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THEY PROTECTED YOU  NOW YOU  PROTECT THEM!

Hugh Trevor and Richard Norris of the Lightning Preservation Group detail the Past, Present and Future of their Two Hotrods, and talk about the 'Nest' they plan for them

A night time 5 Squadron Lightning scramble - whatever the time, the men and machines were always ready! (MoD)

The unearthly siren wail catapults the crew from their rest, as the telebrief springs to life: "Binbrook this is Boulmer-alert two Lightnings, Mission 51 and 52-vector 040, climb Flight Level 250, contact Boulmer fighter frequency as pre-briefed. Scramble-scramble-scramble!" The shriek of Avpin starters presages a monstrous roar as two massive drab shapes surge from the Quick Reaction Alert hangar and power down the glistening runway, spray boiling in their wake. Lightning reheats spear the gloom and the ground shakes with their thunder.

XS904 deploys the brake 'chute following a' fast-taxi' run at Bruntingthorpe.  Hugh Trevor

This cold war spectacle of two Lightnings on Quick Reaction Alert will be recreated at Bruntingthorpe Airfield, Leicestershire, if the Lightning Preservation Group (LPG) has its way-a tribute to the men and machines of the Lightning Force which, for almost thirty years, were in the front line of UK Air Defence against the Soviet threat. The dream of a museum to commemorate the cold war has been a long time coming to fruition, but it is now almost within grasp. But meanwhile, back in the twentieth century…

End of the Lightning?

Lightning F6 piloted by BAE Systems test pilot Keith Hartley, throws up the spray at the LPG's 10th anniversary bash on June27, 1998. HughTrevor

It is 1988 and a RAF tractor tows a gaunt, spares-recovered Lightning airframe through the mist of a Binbrook morning and manoeuvres it on to the end of a lengthening line of derelict 'decoys' by Crash Gate 2. A depressing scene for the many enthusiasts who over the years had made pilgrimage to the English Electric Lightning's final haunts atop the Lincolnshire wolds, and who were now observing the gloomy final months of the Lightning's service career.

Fortunately, a small band was already planning to save at least one of the beasts from extinction. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) tender form required a name, and so the 'Lightning Preservation Group' was formed. Shortly afterwards, in an atmosphere of euphoria and some disbelief, the group received the news that their tender had been successful. They now owned their very own jet fighter, and not just any old jet fighter, but an example of Warton's finest-Britain's only home-grown Mach 2 interceptor!

A 'massive drab shape' stands out in the gloom as XR 728 provides some light to a Bruntingthorpe 'pea-souper'.  Hugh Trevor

The Lightning was offered a retirement home by the Walton family, owners of Bruntingthorpe airfield in Leicestershire, and on June 24, 1988, Flt Lt Chris Berners-Price made several low passes across the tower and along the runway ('just burning off fuel') before touching down, having delivered XR728 'JS', favoured mount of RAF Binbrook's Station Commander, Group Captain John Spencer, for preservation.

XR 758 stands inside a Q- Shed at Binbrook in July 1987. Not only will the LPG's QRA hangar provide an important commemoration to the 'Cold War' era, but it will also give their two Lightnings vital protection from the elements. Hugh Trevor

The initial plan was to keep the aircraft as a static exhibit-indeed the RAF's intention was to drill holes intothe fuel tanks just to make sure, but fortunately their employees were dissuaded from this sacrilege. Much to his surprise, Ray Nightingale, a former member of the Binbrook ground crew, had become involved with the LPG: "If you'd told me six months ago I'd be giving up my weekends to work on Lightnings I'd have said you were mad!" Ray held the firm opinion that running the engines was the best way to preserve the aircraft as it would drive out moisture and help keep systems and seals serviceable, and so it proved.

Whilst the real excitement at Bruntingthorpe is obviously the reheat runs themselves, visitors can also nostalgically witness at close quarters the prepping and starting of a lightning - just as though another RAF sortie is about to be undertaken!  KEY - Jarrod Cotter

Group Capt Andy Williams, former 'Boss' of No. 5 (Lightning) Squadron, was then invited to taxi the aircraft, and eventually fast taxi-runs along Bruntingthorpe's 10,000ft (3000m) runway became the norm. Static testing of the reheat (afterburner) systems was then carried out, with the aircraft secured to the concrete by spigoted chocks, and eventually taxi-runs employing full reheat became regular events at public open days.

The LPG's second aircraft, F.6 XS904, was delivered from BAe Warton by Deputy Chief Test Pilot Peter Orme on January 21, 1993, sweeping low across Bruntingthorpe Airfield in company with Andy Williams in a Tornado F.3. This was the final military flight of a Lightning, and followed British Aerospace's withdrawal of the last four Lightnings from use as high speed targets in Tornado F.3 Foxhunter AI.24 radar trials

Dennis Brooks pilots XR 728 on its 'tiptoes' at the September 2000 Open Day.   Hugh Trevor

Lightnings XR728 and XS904 are both maintained in taxiable condition and can be viewed in close-up on the biannual open days, normally held in May and September and advertised in FlyPast (foot and mouth disease unfortunately 'torpedoed' that planned for May 2001). The LPG open days are usually held in conjunction with British Aviation Heritage, whose collection of nostalgia-inducing hardware, such as Victor XM715 and Buccaneer XX900, also give runway demonstrations. Vulcan XH558, of course, is currently undergoing deep maintenance.

Cockpit tours of the Lightnings, and of Nev Martin's variety of aircraft nose sections, help visitors to get a feel (and a smell!) of the aircraft. Thirteen years on, former Lightning pilots continue to impress the crowds with the noise and fury of reheat runs, reaching speeds approaching 150mph-the temptation to tweak back on the stick must be intense, but as commented on many times, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has not approved civilian operation of Lightnings.

The Group's third major acquisition occurred in 1994 when the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) hangar from the former Lightning/Phantom base of RAF Wattisham was obtained in 'kit form'. In the 1960's, QRA hangars (or Q-Sheds) were built adjacent to the main runways at RAF stations Wattisham, Binbrook and Leuchars to enhance the Lightning's rapid response capability-and reduce fuel use during taxiing! Lightnings were held on 10 minutes readiness against any intrusion into the UK Air Defence Region, and were in the vanguard of the defence of the United Kingdom from 1960 to 1988. The Wattisham Q-Shed was obtained by the LPG when the RAF relinquished the base, following the retirement of the Phantom force. Trafalgar House Construction generously donated the Q-Shed to the LPG in January 1994 and it was carefully dismantled and moved on six forty-foot trailers to Bruntingthorpe, where it is stored awaiting reincarnation.

In addition to offering the two Lightnings welcome protection from the elements, the Q-Shed is a historic building in its own right, an important artefact of the cold war era, and its reconstruction will advance further the 'working' aviation museum which has developed under the wing of BAH. The high cost of Q-Shed construction, approximately £120,000 is partly due to the large volume of concrete required, as the floor area is large and the dispersal where the hangar will stand must be built up, as it lies about 18 inches (45cm) below the level of the taxiway.

Stage 1 of the fund-raising appeal was launched under the slogan 'They Protected You, Now You Can Protect Them', and a very successful 'QRA Day' at Bruntingthorpe in July last year helped raise over £9,000 in donations within a few weeks. Both Lightnings were fast-taxied on reheat, with former Lightning jockeys Dennis Brooks and Tony Paxton at the controls, and in between the two runs members of the LPG carried out a sponsored 'Lightning Pull' for a mile along the runway-which was the cue for the heavens to open. The last quarter-mile was uphill and quite a struggle, but fortunately the coronary care unit was not required!

This year's QRA Day was on Sunday July 15th, and it is hoped that the funds raised at this successful event will be sufficient to kick-start the first phase of the project, to shot-blast, paint and erect the framework of the hangar. The rate of progress will then depend on the generosity of supporters. Donations of any size are welcomed, and if you give £50 or more then your name (or a name of your choice) will be permanently displayed on a Roll of Honour inside the hangar. Do it now!!

Please make any  donations payable to 'LPG', c/o Richard Norris, 2 Springhill, Little Staughton, Beds., MK44 2BS (Tel: 01234 378827).
E-mail: Hugh Trevor (Secretary) hugh@lightnings.org.uk

Unfortunately, the LPG does not currently have the manpower to run a membership scheme, but they are happy to talk Lightnings if you wish to make contact!

For almost 30 years, Lightnings were in front - line defence of UK airspace. Piloted by Gp Capt J H Spencer, whose name is still carried on the aircraft, the LPG's XR 728 is pictured here on a sortie out of Binbrook close to the retirement of the type from RAF service in 1988  Key -Duncan Cubitt

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