David Gladwin

Tommy Gleissner demoe'd a big English Electric Lightning F2a/6 (big fin and ventral) at Jet Power, which was magnificent and flew superbly. . The kit has just been announced on the AW site ! This will be a magnificent fighter model, just right for twin Wren Superspots, JC Titan or AMTNL Pegasus for true reheat climb performance !

Regards,

David Gladwin.

CJ2006

Hi David,

I fell in love with the one at JetPower too...I've got a spare Pegasus as well!!!! Link to the info pse?

Cheers,

Dick

Big Tony

Dick,

Does the missus know your in love with another BIRD.

x

Ant

CJ2006

LOL! No wonder we know you as 'the nutter'!

Dick

Note...pse reserve all the xx's for Geoff!

F106A

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http://www.airworld.online.de/Englisch/Index.htm

I always wanted to get Mick Reeves model, but never did because, reading the reviews, the main l/g seemed to be a weak point. Since I fly off grass I felt that the long main gear would take a beating.

They show AW's flying off grass, so maybe there's are stronger.
Big airplane though. 111" length and 69" wingspan, approx 42#
It sure would look great covered in Flite Metal.
No Price yet.
BRG,
Jon

Big Tony

Sorry Dick,

???? ???? Did I miss something[]

F106A

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Hi David,
After my initial surprise that AW is going to produce the Lightning, late spring '07 is the latest info I have, I realized that it isn't a F3, but a F2A, the major difference being the cranked wing and large external tank on the F2A/F6, while the F3 has a straight wing and small external tank.
AW modeled this Lightning that's in Germany.
Minor point I guess, but I wanted to clarify the designation.
Easy enough to make a F6, mount a refueling probe on the left wing and mount a pair of "drop tanks" on top of the wings.
Sure will look great covered in FliteMetal. If powered by an AMT Olympus, it'll really perform like the original!
Better start saving now!
BRG,
Jon

David Gladwin

My apologies , Jon, you are absolutely right, it is an F2A which is externally the same as a 6 ! The F2a was the RAFG Lightning. Never could work out how the F2 became an interim 6 when the 3 was, numerically, a later Lightning ! Nonetheless its a cracking good model, saw it flying at Jet power . There are some nice pictures of a MR Lightning, taken at St Athan last month, in the next RCJI flown by a friend of mine who flew the Lightning in RAF service, Ian Wilde.

Apologies for my inaccuracy !

Guess Tommy Gleisner will be flying a Lightning at next JWM

I have a Jetcat 200 looking for a home but perhaps a couple of Supersports would be very appropriate, too, particularly if the fuselage is too narrow for a single big engine.

Regards,

David Gladwin.

F106A

My Feedback: (2)

Hi David,
No apologies necessary, I just wanted to let those who are interested what model of the lightning it is. It will affect those going into competition with it by limiting the markings to those squadron's who flew the F2A or F6.
I heard they had a JetCat Titan in it, how did it fly with the Titan, did it have enough power to make it really perform, or did it fly like a sport model? Just curious, as the AW site has the weight at 19 Kgs, about 42 pounds and the engine puts out 35 pounds.
I was thinking of putting in two SimJet 2300's, which would give me 50 pounds of thrust, but I'd never be able to meet the AMA weight limit, assuming it weighs around 42 pounds with a single engine.
Also, did you get a look at the retracts? I'm curious how they solved the problem of having the mains rotate to fit into the wheel well.
Does the gear look sturdy enough to fly off grass?
BTG,
Jon

Jgwright

Jon

I think you have been misinformed. I asked the same question and was told by Hans Dieter Reisert of Airworld that it was a Frank Turbine T70 Raptor which gives out 18Kg thrust. I saw it fly and thought it was the best at the show.

John

F106A

My Feedback: (2)

Hi John,
Thanks for the info, don't know much about Frank turbines though.
Oh well, there's plenty of time to sort out the engine situation.
BRG,
Jon

Geoff White

Hi,

I also fell in love with the model at JP. I can confirm it had a frank turbine in it that exhausted on the bottom pipe. Managed to have a quick word with the designer and he said the second prototype was going to have two turbines in it, in the same arangement as per the full size i.e one above each other in a staggered manner. The model didn't exactly hand around with a single turbine it so with two it should be fabulous.

Had a quick look at the undercarriage and the noseleg unit looked very similar, if not, indentical to the unit used on the hawk(ought to know as I have one). The mains were very well engineered and, from memory, the struts were something close to an inch in diameter. Of course, thats only good if the mounting in the wing is equally has strong. Didn't get to look inside so can't comment on that.

Geoff.

Dave Wilshere

G and guys

The nose leg on this prototype is a Hawk unit, mains were a one off and will need manufacturing for any kit run.
It's a long way off production with other models infront.
The F-20 will be first of the new designs after the Gripen is in final production.

Dave

Geoff White

Hi Dave,

I suspected it would be available,at the earliest, around the end of next year which is why I haven't bothered taking it any further.

Geoff.

CJ2002

Chaps,

Here are a few pictures I took of the Lightning...stunning model looked to be well engineered and certainly well detailed. Other than the advantage of redundancy, I don't really see the reason for putting 2 engines in one of these Lightnings, seeing as there looks to be room to put a single engine of thrust greater than the auw so that the reheat climbs of the 60s Farnboroughs can be emulated! Fuel storage with that big ventral tank shouldn't be a problem, unlike the real one which, I believe, even carried fuel in the flaps, it was so short on tank space!

Cheers,

Dick
England

PS...Just a personal preference too but Lighnings aren't Lightnings unless they have a polished metal finish!

Geoff White

Hi Dick,

I was wondering if you were going to post any of the photos you took!

I agree a lightning in polihed metal finish would be fabulous.

Geoff.

Now if only we could get someone to make a accurate scale model of a buccaneer, we would be able to own two of the best 'classic' british jets!

David Gladwin

I thought starting this thread would be a good idea, and I am delighted to see the interest it has started becuase as Geoff says it was a stunning model of a truly great British Fighter, although one I did not get to fly. I am a little disappointed that its been announced a long way ahead of production but I guess it will make a great build feature for RCJI and give us all plenty of time to get our documentation sources together. I will go through my library and post some recommendations here, certainly I would kick off with Wings Of Fame vol 7 published by Aeropspace Publishing has a big Lightning feature inc the F2a. isbn :
1 874023 97 2.. And if you wish to order a Lightning get behind me !

Only downside of this model is the VERY narrow tyres giving it a very high "LCN" and mine definitely WONT have fuel in the flaps !


Regards,

David Gladwin.

SJN

Has anyone been in contact with airworld lately ?

I get no e-mail response to any of my inquiries.

JohnMac

Well this is the stuff of boyhood dreams as far as I am concerned, and yes it has to be in polished metal to be a Lightning. I was very impressed by the performance of the model at JP. This prototype, so I was told had come out rather heavy, so considering the rather modest installed power it augers well for a lighter series produced kit. This is the intention so I was told.
Of course any attempts at installing moderate amounts of power in this model should be outlawed in advance. Outrageous levels of installed power can be the only way[8D]. Its got to be done!

CJ2002

You may get a surprise on that soon, too!

Dick

F106A

My Feedback: (2)

Hi everyone,
My first exposure to the Lightning was many years ago when my dad brought home a magazine called RAF Flying review, which we bought every month. As a fan of high performance, big powerful planes, I was intrigued by the Lightning and tried to learn as much as I could about it, which wasn't easy as it has no history over here in the US or Canada.

Here are some reference sources that may be helpful in addition to FAOW, which is a must for every Lightning fan.

SAM publication datafile of the Lightning. Excellent source for modeling. The only complaint I have is, in the detail section, they chose the Short SB5, which was really a proof of concept aircraft, and the P1A and B, which were really pre-production models. I wish they had chosen a F3 and or F6, as these are the versions will be modeled most. Since there's only two Lightnings here in the US, a single seater at Warner Robbins in Ga and a two seater in Mississppi, the detail shots would have been a big help to me. Oh well, since it's going to be at least a year before the kit gets released (drat!), maybe I can make it down to Ga between now and then and get some detail shots.

Famous Aircraft of the World, Vol 7. The text is in Japanese, but there are some nice photo's and markings information. It comes up on ebay every once in a while.

Of course, the definitive work on the Lightning are the books by Stewart Scott. Vol 1 goes up to the F2A, Vol 2 is the F3 to F6, Vol 3, not released yet, will cover the export Lightnings. Vol 1 was printed privately, 1000 were printed as I understand it, and has been out of print for years. It's almost impossible to find, especially here in the US; believe me, I tried for years. I finally found one on ebay, and paid over $200 for it.
Vol 2, as of a couple of years ago, was still available in the UK at a few specialist bookstores and was going for $150.
Pricey to be sure, but the best reference on the Lightning there is or ever will be.

Here's a few web sites that have good info:
http://www.aviation-picture-hangar.co.uk/Lightning.html
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co...g/history.html
http://www.lightning.org.uk/

Of course there are many other books on the Lightning, but these are a good start.
There's also a tape/DVD on the Lightning from a show broadcast in England several years ago. Shows up on ebay every so often. Excellent, with commentary from Roland Beamont and other pilots and people associated with the Lightning. My only complaint is at the end, a Lightning takes off and makes several passes and lands, and they dubbed in music! I don't want to listen to music, I want to hear the roar of the engines!
Thanks Dick for the closeup pictures.
David, right behind you.
BRG,
Jon

VLAMGAT

For the price of a kit you could try the real thing. Mike has 3 flying and another couple in crates....
http://www.thundercity.co.za/

CJ2006

...or give this a go...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EE-LIGHTNING-F...ayphotohosting

Cheers,

Dick
England

Geoff White

Hey Dick,

If someone wants to start a fund to buy it, I'll donate £20! But where we going to put it?

Geoff.

CJ2006

Hi Geoff,

D'you reckon we could get nmsi to agree to let us put it outside the Clubhouse?!

Cheers,

Dick

PS...how's sunny Fla?