Thunder City SA to close

[FourWheelDrift]

According to this and other recent posts elsewhere.

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/426793-thun...

Seems like no more Lightning or Buccaneer flights.

Anyone know any more than that?

[Roop]

Shame. I met MBH a couple of times while our Hunter was based at Kemble. He came over to collect a Bucc that had been prepped at Kemble for it's flight to SA. Good bloke. IMHO, any single seat Hunters (or birds like thta in general) are hard to shift, but if they have any T-birds they'll go in a snap if the price is right.

As it's currently impossible to run a Bucc or Frightening on a permit in the UK, can't really see them coming back here. Expecially the Bucc as it's so sodding complex, it's go no chance. At least a Frighto is just a couple of Avons, a tub of Jet-A1 and a bang seat, none of this foldy wing malarkey.

Will watch this with interest. Hunter would be ideal commuter ship for weekend trips to the UK.

[spitfire-ian]

Roop said:

At least a Frighto is just a couple of Avons, a tub of Jet-A1 and a bang seat, none of this foldy wing malarkey.

Unfortunately Lightings had a habit of falling out of the sky. A privately owned Lighting flying in the UK is never going to happen. The CAA wouldn't even allow them to fly out from the UK to South Africa.

[Roop]

spitfire-ian said:

Roop said:

At least a Frighto is just a couple of Avons, a tub of Jet-A1 and a bang seat, none of this foldy wing malarkey.

Unfortunately Lightings had a habit of falling out of the sky. A privately owned Lighting flying in the UK is never going to happen. The CAA wouldn't even allow them to fly out from the UK to South Africa.

True, the latter only because they'd not get past the Isle of Wight without a refuel

They were notoriously tricky and not great gliders. Frightos are never gonna happen as you say. I know there was some discussion about Buccs as a medium complexity airframe being allowed, but I can't see it TBH.

[FourWheelDrift]

What about Buccaneer XX885 (G-HHAA) at Scampton? The CAA gave them approval.

There's also a Lightning in the USA said to being restored to fly.

[anonymous-user]

The Scampton Bucc is potentially airworthy, however HHA have said it will not fly unless they get a contract/work for it, which seems a terrible waste.

Who is going to approach them and say, can I book a contract for 3 years time, for an aircraft which is going to cost more to operate than a Hunter I can have in a few months.

Can't see the Buccaneer at Scampton ever flying unless they decide they will restore it to fly at airshows.

[aeropilot]

Roop said:

Expecially the Bucc as it's so sodding complex, it's go no chance. At least a Frighto is just a couple of Avons, a tub of Jet-A1 and a bang seat, none of this foldy wing malarkey.

T'other way around..... there's some chance of a Bucc flying, as mentioned, and if HHA get a contract they can fly their's, and the CAA granted the TC bound Buccs ferry permits to fly out of UK airspace, which they flatly refused to do for the Frightnings.

The CAA are after all guided by the DA as to what they consider is permitable or not.

Zero ever chance of a Lightning flying back here...... there's just not the money to pay for DA support in the way that is neccessary.... i.e. a la Vulcan.

Edited by aeropilot on Wednesday 15th September 21:40

[thatone1967]

spitfire-ian said:

A privately owned Lighting flying in the UK is never going to happen. The CAA wouldn't even allow them to fly out from the UK to South Africa.

[Simpo Two]

Roop said:

At least a Frighto is just a couple of Avons, a tub of Jet-A1 and a bang seat, none of this foldy wing malarkey.

As I recall from somewhere long ago, 'With that much power you could make anything fly, even a JCB'.

[FourWheelDrift]

Less than 2 months to go to get bids in for the aircraft. 3 Lightnings, 3 Buccaneers and 4 Hunters.

http://www.go-dove.com/event-15794/Thunder-City-Ai...

[NismoGT]

FourWheelDrift said:

Less than 2 months to go to get bids in for the aircraft. 3 Lightnings, 3 Buccaneers and 4 Hunters.

http://www.go-dove.com/event-15794/Thunder-City-Ai...

PH Air Force?

[Mr_B]

The ad for the Lightning says " and still holds a number of world climb-to-altitude records! ".
Is that correct ?

[FourWheelDrift]

Mr_B said:

The ad for the Lightning says " and still holds a number of world climb-to-altitude records! ".
Is that correct ?

May still hold some.

This is a good collection of stories for one Lightning XR749 which is now preserved in Peterhead. I don't think anything else has intercepted a U2 or managed to catch Concorde.

http://www.lightning.org.uk/oct04sotm.html

[martin mrt]

Thanks for posting that up Fourwheeldrift, it was a very interesting read, moreso as I've passed and stared at XR749 when entering the company premises where she is a Gate Guardian

Im currently reading The Lightning Boys, which has been a fantastic read so far

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

Bugger. This was a bucket list item for me.

[Boatbuoy]

Obiwonkeyblokey said:

Bugger. This was a bucket list item for me.

And me!

[onyx39]

.... Runs off to check last nights lottery ticket....

[aeropilot]

If anyone wants to know why Thunder City closed, then reading the just published accident report into the crash of their Lightning T.5 back in 2009, should explain pretty much why. The behavior/attitude of both the deceased pilot, and the company to Lightning operations is quite shocking to those of us that know enough about the Frightning

Link to recently published report here...

http://www.caa.co.za/resource%20center/accidents%2...

[Simpo Two]

Wihtout reading all 136 pages, I guess he used up what little hydraulic pressure he had left trying to lower/shake free the undercarriage? With hindsight, if he'd saved it for the flying controls, might he have made it down in a (albeit messy) belly landing? Slim chance being better than no chance etc.

[davepoth]

Simpo Two said:

Wihtout reading all 136 pages, I guess he used up what little hydraulic pressure he had left trying to lower/shake free the undercarriage? With hindsight, if he'd saved it for the flying controls, might he have made it down in a (albeit messy) belly landing? Slim chance being better than no chance etc.

That enormous fuel tank on the bottom of the fuselage wouldn't take too well to being used as a skid surely?