Struck by Lightning....

[Christopher Low]

Is it true that getting a Lightning flyable again in Britain would not be permitted? If that's the case, what is the reason?

[shaggy22]

Is it true that getting a Lightning flyable again in Britain would not be permitted? If that's the case, what is the reason?

I'm almost 99.99% sure that it's true. And i'm sure someone will correct me on this, but i think it has something to do with it being able to reach supersonic speeds.

[ahs06]

In the U.S. getting former military aircraft is a tough task also. I think for the U.S. at least it has to do with removal of weapon systems. This is why the L-39 is so popular, it was never fitted for combat weapons. in order for the Collings Foundation to acquire their F-4, it required an act of congress since it was a weapons system. There was another case where a civilian flight school wanted New Zealand's A-4's but the government didn't like the idea of a small air force of former attack aircraft in private hands. Too bad for the sake of history.

[Firebird]

Is it true that getting a Lightning flyable again in Britain would not be permitted? If that's the case, what is the reason?

The reason is simply three letters. CAA. They do not want ex-military aircraft flying around. They see them as dangerous in real life without the problem of currancy with part time flyers and part time maintenance. They don't want, for example, a Harrier landing nose first into a school our town centre.

It is frustrating but i do see their point. If they never allow it to happen then they can't be called in front of an inquiry to explain why they let the thing fly.

[Stewart Pearson]

C.A.A. = Civil Aviation Authority, or as it is better known Committee Against Aviation!

[DaleRFU]

Is it true that getting a Lightning flyable again in Britain would not be permitted? If that's the case, what is the reason?

The reason is simply three letters. CAA. They do not want ex-military aircraft flying around. They see them as dangerous in real life without the problem of currancy with part time flyers and part time maintenance. They don't want, for example, a Harrier landing nose first into a school our town centre.

It is frustrating but i do see their point. If they never allow it to happen then they can't be called in front of an inquiry to explain why they let the thing fly.

Another reason is the terrible history lightnings have with engine fires.

[timbob1]

Well said Stewart, yes the two Lightnings at Bruntingthorpe would be able to fly but are not allowed by the CAA, we do have a busy airspace over the UK and slotting in a couple of Lightnings would be a bit of a headache

[timbob1]

Dale they are called Afterburners LOL Sorry mate I couldn't resist that.

[timbob1]

Here's one of those at Bruntingthorpe, got close up and personal to her

[Jon]

Looking forward to the eventual release.

[Christopher Low]

If the CAA do not like ex military planes flying around, then why do they allow the Vulcan, two Gloster Meteors, and a fleet of Hawker Hunters to operate here?

[DaleRFU]

If the CAA do not like ex military planes flying around, then why do they allow the Vulcan, two Gloster Meteors, and a fleet of Hawker Hunters to operate here?

That is a very good question.

[delbydoo]

If the CAA do not like ex military planes flying around, then why do they allow the Vulcan, two Gloster Meteors, and a fleet of Hawker Hunters to operate here?

That is a very good question.

Afterburners.......

[f4nutter]

and the fact that they cant go balistic ! any military aircraft that cant go above mach 1 is not a good idea in civil hands can you imagine all the would be Chuck Yeager sonic booms every 5 mins

[BLACKCAT]

Mike, excellent work and I'm sure the Lightning is a welcome addition to the AI skies.

I have just one observation and perhaps the project is far too far down the production line to do anything now (and why should you, anyway) but that nose just doesn't look right, specifically the curvature of the upper surface. Just take a look at the profile of the Lightning that DaleRFU uses on his posts; the upper surface is a continuous, rising surface all the way into base of the windshield whereas, from what I can see of your model, the surface levels to almost horizontal.

Of course, it may be simply down to the quality at which I'm able to look at your preview pictures and it's an optical illusion.

I recall that someone produced an AI Hercules (before the HTAI version) and the visual failure of that one was that the nose just wasn't quite right.

Just an observation, that's all - good luck with the release to service!

[james84]

Excellent job, Mike!
Any chance to see the two-seater version too?

[jimrodger]

Am I the only that starts hyperventilating every time I see an update on this thread.

If I'm kept waiting any longer think I'm going to burst.

Really looking forwards to this one.


Many, many thanks for all your work.



Jim

[mikewmac]

Check out my new signature Guys.

Mike M.

[jimrodger]

Oh no.....................



Jim

[mikeblaze]

All painting is done in draft, just a few little touches here and there. Since I was a painter first, it stands to reason that I would go totally overboard with that part of it. I have done 72 paints for thirteen base model variants for this project. We're stuck with thirteen, couldn't do twelve or fourteen withouth extensive re-design (prototypes); so hopefully it won't be bad luck, lol. Don't get nervous looking at all of these clean and naked models, because this doesn't count loadout options (hence the gob of paints). It is currently in final (I hope) beta test and last-minute tweaking before making multi-LOD models and publishing. The following gallery shots are pretty much all of the painting I have done for this project. In no apparent order: F.1, F.1A, F.2, F.2A, F.3, F.3A, F.6, T.4, T.5, and export (F.52, F.53, T.54, T.55). On the note of the exports, I painted over twenty Saudi and Kuwaiti serials, to support the vast amount of air-to-ground variants (bombs, recce, rockets, rockts, and still more rockets......). I think the only unit I didn't do was the Empire Test Pilot School; I'm pretty toasted on painting this aircraft for now, but there will be paint kits released (hint, hint....).

Enjoy the following posts (and eye candy).

Mike P.