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Normal Topic For Lightning Buffs (Read 12,179 times)
Ian Fish
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For Lightning Buffs
02.01.2011 at 13:37:29
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While scanning in my parents photo archive I came across this of a diamond nine of Lightnings.  My guess is that it was a Farnborough Air Show of either 1960 or 1961
  

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Mike Good
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #1 - 02.01.2011 at 17:48:31
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Wow!  Nine serviceable F1s!  I'm guesssing they're "The Tigers" - 74 Sqn's display team?
  
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Mike Clarke
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #2 - 02.01.2011 at 22:47:52
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There is a photograph of a 74 Sqn "Diamond Nine" at the 1961 SBAC Show on the Wikipedia English Electric Lightning page.   I should say that you are correct Mike.
  
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Mike Good
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #3 - 03.01.2011 at 18:18:37
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Far too young to have been there of course - but I built the Airfix kit!
  
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Richard Jenner
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #4 - 04.01.2011 at 19:21:09
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What 9 of them?
  
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Nick Gadd
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #5 - 05.01.2011 at 12:46:59
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Good picture Ian! My guess is the picture was taken at the time of the 1962 Farnborough Air Show. That was a vintage year. 74 Sqn were based at RAF Coltishall and were joined on 7 August 1962 by 16 Hawker Hunters (the Blue Diamonds). These aircraft flew together throughout August and finally 16 Hunters and 9 Lightning F1s(plus a spare) took part in the 1962 Farnborough Airshow in early September.
  
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Mike Good
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #6 - 05.01.2011 at 19:02:36
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No Richard, Felixstowe paper-rounds didn't pay that well. 
  
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Ian Fish
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #7 - 05.01.2011 at 19:51:02
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Hi Nick,

It cannot have been 1962 as we were in Wildenrath by then.  I am 99.99% certain it was 1961.  By the way, as is the way with these things, I've found a better picture taken on the same occassion and, because you mentioned them, a Hunter.
  

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Nick Gadd
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #8 - 05.01.2011 at 22:09:50
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Hi Ian,
Lets agree on 1961! The Hunter has quite a story behind it. That year 22 Hunters looped at the Farnborough Airshow. However before then, according to folklore, they attempted to roll all 22 aircraft in one formation. However, some "stalled" and fell through the formation but no collisions and everyone survived.
  
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Jan Cobb
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #9 - 05.01.2011 at 22:33:16
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Nick Gadd wrote on 05.01.2011 at 22:09:50:
That year 22 Hunters looped at the Farnborough Airshow

Hi Nick

Apparently, according to this link (sixth paragraph down), the 22-aircraft loop at Farnborough - courtesy of Treble-one - was in 1958 (but I was only 10 then, so what do I know?!)
  
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Gordon Carle
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #10 - 06.01.2011 at 15:00:09
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It was 111 - The Black Arrows - pretty sure 58. I was there but hadn't learnt how to get all that many aircraft in one frame (must have been very young!)
Gordon
  

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Ian Fish
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #11 - 06.01.2011 at 15:13:24
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Isn't memory a wonderfully flexible thing!  If it is any help the (very tiny speck) pictures of the 1961 Hunter formation shows 16 aircraft.
  
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Gordon Carle
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #12 - 06.01.2011 at 15:22:02
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_UK9Rq8VfY
A little Black Arrows & 74 Sqn Lightnings = others here - 1958
  
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Jan Cobb
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #13 - 06.01.2011 at 15:43:18
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Wattisham Airfield Museum has a page about the Black Arrows, reachable through the front page and clicking on the 'Operation Blackjack' menu link on the left, or direct to the page here. The 1958 22-aircraft loop at Farnborough receives a mention. Smiley
  
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Gordon Carle
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #14 - 09.01.2011 at 00:45:27
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I knew I'd find it if I kept looking! (near the end of the video - the earlier part is just sheer nostalgia for oldies!)
22 Hunters looping (not quite as tight as I remembered it - maybe I went on another day)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjxEVmY_-mE&feature=related
  
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Kelvin
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Re: For Lightning Buffs
Reply #15 - 10.02.2011 at 12:46:50
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Would anyone like to see my collection of Corgi Lightning models?  No, I thought not
  
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