Another Lightning for Coningsby

Location : Sheffield Spotter Watch Member : no

I see that some progress is being made with Lightning F6 XS897 at Coningsby. Some mixed feelings on this really - I was slightly surprised that 29 Squadron were proposing to display an F6 when they only ever operated F3's (and T5's) but I now see that they've substituted an F3 ventral tank. Whilst this might seem like a good move, it all sounds a bit silly really. They'll end-up with an F6 (with an F6 serial) but with an F3 tank and F6 wings. The other aspect that worries me is that the aircraft has gone from Aeroventure into long-term loan at a site where the public can't see it any more. I also wonder if the F3 tank has come from Aeroventure's dismantled F3 in which case it suggests that we won't be seeing that aircraft completed for a long time.

All very nice for 29 Squadron to have a Lightning on display but it's not quite such good news for the rest of us. One less Lightning to see and even when/if we do, it's gonna look very, very strange!

Location : United Kingdom Spotter Watch Member : No

I don't see why this is such a big issue. The aircraft is privately owned by an individual who is a keen Lightning enthusiast, being at Aeroventure was not a guarantee it would get lots of TLC, not because Aeroventure wouldn't, but because they have lots of their own aircraft to look after first and foremost.

Given the effort thats gone into both the 11Sqn and 5Sqn mascots in the recent past I would expect that 29 will give it some care and attention in a quicker timescale than was ever possible at Doncaster.

I don't expect the tank or belly panel (which is also different) will be from the F3, there are spare ones of those floating around in private ownership. I remember when the F6 at the Midland Air Museum first turned up the then owner had sourced F3 parts for the belly tank, which he then swapped for the correct F6 tank / gunpack parts.

To me the important thing is the airframe gets some 1on1 attention regardless of the scheme its put in.

Regards
Mark Ray
www.demobbed.org.uk

Location : Peterborough

Shame that 29sqn could not strike a deal with the ex Grimsby T5 which is on the Farm down the road at New York.

Location : Sheffield Spotter Watch Member : no

Agreed. It would have made far more sense from every aspect!