XR713
The LPG’s most recent venture was to save
Lightning F.3 XR713 from the scrapman’s
torch. The F.3 had landed at RAF Leuchars,
Fife in March 1987 and, having been adopted
by 111 Sqn, received the unit’s markings.
However, in 2014 with 111 Sqn disbanded
and the Eurofighter Typhoon squadrons
about to move to RAF Lossiemouth in Moray,
the airframe was put up for disposal. LPG
Chairman Chris Norris (brother of Richard)
placed a successful bid for the airframe which
was without engines, and project manager
Chief Technician Max Waldron (ret’d) began
to assemble a dismantling team.
Lead engineer was Chief Technician
Dave Blissett (ret’d), highly experienced on
Lightnings and owner of T.5 XS416 which
resides in New York, Lincolnshire. Dave,
Max and six more volunteers converged on
Leuchars to join former Lightning engineer
Sergeant Arthur Hewitt (ret’d) and enthusiast
Scott McPhee, who had begun preparatory
work. By the end of the week over 700 man-
hours had been expended and the cockpit
had been split from the fuselage, but the
wings and fuselage refused to separate and
the fin was stuck fast.
A hydraulic ram was used on the second
visit to provide more ‘muscle’, and with much
protesting, the fuselage and wings parted
company. The fin was more reluctant but
eventually jerked free. Which just left 800
bolts to be removed to split the port and
starboard wings.
Early in May 2015 the final load from
Leuchars arrived at Bruntingthorpe, where
Dave Thomas unloaded the valuable cargo.
Martin Blaze of BAE Systems kindly arranged
for apprentices from his company, led by Claire
West, to spend a week assisting the rebuild.
With further help from Dave Blissett and Chief
Technician Phil Wallis (ret’d), this enabled
major components to be reassembled and
XR713 to be on her wheels by the Cold War
Jets Open Day at the end of August.
Refurbishment of the cockpit had begun
immediately XR713 arrived, powdery corrosion
being removed and instrument panels touchedup with model paints. Enthusiasts and online
auction sites were scoured for panels and
instruments; Richard Hall, owner of T.5 XS420
at Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, made
available a selection of hard-to-find items, and
the collection of late LPG founder member Peter
Talbot was an invaluable source. Altogether
XR713 was very much a team project.NEW SCHEME
Over the years there had been talk of “wouldn’t
it be nice to strip a Lightning to natural metal
and have a change of finish”. Arguments
against this were varied, the most important
being that paint provides corrosion protection.
But now there was a ‘fresh canvas’ available.
It was clear that XR713’s appearance
had deteriorated and a complete repaint
was desirable, but the 111 Sqn finish was
attractive and authentic in that XR713 did
sport this scheme in 1965. Additionally, many
‘Treble One’ personnel had supported the
project and 111 Sqn members were planning
to hold their centenary anniversary event in
the Q-Shed in 2017.
However, maybe a ‘split personality’
was feasible; Richard Norris suggested thestarboard side should bear the startling
finish adopted by 56 Sqn, 111 Sqn’s sister
unit at Wattisham in 1965, where the fin was
transformed into a red and white chequerboard.
Nice idea, but the ’713 project had depleted
the LPG’s coffers and the focus had to be on
keeping the two F.6s in good running order.
A casual conversation between the author,
the LPG’s Bob Tuck and Steve Comber of
the Centre of Aviation Photography (COAP),
led to Steve generously offering to fund
half the cost in exchange for an exclusive
photographic opportunity for COAP.
Estimates obtained and terms agreed,
Chris Norris authorised former RAF painters
Steve Thompson and Danny Collin to begin
the long and arduous task of preparing the
surface for painting, following which aircraft
finisher Steven Hand and decal specialist Paul
Balfour of AB Military set to work.
Unforeseen delays led to the 56 Sqn
scheme being completed with literally hours to
spare before the photographers arrived. The
stunning paint scheme was an immediate
success. The aircraft serial on the starboard
side was changed to ‘XR718’ as XR713 never
wore such a scheme.
The LPG holds several events during
the year, including a static night shoot in
February with dramatic lighting and posed set
pieces, and a twilight taxi-run with reheat in
November. In addition, LPG aircraft take part
in the Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open
Days, usually held on the last bank holidays
in May and in August.BACK TO THE FUTURE
The LPG is realistic that fast taxi runs
cannot go on forever. The group has owned
and operated two serviceable, though
admittedly non-airworthy, Lightnings for 30
years – which is longer than the RAF had
the type in service! The Lightnings were
notoriously ‘high maintenance’ – in service
each aircraft averaged 20 hours maintenance
for one hour’s flying, even with highly trained
engineers, manufacturer back-up and a
massive stock of spares.46 Aviation News incorporating Jets April 2018Atmospheric images can be captured during the periodic night photoshoots held by the LPG.The cockpit section of XR713 is finally freed from the rear fuselage, enabling the wings to be
extracted and split for transport from RAF Leuchars to Bruntingthorpe.42-47_lightning_lpgDC.mfDC.mfDC.indd 46 02/03/2018 17:16