The RAF at Red Flag

[robyoung]

Here is the 1st of our 2 part series of the "RAF at Red Flag". This episode focuses on the air-to-air role with Tony Dixon, as he chats about being a nav on the F-4 Phantom and Tornado F3.
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50Y3woKwmSk

[Blackjack56]

Thank's, I have watched several of these interviews and always enjoy them,it is so much better to get the opinions and stories of the people who were there rather than the official sanitised versions.please continue making them.

[scottoz8]

AM Clive Spinks comments re the Lightning intercepting U2's at height were very interesting . He didn't give numbers etc.!!! Is the max ceiling of the Lightning still classified ???

[robyoung]

Thank's, I have watched several of these interviews and always enjoy them,it is so much better to get the opinions and stories of the people who were there rather than the official sanitised versions.please continue making them.

Thanks very much, great to hear you enjoyed it!

[the concerned]

Wasn't there a series on years ago about the RAF in Canada at cold lake. I am sure it was called top guns. I have been trying to find copies of this but can't find it anywhere

[jem60]

Scotoz. Think you meant AM CLIFF SPINK.No offence. Might save you some embarrassment at some point. I sometimes talk to him at Duxford, so next time I will ask him about altitude. Regards, John.

[rh226]

AM Clive Spinks comments re the Lightning intercepting U2's at height were very interesting . He didn't give numbers etc.!!! Is the max ceiling of the Lightning still classified ???

Believe it still is!!

However, from Wikipedia..........

In 1984, during a NATO exercise, Flt Lt Mike Hale intercepted a U-2 at a height which they had previously considered safe (thought to be 66,000 feet (20,000 m)). Records show that Hale also climbed to 88,000 ft (27,000 m) in his Lightning F.3 XR749. This was not sustained level flight but a ballistic climb, in which the pilot takes the aircraft to top speed and then puts the aircraft into a climb, exchanging speed for altitude. Hale also participated in time-to-height and acceleration trials against Lockheed F-104 Starfighters from Aalborg. He reports that the Lightnings won all races easily with the exception of the low-level supersonic acceleration, which was a "dead heat". Lightning pilot and Chief Examiner Brian Carroll reported taking a Lightning F.53 up to 87,300 feet (26,600 m) over Saudi Arabia at which level "Earth curvature was visible and the sky was quite dark", noting that control-wise "[it was] on a knife edge".

[Sparts99]

AM Clive Spinks comments re the Lightning intercepting U2's at height were very interesting . He didn't give numbers etc.!!! Is the max ceiling of the Lightning still classified ???

Believe it still is!!

However, from Wikipedia..........

In 1984, during a NATO exercise, Flt Lt Mike Hale intercepted a U-2 at a height which they had previously considered safe (thought to be 66,000 feet (20,000 m)). Records show that Hale also climbed to 88,000 ft (27,000 m) in his Lightning F.3 XR749. This was not sustained level flight but a ballistic climb, in which the pilot takes the aircraft to top speed and then puts the aircraft into a climb, exchanging speed for altitude. Hale also participated in time-to-height and acceleration trials against Lockheed F-104 Starfighters from Aalborg. He reports that the Lightnings won all races easily with the exception of the low-level supersonic acceleration, which was a "dead heat". Lightning pilot and Chief Examiner Brian Carroll reported taking a Lightning F.53 up to 87,300 feet (26,600 m) over Saudi Arabia at which level "Earth curvature was visible and the sky was quite dark", noting that control-wise "[it was] on a knife edge".

Some great stories in the Lightning Boys books about taking a Lightning up as far as it would go, well worth a read.

[22A]

Wasn't there a series on years ago about the RAF in Canada at cold lake. I am sure it was called top guns. I have been trying to find copies of this but can't find it anywhere

I believe it was filmed by the Anglia branch of ITV as it featured 29 Sqn which was based at Wattisham at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VJmWnjOk9o

[gary1701]

Hi,

I watched it on the Anglia region when broadcast for the first time in the mid 1990's. It was spread over several episodes. Just a quick correction, 29 never served on the F-3 at Wattisham, a type that was never stationed at the base. 74 and 56 saw RAF fixed wing operations at Wattisham out with the F-4 in 1992. 29 were at Coningsby at the time and were the first frontline F-3 squadron, and served their entire time on the type at Coningsby.

Gary

[22A]

Hi,

I watched it on the Anglia region when broadcast for the first time in the mid 1990's. It was spread over several episodes. Just a quick correction, 29 never served on the F-3 at Wattisham, a type that was never stationed at the base. 74 and 56 saw RAF fixed wing operations at Wattisham out with the F-4 in 1992. 29 were at Coningsby at the time and were the first frontline F-3 squadron, and served their entire time on the type at Coningsby.

Gary

Thanks for the correction. I just assumed Anglia TV = somewhere in their region.

[kenskyhawk]

Worked on Lightnings in the early 70's and have great memories. The Lightning oxygen regulator was the governor for time at height. Talking to OCU instructers at the time, 60,000 ft was the official limit and that was also safe handling height. A zoom climb over that altitude required a lot of nerve and a great big gulp of oxygen. 100,000ft has been mentioned so at 30,000 ft/min up and let's say down at the same rate and a big bunt over the top it probably could be executed in under 3 minutes of fairly uncontrolled flight - scary.
Ken P.

[scottoz8]

Scotoz. Think you meant AM CLIFF SPINK.No offence. Might save you some embarrassment at some point. I sometimes talk to him at Duxford, so next time I will ask him about altitude. Regards, John.

Thanks John