LPG website

[Saracenman]

sad indeed 320

only flight 3 for M1??????? jeeeeeeeeeeez! i know TSR2 only had a few flights before breaking M1, but that was many years after 1954!

they really don't test aircraft like they used to do they? i wonder how many flights Eurofighter had before breaking the sound barrier?

anyway, bloody good job it was preserved - unlike SO many other historic airframes

thanks 320

sm

[320psi]

Hey Sm, just found this shot of our good friend the Late Jimmy Dell sat in WG760




A real gentleman and so was Bee Beamont

[Saracenman]

nice!

shame WG760 is such an ugly machine though

question for the Lightning thread really, but here will do - when you lose the very last Lightning pilot, what happens with taxying your two girls? assuming they're both still in running condition by then, would a Tornado pilot (for example) be appropriate?

surely you wouldn't jack it all in would you?

sm

[320psi]

nice!

shame WG760 is such an ugly machine though

question for the Lightning thread really, but here will do - when you lose the very last Lightning pilot, what happens with taxying your two girls? assuming they're both still in running condition by then, would a Tornado pilot (for example) be appropriate?

surely you wouldn't jack it all in would you?

sm

Oh good question Sm, ummmm, well most of our pilots are in there late 50's early 60's at the mo so best guess another 10-15 years before they might want to pack it in.
Bee Beamont took 728 for a run in 1990, and he was well into his 70's
More pressings thing are:

Will the aircraft the servicable then ???? (21 year ago the RAF lads gave us 6 months before we had a major show stopper, they all thought we were total and utter nutters)
Will we have got away with the engines we have by then, ummmmm, not sure
Will we have tryes
Will we have chutes
Will we have brake linings
Will we have Avpin
Will we have starters with 'shots' left
Will we have insurance, in this ever 'HSE' world probably not.
Will we have, will we ............................................. the list goes on and on my friend

To be honest in 10 years time I will be 51, Im youngest member by 20-30 years so many of our membership will not want the worry and hassle of running them by then, let alone the drive there, most of us are 50 plus miles away

I must be honest with you, this running stuff will not last forever, as every years goes by we get ever closer to the end of fast running.

We have all had 21 years of extra 'Lightning time' if you know what I mean, so the age of pilots is not an issue
The age of the engineers is more important, everything get heavier, harder to do and more importantly the inclination to do it gets ever harder
In 21 years Ive not met a single younger person that has the same drive and enthusiasum for 'our' hobby (why should they, this is 'us') let alone the engineering 'nouce' to fix the beasts, they are a total and utter nightmare and then theres the big show stopper, finding folks that will gladly pull out the cash, this is not cheap mate and gets ever more expensive as the years go by

We wont be seeking out Tonka drivers

All I will say and Ive said it many time before is make the best of what you see us doing at the moment, grab every chance to savour the sights and sounds, I do, every single time we start them


Long term future, oh wheres my cristal ball, seriously this hobby of ours will die with us, I have no doubt.
Theres no one more dediacted to these two aircraft and the shed, they are part of us and our families, we have all given up alot for their preservation, so its litterally in our blood
I and others have passed up better job oppotunities many times over the years to keep 'close' to the aircraft

We will create a trust and make sure the airframes and the Q shed are preserved for the future generations to see and learn about

Now the big question is the future of Bruntingthorpe, all is stable at the mo as it has been for 25 years, but you know what life is like



Good question mate

[Saracenman]

and an equally good answer 320, thanks!

i guess when you do the maths, you don't really have a problem with future jockeys, if the steeds are past it!

at the very least 320, you'll be leaving one hell of a valuable bit of British aviation heritage!

go LPG!!!

sm

[Crew chief]

Hi all.

We at Wellesbourne are in the same boat as the LPG there is a lack of youngsters with the same interest's.
As 320 will know looking after these old jets is a part time job in it's own right let alone working full time aswell.
As 320 states the jets won't run forever so make the most of them now before we get too old or the jets become unsafe to run.

cc

[Saracenman]

it would be nice to think that turning today's children into heritage-jet fans with 558 strutting her stuff, there might be a new generation to look after ALL important airframes!

sm

[Spitfire]

Love that response 320 - says it all

The only thing I'm coming across though SM is that young kids now are having everything parcelled up and packaged for them and they dont have to do anything to help themselves.

Getting kids interested in building model planes is a nightmare now - they want to go to a shop - buy one ready made in a box - take it home - take off the lid - and fly it .......

But the frightening thing is THEY CAN do just that now

There's no interest in making do and fettling like we had to - it's all about throw it away and buy a better one

[320psi]

Thanks for the comment all,

One thing I didnt mention last night was when we bought 728 there was no plan to run anything, we bought her as a static, running came afterwards.

So all this running has 'just' happened along the way

Make the best of what we do, come and enjoy it, I always pinch myself, I never take it for granted

Kids/younger people wont be interested in keeping these things running, they have no 'connection' with them, why should they, live for now thats what I say

Keep smiling

[320psi]

New piccies for you

http://lpgxs904xr728.proboards.com/inde ... 182&page=1

[Mackrick]

Thanks Andy

[320psi]

Few more for you

http://lpgxs904xr728.proboards.com/inde ... thread=182

[Stigish]

Great pics (except the sad wreckages).

I'd love to get involved in a project/hobby/marriage/divorce or whatever else keeping the two Lightning going has been called, sadly for me a young family restricts my time. As the kids get older (give it another 10years?) I may have a chance..............the point:
Although I'm now a Financial Advisor, I did complete a 4yr apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering when I left school (mainly CNC machining/programming) what would the use of my skills be to a project like this?

[320psi]

Great pics (except the sad wreckages).

I'd love to get involved in a project/hobby/marriage/divorce or whatever else keeping the two Lightning going has been called, sadly for me a young family restricts my time. As the kids get older (give it another 10years?) I may have a chance..............the point:
Although I'm now a Financial Advisor, I did complete a 4yr apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering when I left school (mainly CNC machining/programming) what would the use of my skills be to a project like this?

Thanks mate,

Re your reasons for not getting invloved in a project like ours, I like all the members of the LPG who have been owners since 1988, have wifes, kids (I have two, a boy and girl 7 and 10), houses, everyday jobs, and all the issues that go with all that, we just manage it, all done in our own time, no rush, just a 'Saturday' hobby.
We put it down when we want, and its all good fun, theres no pressure


Your skills, ummmm, well your trained skills are not much use, please dont take that the wrong way, the LPG is a group made up of many differing folks with differing skills, so what ever you 'get into' you just bring your 'life skills with you, being able to weild a spanner is not enough on a Lightning


The LPG isnt all about building 12,000 ft hangers and fixing Lightnings, theres litterally hundreds of other jobs within what we do, all mundane and all need doing as they make up the bigger picture.

For instance, now we have the shed up there is the never ending painting, it will go on for ever, the gutter cleaning and the sweeping up everytime we walk in

The theres soucing spares, finding insurance, fuel, oils, organising open days and events, oh the list goes on

All of this is done with a smile and a laugh, just a 'big daft lads club'

[Spitfire]

Great pics (except the sad wreckages).

I'd love to get involved in a project/hobby/marriage/divorce or whatever else keeping the two Lightning going has been called, sadly for me a young family restricts my time. As the kids get older (give it another 10years?) I may have a chance..............the point:
Although I'm now a Financial Advisor, I did complete a 4yr apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering when I left school (mainly CNC machining/programming) what would the use of my skills be to a project like this?

Unfortunately as the kids get older the drain on the wallet gets bigger exponentially - so you have the time - but then no money ............then they leave and you think you're sorted - then they come back and you have to start opening your wallet again ...........then they leave again .... etc etc

PS - Stigish
I WAS a financial adviser - I de-regulated - couldn't stand it ..... TCF my arse - what about T IFA F
(Stigish will know what I mean

[Stigish]

PS - Stigish
I WAS a financial adviser - I de-regulated - couldn't stand it ..... TCF my arse - what about T IFA F
(Stigish will know what I mean

Oh the wonderful FSA ...........I've got plenty of different meanings for those initials (feel free to use your imagination)! It goes back to the beginning "the customer is always right" (said while loading my shotgun).

Looks like i'll have to wait for work to offer me a relocation package closer to the Midlands at least...........that'll be when I retire to the cotswolds to drink stupid amounts of Hook Norton Ales though I'm sure.

Thanks for the advice chaps .

[Xplumberlives]

Old Hookey, damned good brew!

[Ramshornvortex]

Hi all.

We at Wellesbourne are in the same boat as the LPG there is a lack of youngsters with the same interest's.
As 320 will know looking after these old jets is a part time job in it's own right let alone working full time aswell.
As 320 states the jets won't run forever so make the most of them now before we get too old or the jets become unsafe to run.

cc

Err Crew Chief.....have you forgotten about this Future Crew Chief that works every Saturday at Wellesbourne (with his old man)?
http://vulcanxm655.fotopic.net/p58451674.html

[Iggie]

Old Hookey, damned good brew!

Seconded!

[Crew chief]

Hi all.

We at Wellesbourne are in the same boat as the LPG there is a lack of youngsters with the same interest's.
As 320 will know looking after these old jets is a part time job in it's own right let alone working full time aswell.
As 320 states the jets won't run forever so make the most of them now before we get too old or the jets become unsafe to run.

cc

Err Crew Chief.....have you forgotten about this Future Crew Chief that works every Saturday at Wellesbourne (with his old man)?
http://vulcanxm655.fotopic.net/p58451674.html

No i have not forgotten about Dan but he is quite unique amoungst his age group in doing it in the first place or is his "old man" paying him to do it.

[Ramshornvortex]

We had better get this back on thread, so here is the chip off the old block sitting in one of Andy's pride and joys:


And pay him Crew Chief? I should charge him!

When are you back at Wellesbourne, we have a lot to show you.....
RHV