aviation - the past, present and future of flight

The alarm blares, the ‘Q-Shed’ doors open

and the unmistakeable shape of an English

Electric Lightning is revealed. Wheee-

phwoosh! A rumble. Wheee-phwoosh! The

thunder increases. Clouds of fumes have

enveloped the aircraft and almost immediately

the drab slab-sided monster lurches into

the daylight, accompanied by an impressive

amount of noise, executes a sharp right turn

and accelerates towards the runway. As the

decibels fade, a pleasant warming breeze

carrying the smell of burnt kerosene wraps

around the appreciative onlookers.

This is not a scene from the Lightning lair

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 43

John Ward taxiing Lightning F.6 XS904

from the then recently completed

Q-Shed for the first time, in July 2012.

All photos Hugh Trevor unless stated

Top right: Flt Lt Chris Berners-Price brings

Lightning F.6 XR728 in low over Bruntingthorpe

on June 24, 1988 during the delivery flight.

Steve Gensler

Above right: Founder members of the LPG (L-R):

Chris Norris, Tony Hulls, Andy Rickard, the

late Peter Talbot, ‘Rick’ Rickard, Bob Tuck, Geri

Jackson, Richard Norris, Jim Henderson, Hugh

Trevor, Graham Jackson and John O’Callaghan.

Graham Jackson

Right: The first reheat test in 1990. Pete

O’Callaghan is perched on the tailplane

checking for fuel leaks.

Below right: Lightning F.6 XS904, piloted by Peter

Orme, on final approach to Bruntingthorpe on

January 21, 1993. Note the overwing tanks fitted

for greater range during Warton trials flying.

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