As mentioned in my other post about Cranfield, XS458 does high speed runs throughout the year. They have done 12 in 2009 alone and she is proving to be a very reliable aircraft but sadly not so popular.
As mentioned, poor XS458 can't have her own Q Shed as all the money raised goes on expenses, mainly fuel. But a full tarp is being made so she will be covered fully soon.
Here are some interesting facts.
The start-up fuel is £20 per litre.
She burns 7 gallons of normal fuel per minute, for the static reheat she burns 14 gallons per second
The final run of the year is a twilight run which is taking place on 12th December. The day will start at 12 mid-day and run into the early evening. There will be 2 high speed runs and a static re-heat. The cost to get up close and personal at this event is £30 with a £10 deposit. Place are limited to 25 people and 18 are booked already. There will be no buffet at this event but Russell is more than happy to treat everyone to a cuppa and maybe a cake
The afternoon will consist of a get together over tea and cake (that great british tradition!). You will then be kitted up with high vis jackets and ear defenders. A safety briefing shall take place and then it's onto the runway. You will get right up close to the Lightning, have a chance to sit inside, take oodles of photos and have a good nose around her. The ground crew shall then prep the plane talking everyone through the points, this includes a parachute check. It's then high speed run Number 1 time, again, you can literally be RIGHT up close to her when she goes. Run Number 2 is performed an hour or so later and on return is the static re-heat where you can literally stand right beside her while she is doing this.
Clearly health and safety does apply, I am sure many have seen the video on youtube of the last event where one of the Ground Crew got his whiskers burnt, he was asked to leave and not to ever return, so they take safety very seriously.
If you are interested in attenting please PM me for Russell's email and phone number, he loves chatting about his Lightning to people
The deposit of £10 must be paid before 15th November.Now onto the exciting part, is the 2nd seat ride you can buy in the Lightning. You will be dressed in full flight gear including comms helmet and oxygen mask so you look the part. You will spend roughly 15 minutes in the cockpit, taxi, high speed run, taxi back. There are 2 video camera's mounted inside the Lightning, 1 shows forward the other shows the pilot and passenger, at the end of the day you will take home the tape of your ride in the Lightning. In addition to this you will receive a signed certificate, a Lightning polo shirt and a Lightning T5 baseball hat. 8 people have had rides this year, only 1 was left disappointed as the poor guy suffered a panic attack in the cockpit and couldn't go through with it!
Take a sharp intake of breath and please sit down. For this once in a lifetime opportunity, the price is six hundred and fifty british pounds (£650)
So there we go, a little info about Cranfields Lightning, what she gets up to and how you can get involved
