Lightning Tales

[Xplumberlives]

The C130 was actually shot down accidentally by TSR2 on a test flight. That's why the Yanks insisted it was cancelled.

I thought everyone knew that.

Oh









you










PILLOCK!

[MOD]

It is easy to see how these rumours start. I wondered why XR220 has a Herc 'Kill' below its cockpit.

ibw

[Jigsaw]

[Xplumberlives]

The C130 was actually shot down accidentally by TSR2 on a test flight. That's why the Yanks insisted it was cancelled.

I thought everyone knew that.

I thought the test flights had been cancelled by then!

And Ian, wasn't 219 the only one to fly!

[MOD]

You really are a ... wait for it!!





















































GIT.

[Xplumberlives]

At your service Sir!

[Jps]

Hi,

just spotted this post; as I am Jon 13g Fynes (normally remembered as Fynsy), I can confirm the story although it was a bit more hairy than it reads here. In fact the aircraft having been scrapped was eventually repaired 5 years later as Binbrook began to run out of aircraft. They actually welded plates like man hole covers top and bottom of both wings as I had cracked both wing spars. Although it flew again, it never shot straight on gun camps!. It finished up as one of the last Lightnings flying and went to BAE Warton as a trials support aircraft when Binbrook closed. Not many aircraft would have got home after a 13g pull like that. Lucky chap wasn;t I?

[Jigsaw]

Lucky? Understatement

[Dan4th]

Welcome, John Player Special.........

13 Gs???????????

I'm guessing a new shoe purchase was
in the cards.......

Dan4th

[Xplumberlives]

Welcome aboard Jon, nice to have your input.

Do you have any photographs you could post?

Dave

[MOD]

Hi Jon. I have been trying to determine the serial number of the Lightning that you 'bent' for a long while now..

Michael Hill (CRO Strike Command) arranged for a press pass for a few of us after the last Lightning Display was washed out. On the day Flt Lt Andy Stacy(?) showed us round and told me of your exploits which had earned you the soubriquet of JPS (13G) Fynes.

I have photos of you 'driving' three different Lightnings around this time although I know one of them ended up in the field north of the runway. (707?)

Were you invited to the Lightning's 50th bash at the LPG Bruntingthorpe last year? The Blacks were there and Alan White was invited but didn't turn up.





Great to see you here. There are a lot of Lightning fans on here so please keep posting...

Ian

[Olicat]

Amazing story, great to see you on here!

Im guessing 13G must be somewhat uncomfortable?

[Cluny]

Welcome to Iconic Jon

[Clag]

The aircraft was XS898 J we refueled it on OTR and fuel came out of every rivet. The jet was repaired and was always allocated to 5 as we had bent it and guns never fired straight, always known as 13g junk.
It was the last lightning to leave Binbrook and join Arnold Glass collection in 1988

clag

[MOD]

Thanks clag. So Fynsy was given XS899 after this incident - was that before or after he 'dropped' XP707 at Binbrook? I'm afraid my notes no longer tie up with my photos from this era.

Ian

[Clag]

Well before late seventies early eighties I think he got XS899

Clag

[MOD]

Thanks, I think that makes sense as I see that I had a visit there in '82 when I must have seen JPS (13G) Fynes's name on XS899 - see above photo at start of thread.

So do you know the actual date XS898 was 'bent'?

Do you also know if it was stored at Binbrook ( and still marked as JPS(13G)Fynes ), until it was repaired and restored to flight with 5Sqn? ( Jon Fynes says that it was repaired 5 years after he bent it ). I ask because there was a Press photo-call that I attended in, I believe '87, when every airframe was dragged out for us to photograph including airframes ; being serviced/those in storage/and the derelict decoys.


Ian

[Clag]

I think it was about 1979, BAE surveyed it and did the repair it took a while as large manhole covers were fitted and both main tanks needed sealing, after that I think it had a check 3 in ASF and I am fairly sure it was flying in 1981, it was always allocated to 5 as we had bent it I am not sure wether it ever went to Cyprus on APC

clag

[MOD]

thanks clag.