Struck by Lightning....

[Firebird]

I have a modellers magazine on the Frightening which lists several example of F.3s with each Sqn this was because at the end of it's life they went with the best aircraft available due to fatigue issues. The F.3s though were not, if I recall correctly, used for QRA for 5 and 11, due to lack of armament and lack of fuel. They were mainly used as in squadron targets for intercepts. The F.3s were regarded as the hot ships of the Lightning fleet with the best pure performance.

[Keith Jones]

Check these images and the dates and captions

http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air ... adee45bfb6

http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air ... adee45bfb6

I stand corrected

[plumber]

Just a short note re the F3's at Binbrook on No5 and 11 Sqdns, the F3's in the main only carried Firestreak Missiles also they were used against the USAF F5 agressors. On the last taceval the Lightning only failed on the lack of defensive aids, which says a lot for this a/c

[sr01]

Keith and Dale
You are both right . Depends on dates
---------------------------------------------
Dale
XS903 was marked BA during X1's closing days with the Lightning
Here's its history
Born 8/17/66
03/16/67 to 5 Sqn as "A" ,June '69 went to Paris airshow as "91" .
04/10/70 @ leaconfield observed with black "5" on fin
April/ 70 marked as "C"
April,78 to Sept. 79 in storage (LTF) During this time marked LTF on fin , Sept 14,79 nose wheel up landing @Coningsby
10/29/80 to X1 as BC 1984 to 5sqdn again as AM
7/22/87 to X1 as BE .late Nov,87 became BA 05/18/88 delivered to Yorkshire Air Museum by Wg. Cdr Jake Jarron
-----------------------------------------------------------
Delbydoo
5 Sqn sorta did have 2 T5's in 1988
XS416 was property of #5 from July 1984 till Dec. 87 when it went into storage until 03/29/88
XS458 was in #5 from March,1987 till Dec., 87 .Marked as "DY" LTF Then went to X1 Sqn still marked as "DY" LTF
-----------------------------------------------
Steve
Actual the F1 andF1A in TFF were considered the Hot bird after they were overhauled striped of their radar and most of their armament, etc, to be used as target" A/C . XM144 was considered to be the best of the bunch .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some A/C really moved around( This is also true for our CF18's) .Some were real whores ,one being in 3 sqn's during one calendar year. BTW Treble 111 dropped and finished off the most Lightnings . I think Mike did a fantastic job in researching his models . It's a hard job and involves LOTS of time digging the info up . Tracking individual A/C can be very time absorbing and sometimes just when ya've got it "right" a photo turns up and F###kit back to the "drawing boards " .
Cheers

[sr01]

Mike,

I have the beta version of the MPAI EE Lightning FDE about 95% done and will be sending it your way this week. I never realized the great performance these unique RAF birds had.

The $64,000 question Mike is...........................will you be able to reproduce the iconic Lightning take off as seen here?;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CDLbokf9sg

Would be stunning if it were possible.

Stew,

Steve's correct that the FS9 AI engine prevents the vertical climbout, but I did recreate the relatively short takeoff roll. At the moment I have set its takeoff roll to ~2300' since I figured that its high performance ~1630' takeoff roll was probably only used in emergency scramble situations like we did with the VT ANG's F-102A "Deuces" back in the day.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find much definitive performance data for the EE Lightning on the internet, so to some extent I have had to extrapolate from my own knowledge of the USAF's "Century Series: fighters from the same era.

If anyone has any performance information on the EE Lightning such as typical takeoff and landing rolls, the latter with and without a drag chute, as well as rotation, cruise, approach and landing speeds, I'd love to get a copy.

I emailed my MPAI EE Lightning Beta FDE to Mike P. yesterday, so things are moving right along on his latest AI model.

Mike M.

Mike
Too late to be of use to you and I apologise for that . The speed of emails sometimes slow down to a crawl !!!
But touch down speed was 170 mph .
Cheers
Brian

[mikewmac]

Mike
Too late to be of use to you and I apologise for that . The speed of emails sometimes slow down to a crawl !!!
But touch down speed was 170 mph .
Cheers
Brian

Brian,

Unfortunately I couldn't push the approach and landing speeds for the MPAI EE Lightning that high and still maintain consistent and relatively realistic landings for both VFR and IFR flights, so I had to compromise and settle for the relatively realistic landings.

Sorry,

Mike M.

[Garysb]

A few from Binbrook
Exercise Elder Forest































Greenham





just a few


Gary

[DaleRFU]

Fantastic photo's Gary, if you have anymore please post them

[Keith Jones]

Lovely!

[mikewmac]

Gary,

Great photos! Must bring back some great memories to the photographer.

Mike M.

[Garysb]

It does
Days off pre wife!
Oh for a digital then eh
Copies of slides only


Gary

[sr01]

Gary
If you have Photoshop or Nero Photosnap Viewer you can "clean" those up by adjusting the exposure etc.
If you don't PM me with your email address and I'll do a couple for ya
I've uplaoded Bionbrooks A/C on Dareel's RAF Binbrook thread
Cheers
Brian

[mikeblaze]

The paint kits will be over on AVSIM in a couple of hours, have at it, boys..........

[Firebird]

I am really hoping that all the interest in this thread translates into projects. These models deserve it.

[delbydoo]

The first of many.....

[zsoltfireman]

RAF Leuchars

[Keith Jones]

Great stuff

[mikeblaze]

Hey Zsolt,

That is the best compliment to a modeler, seeing a good payware aircraft next to my crude first-effort AI aircraft, and they actually look okay, lol.

Mike P.

[zsoltfireman]

Hi Mike P.,

I love the AI EE Lightning packages!

Many many thanks!!!

Regards,
Zsolt

[rocket_26_]

The model looks great well done.