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The Lightning and Binbrook

Warbirds, Replicas and Nostalgic photos in here please.
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3Greens
Posts: 8052
Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:35 pm
Location: RWY21 Grimsby

The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by 3Greens » Sun Jun 17, 2018 4:49 pm

Have not had opportunity for some while to post, but thankfully now back in the seat.
June 2018 is really a 'black armband' period as it is 30 years since it was not only the retirement of 'The Lightning' but also the closure of 'The Fightertown' of the 70's and 80's.... Binbrook - the final jets flying out on 29th June, a terrible day which left numerous bewildered individuals standing on the fenceline as a lifetime's pleasure finally terminated.
Various airframes had been delivered out to airfields in the previous months, but most airframes had been unceremoniously scrapped on site.
OC 11 Sqdn's black finned XS903/BA had been delivered across to the Elvington Musuem on 18/5
I am pleased that I had the pleasure to meet F/Lt Ian Black several times during his time with 11 Sqdn and that thankfully he also had pleasure capturing superb air/air Lightning images which he subsequently had published to ensure that all was not lost.

I thought it only appropriate to mark that anniversary with a few classic memories of the place and 'The Lightning' with a few of my own

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Hope you enjoy
3Greens

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JONLITE06
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Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by JONLITE06 » Sun Jun 17, 2018 5:08 pm

Fabulous memories Keith!! :thumb: I doubt that those of us that were there , realised just how special it all was!

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paulh
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Location: Humberston, NE LINCS

Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by paulh » Sun Jun 17, 2018 5:53 pm

Many thanks for posting Keith, spent many hours of the school summer holidays up there - very happy days.
Only started photographing them after they were painted in the grey/green colours due to my age but those silver one's with the large roundels are my favourites.
Pity at that age I only had a small Kodak camera that used the old 126 cartridge film!!

Cheers - Paul.

matt e
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Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by matt e » Sun Jun 17, 2018 6:23 pm

Some great shot`s of a stunning aircraft

Punkrunner62
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Location: Aberdeen

Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by Punkrunner62 » Sun Jun 17, 2018 6:59 pm

Great set of images of a real classic airframe!,true aviation history.
Cheers.

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paddyboy
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Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by paddyboy » Mon Jun 18, 2018 5:13 am

Hi Keith :P

What can I say about my all-time favourite aircraft :Wow:

The ONLY jet bird fit to wear the epithet 'Lightning' :thumbs:

Thanks for posting :thumb:

Paddyboy :clap:
XH558, always the first lady in my life
Just remember, please don't tell the wife


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GRIM REAPERS SUPPORTER

3Greens
Posts: 8052
Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:35 pm
Location: RWY21 Grimsby

Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by 3Greens » Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:28 am

Hi Paddy, Hope you're well mate and enjoying your new found time. Indeed only one Lightning ! Somebody recently told me they had been down to Marham to check out some 'wheelie-bins' - really don't know what he meant :whistle:
As with your beloved Coltishall time has really flown by since the closures - Binbrook field is basically now all back to farm land.

Hi Paul, yep school summer holidays were the time to spend at the Crash Gate, and I too had an Instamatic 126 for so long. Once I started work the first thing on the shopping list was a camera with a decent lens.

I must get some more shots together

Thanks for all the comments

Keith (3Greens)

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Knife 04
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Location: 'Up the smoke doin' a deal'

Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by Knife 04 » Mon Jun 18, 2018 1:30 pm

Excellent post and resume Keith - some look like they were only taken yesterday

Looking forward to the next post!

Hope all is good?

Darren

F3
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Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by F3 » Mon Jun 18, 2018 5:35 pm

Magnificent. Evokes memories of happy days spent @ the western crash gate. Even happier when the field contained a crop of peas ready for harvesting! Sweetest I ever tasted.

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Petepilot
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Location: York

Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by Petepilot » Mon Jun 18, 2018 5:42 pm

Hi Keith, what a brilliant post, thank you, and more please! Despite being of a certain age, I never once made the journey to Binbrook to watch the mighty Lightnings but have many a happy memory of being taken by parents to watch the Lightnings at Wattisham. Amazed to see, from Google Earth, just how little of Binbrook remains. Thanks again, and get posting (please)! :clap:

chippy622lec
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Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by chippy622lec » Tue Jun 19, 2018 3:20 pm

The Good Days

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lightning759
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Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by lightning759 » Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:05 pm

Terrific set , spent some good times there all be it in the twilight days of the lightning but was great no dirty big fences , and you could almost set your watch's for them to arrive back once you'd seen them depart , have you more details on your picture of XR759 ( I have the cockpit section though she needs some tlc ) I presume see must of come from 56sqd judging by her tail coded & the erased marking ,

cheers
andy

Vulcanone
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Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by Vulcanone » Tue Jun 19, 2018 7:05 pm

Ah yes happy days Keith.

Watching the 25th anniversary practice come back in the gloomy conditions and then surprise surprise the british weather scuppered it on the day as well!!

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effects
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Location: 1 mile N of 06 Farnborough

Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by effects » Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:57 pm

My first 5 years in the RAF were at Binbrook,great memories.

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Blue Diamond
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Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by Blue Diamond » Thu Jun 21, 2018 6:25 pm

Fabulous stuff. Thanks for sharing.
Fighting 92 - The King Cobras
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NickB
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Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by NickB » Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:01 am

Some fabulous pictures pictures there Keith - especially the aerial ones. So sad to see what has now become of a once proud RAF fighter station.

Don't suppose you have any pics of XP753?

phantom6
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Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by phantom6 » Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:46 am

Fantastic, the youngsters of today don't know what they have missed, beautiful aircraft

tanker
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Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by tanker » Sat Jun 23, 2018 6:17 pm

beautiful set of pics Keith,thanks for sharing.

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lynothehammer
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Re: The Lightning and Binbrook

Post by lynothehammer » Sat Jun 23, 2018 10:26 pm

What a set of photos, thank you for sharing.

I'd love to have seen one of these on take off...

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