How about those Seahawks!

Posted by: joerand on 23 December 2012

Time for a REAL football post on this forum .

The Seahawks are playoff bound for certain. With a rookie QB and looking better each game. Should be an interesting post-season.

Posted on: 24 December 2012 by Don Atkinson

Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:

This is THE Lightning video. Just watch that altimeter on the left turn into a gyro. One revolution of that needle is 1,000ft.... http://youtu.be/VC8CsVpg64o Tony

Good though it was (and it was) It had a few problems, including fuel pipes running past hot burners. Quite a few had engine fires and were lost. One of my friends ejected at night into the Med off Cyprus.

But it could get up to XX,000 ft intercept a Bear and be back on the ground within 40 mins - which was close to its limits, so just as well !

Cheers

Don

Posted on: 24 December 2012 by JamieWednesday

I could go on...

Posted on: 24 December 2012 by Tony Lockhart

Don, It was pretty much designed to do just that and no more, so any extra range would be wasted space? A workmate of mine was a flight engineer on VC-10 tankers...... some great stories from back then. Much more interesting than the stories from his Cathay days! Tony

Posted on: 24 December 2012 by Don Atkinson

Tony, as you say, it was a single purpose machine and very good at its job. But IMHO it really could have had a longer loiter time, without becomming another TSR2. And a couple more Firestreaks. And the Saudi's obviously liked them as well.

Cheers

Don

Posted on: 24 December 2012 by Tony Lockhart

Most people in my trade hated them, I seem to remember. Too many jobs required the removal of both engines, and too many components were almost impossible to remove through the only-just-big-enough panel holes. All seemed to be forgiven though when they took off in their classic way. Such a shame that Thunder City scrimped on servicing their Lightnings. Especially the ejection system. Tony

Posted on: 24 December 2012 by joerand

This is what I was talking about

Posted on: 24 December 2012 by Tony2011

No shoulder pads. Just balls!

Posted on: 24 December 2012 by Tony Lockhart

Mosquito, one of the greatest. I've done start up crew on one. I almost didn't get burnt! Tony

Posted on: 24 December 2012 by Tony2011

It burned a few a---s but saved a lot more!

Tony

Posted on: 24 December 2012 by Tony Lockhart

Glad it was on our, hic, side.

Posted on: 24 December 2012 by Tony2011

Maidenhead , circa 42/43, ice rink made into a factory producing plywood for the Mosquitoes. Mainly girls as the boys were away on the front line. Balls from both sides!

Tony