of blower to idle at high IAS when around the Mach at low level could trash the engine compressors, especially the No 1. I was taught to fly the lightning by an instructor who had suffered such a fate in his early career and had to eject. However, at medium and high levels, the airframe and engines were effectively 'care free' handling making the vertical twin jet a wonderful dog-fighter.

[@caractacustube]

Rest in peace, Dave Stock. Your beloved lightning let you down when it counted most.

[@jamesonguitars1322]

Thank God people like this guy are preserving these beautiful machines for posterity - awesome.

[@TheDavidsims]

Mike Beachy Head died in 2017

[@billbowdren932]

My first posting out of training was RAF Coltishall 226 OCU. I'd never seen or even heard of the Lightning before I arrived. As soon as I saw them in the air, I fell in love with the big silver Thunderbirds. It's wonderful to know that one or two are still airworthy and flying.

[@carlbentley80]

Growing up we lived under a military flight corridor, used to see Chinooks, USAF A10's, occasional Hercs and Tornados on an almost daily basis. Their minimum flight level was 400 feet. I remember the last time I saw a lightning come over. There were 3 in formation, very very low and very very fast, we were sat on top of a climbing frame at the playground and nearly fell off lol Just glimpsed them coming towards us and saw them come right over the top. Fantastic, They seemed to be lower and faster than was the norm.

[@ronnichols884]

Here's to the men of the 19th Fighter Interceptor Group, RAF Geuterslogh Germany. The Black Cat Squadron, often licked but never beaten. Thanks for the memories from the 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem, Germany.

[@Haawser]

I was lucky enough to live near Greenham Common when they held the last international air tattoo there in 83. So I and some friends cycled there and sat at the end of the runway watching all the planes landing/practicing. We got to see the Lightning, Vulcan, Harrier, Canberra, SR-71, U2, Nimrod, Lancaster, Spitfire, Swordfish, Vampire, Meteor... and many many more. I'll go out on a limb and say that it was probably one of the best airshows ever held, and definitely one of the highlights of my childhood.

[@richardkingadi5511]

RIP Dave Stock. (and Thunder City)

[@johncollins7423]

Damn, the tail end of the Lightning looks like a huge double rifle. I could almost imagine Holland & Holland having a hand in the design.😎

[@benhaworth592]

Wonderful, reminds me of my time at Wattisham, a Lightning broke the sound barrier 60ft above the tower. very interesting day and quite a lot of damage.

[@rogerbevington7327]

It also lifted the roof of the Line Hut much to our dismay.

[@benhaworth592]

@@rogerbevington7327 Have you read the book "Lightning Boys" it gives a lot of details about that flight. Sadly the pilot passed away several years ago. Bugs Bunny was his name.

[@keithlm4551]

At RAF Bruggen in 1969 on an air cadet camp, word went round the station that two MIGs had just crossed the East/West German border precipitating an alert for NATO forces. It turned out that in the time local forces were just getting airborne, two Lightnings had been scrambled from (I think) Wattisham and had already intercepted; game over!

[@andrew_koala2974]

Kind of disappointing that RAF Brüggen no longer exists and has not for quite a while since about June 2001 It was located near to the village of Elmpt, approximately 40 km west of Düsseldorf I was at RAF Brüggen on a visit in 1965 and only there for a couple of weeks. By early 1966 I had migrated to Australia, Joining the Australian Military in 1970. Served in Vietnam for 9 months until March 1973, and from 1974 until 1975 on attachment to the USAF. by 1988 I was done. Hang up the uniform for ever. Now I share time with some good men ex Royal Navy and we are all getting on in years. But the mind is still fresh One served on the submarine HMS Dreadnought and the other on HMS King George V.

[@RockinRedRover]

Allus loved the Lightning since a kid seeing it at UK airshows in the mid 70s. A pure dragster of the skies. Yeah course it was flawed, thirsty and a bugger to maintain, but hey when pushing the design and technology boundaries thats what happens. Thanks for posting.

[@bobpaterson1845]

So so glad am off an age have had the privilege of watching the Lighting at air displays 😊😊

[@alansully4784]

Robert Paterson MM

[@tomsurrey2252]

A time when we used to build our own planes!

[@freddibnah7446]

Lightning, Mustang, Spitfire, F14. Beautiful absolutely beautiful. Breathtaking.

[@johnklockyer]

I was lucky enough to have a trip in a T-bird at Royal Air Force Binbrook, we carried out low level intercept. I was an Engineer on Lightning Training Flight. Much fun, much hard work.

[@ultralightflyer]

This guy is so lucky! What a beast...love this aircraft.

[@billcoggeshall6764]

What a absolutely beautiful aircraft.

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

The English Electric “Frightening”. Just love em. Mach 2,4 wow

[@darkknight1340]

I think mach 2.4 was a very conservative top speed estimate,it's actual top speed is still classified.

[@hugmal37]

Came out of the RAF in 57. In '60 I was back in Norwich near enough to Horsham-St-Faith and Coltishall. Unknown to me at the time the home I purchased was on the flight path and my first experience was a day or so after moving in when the house shook as a Lightning came over. What a sound and after the Meteors, Vampires, Hunters and javelins of my era it is one I will never forget. Like the Arrow of my adopted country, Canada, it was a World Beater and with normal upgrades would fare very well against anything flying today.

[@andremichau2455]

Dave Stock lost his life in the Lightning in 2009 when it suffered hydrolic failure due to fire at an airshow close to Cape Town. Investigation found poor maintenance on this and other aircraft at Thunder City. Really sad.

[@82lostsoul]

Andre Michau the aircraft that took his life was ZU-BEX, the one they go up in in this video. I think the terrible thing about that accident was that not only did she catch fire due to inadequate maintenance, but Dave’s ejection seat didn’t work when he pulled the handle. I can’t imagine being in that position, knowing you had no choice but to ride it to the ground.

[@antone5462]

@@82lostsoul I was there , heard him on the radio announcing Ejection seat failure and saw the plane go in.Traumatic.

[@dartskipper3170]

When I was about 9 or 10 in 1961, my Uncle who had worked for EE told me that they had an improved Lightning on the drawing board, and it was viable with longer range, higher ceiling and faster. It was offered to the MOD but it wasn't accepted. I found out a few years ago that this was actually true.

[@user-mc2bc8wu6v]

I had the privilege of watching 19 and 92 Squadron Lightnings taking off and landing almost every day while stationed at RAF Gutersloh in the early seventies. Can't beat the Wessex though but I would say that being that it was my squadron.😊

[@Markdmarque]

Excellent and well done for the enthusiasts to keep these iconic jets going

[@MiKeMiDNiTe-77]

Really enjoyed watching this the Lightning is a real brute in a respectful way 🌩

[@Horizon344]

David Stock, the pilot who took Nichol on this ride in the Electric Lightning in this film, was killed flying it in 2012 in an air display crash. The official investigation found that poor maintenance of the aircraft, which had been reported as leaking fuel before take-off, and an ejection seat mechanism that failed when activated, was the cause. Nichol was risking his life here more than he knew.

[@chrisg6086]

Thus justifying the CAA decision not to allow it to fly on the U.K. register?

[@Horizon344]

@@chrisg6086 Yes it does. C.A.A.'s decision was based upon the fact that the Lightning is an airframe & propulsion system that's so expensive to maintain in flying condition that - outside of a government's military budget - it's practically unaffordable for a civilian owner, & the danger would be that corners would be cut to keep it in the air. Which is exactly what happened at Thunder City.

[@colinhutchinson9031]

My. Father was in the RAF Regiment (RockApes:) and we were in Singapore at RAF Changi in 1966 to 69.I started school in Singapore and my school was right next to the Runway separated by a road and High wire security fence. When we had our breaks and lunch,we'd all sit outside in the shade and watch the Lightning's take off and land. It was always fun to watch the brake chutes being used.

[@micklobb4957]

Pretty rarely I imagine as they were based at Tengah on the opposite end of the island - I was there 74 Sqn! .. and flew in the T bird (XV329).

[@nervo6321]

First saw the Lightning at the 1974 RAF Leconfield airshow when i was 11 years old , it had a lasting effect on me as they tore the sky apart....saw them at many different airshows over the years and never did i see any other aircraft more breathtaking....

[@Falco45able]

Nervo 63 first time as a boy at church Fenton air Raf base in the 60s in Yorkshire, the sound was deafening and frightening , but awesome!😉

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

We owe it to the Lightning to have one flying in the UK, What a wonderful aircraft, my all time fav or all our planes, I have a poster of a hanger with the E Type Jag and the Lightning together, it almost beats the centerfold lol

[@Unkyp]

Thanks for posting this video George , great stuff ! love it !

[@jjrider6758]

The skies above my house when I was a young kid were constantly full of military aircraft - Vulcans, Phantoms and of course my favourite - Lightnings.. Never thought I'd hear that ripping roar ever again, just EPIC !!

[@richardgoold3306]

I remember back in the old days (being from Stowmarket) plane spotting at RAF Wattisham and seeing the Lightning's from 111 Squadron or 56 Squadron on QRA, seeing them start up, straight on to the runway, getting airborne half down the runway staying level with it until the end then going vertical until they disappeared. Knowing that they were intercepting some Soviet Tu-16 'Badger' over the North Sea, What memories and to this day the Lightning is close to my heart.

[@claveworks]

Nice! My dad was a Chief Tech in charge of a Lightning Simulator at RAF Coltishall. I have actually flown and crashed a Lightning - luckily not a real one lol.

[@derekstocker6661]

Fabulous aircraft and very talented pilots, excellent documentry but no mention of Roland Beamont, test pilot.

[@rotax636nut5]

What a fantastic video, John Nichol is a personal hero of mine due to who he is and what he's been through and no man alive has earned his place on that wonderful plane more than him. The EE Lightning was and still is THE plane that makes the American warplane manufacturers sick with envy

[@orgeebaharvin6284]

Outside of the SR-71, there is NO other aircraft as beautiful as the English Electric Lightning, just wow!

[@rayjames6096]

One of the homeliest aircraft ever built.

[@orgeebaharvin6284]

@@rayjames6096 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣, really

[@rayjames6096]

@@orgeebaharvin6284 It's even more homely than the F-8 Crusader.

[@orgeebaharvin6284]

@@rayjames6096 you're hurting me man! The Crusader is one of my favorites too, I can't win today🤣🤣🤣

[@MrHeesbeen]

I once worked at Samlesbury where they were assembled and flown to Warton for final testing. Boy oh boy, could they perform. I once saw Jimmy Dell (a company test pilot), take off in less than half the length of the runway and fly vertically into the wide blue yonder. Within a minute, we could no longer see the `plane, only hear it.

[@chrisg6086]

I saw them replicate that (although already airborne) at the Families Day at Samlesbury in 1990: he came in very low across the airfield from Preston New Road and then pulled it into a vertical climb, until he disappeared into a clear blue sky

[@petergibbs]

In the early seventy's when I was 15, I was in the ATC (Air Training Corps). One weekday in the summer school holidays we went to RAF Cottesmore to act as road mashalls for an RAF day. We spent a very boring hot morning acting as a human road block until it was time to join our family's for the airshow. What I remember from the airshow apart from my little sister sleeping through it in her pushchair was the Lighting bombing down down the runway at low level, both engines on full re-heat and going vertical at the end of the runway. 47 years on and I still clearly remember the unbelievably POWERFUL LOUD CRACKLING sound of those two engines on full re-heat.

[@bargearse57]

Peter Gibbs coincidence I was in the ATC and saw the exact same at North Weald about 1971 🍻

[@nikmaving3384]

the last lightning show at Binbrook in 1987 was a sight and sound to experience.chucked it down allday(british summer) a 9 ship formation taking off in sequence,rolling round back over the runway towards the crowd as the next in line was lifting off on full afterburners. then after diamond 9, single flybys at the speed of sound with a shock wave round the fuesalages.there is a wobbly video on here of this. best airshow ever.never to be repeated. health&saftey!!!

[@mike_skinner]

I was in 11 squadron - best year of my life. Binbrook Driffield and Luqa.

[@annrogers8129]

Wow!! I enjoyed that! I remember seeing one of these beautiful planes at Southend Air Show, in Essex in the UK. It was an awesome sight! Thank you so much 😊

[@kh23797]

In the 70s, I lived beside Coltishall RAF station in Norfolk, England. A Lightning would shoot over the house at low level so fast we'd be shocked rigid-or glide slowly over, intakes howling weirdly. The planes are gone, the quarters are civilian housing, the airfield is a solar-power 'farm'... times change.

[@adriandanby2843]

I was based at Coltishall,when the Jaguars first arrived,but they had nothing on the Lightnings,and on top of that was a great base to be stationed at for 3 years.Loved the place and still do.Shocked on a visit last year to see what had become of the Station and its surrounds

[@Exige000]

Times change - and often not for the better. I'm often shocked when I look up an airfield I knew during the 1970's as one of the front line hot spots and find it has been transferred to car storage or warehousing - makes me cry inside to think of all the Buccaneers, Lightnings, Phantoms and other wonderful planes we used to have in the RAF.

[@clintfalk]

I know that feeling. I grew up near the enormous and busy Kelly AFB in San Antonio, Texas. I used to see an assortment of aircraft flying overhead at any time of the day. Besides the regular Air Force units, Kelly also hosted USAF Reserve and Texas Air National Guard units (who got the older hand-me-down planes). So you saw a mixture of current and previous generation aircraft over the years. Plenty of F-4s, and the F-105 or the F-100 that were handed down to Reserves and Air Guard got. B-52s and C-5s lumbered overhead as well. Kelly AFB was a product of the Cold War and a casualty of its end. It was downgraded into Kelly Field Annex and eventually merged into the adjacent Lackland AFB (primarily a training facility) The skies are quieter over San Antonio, and USAF personnel are much fewer (they used to define entire neighborhoods). But I will always remember standing in my backyard and watching the fighters shriek overhead

[@michaelmartinez1345]

Awesome segment!!! Beautiful design!!! The ROC and power are Still Awesome!!! Thank you for posting this!!!

[@captainavinit]

Thank you for posting. That familiar roar, was the sound track to my childhood. Binbrook was just up the road. Spent many hours at crash gate 3.

[@TheStig-ko7ik]

BOY OH BOY Would I 💓❤️💕 to fly in one of these AWESOME , FANTASTIC aircraft. This & a SPITFIRE. two of the worlds GREATEST aircraft ever to fly the skies. & ALWAYS WILL BE!!!