Warbird Information Exchange

Unfortunately the UK "Nanny" state never allowed them to fly on the civil registry. So do I have to go to South Africa to see one flying or are there any in the US ?

I believe that there was a group restoring at least one, back to flying status, in Mississippi, if I am not mistaken.

This is just one link I found using google:

http://www.lightningusa.org/


Saludos,


Tulio

There is/was one at the Olympic Flight Museum in Olympia, WA. Here are some pics...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/251 ... 1775vrcKgj
http://community.webshots.com/photo/287 ... 1775ZlJqNy
http://community.webshots.com/photo/287 ... 1775ukDDnW

I don't know if it is still there. I vaguely remember something about it being for sale.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Two of them were in Gulfport, Mississippi with at least one to fly. Unfortunately they were essentially at ground zero for Hurricane Katrina. Don't know how they fared.

The Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB in Warner Robins, GA, has a Mk53E Lightning on display outdoors. It's been there a number of years, and I'm not sure of any plans for eventual indoor display.

Walt

The two lightning's in Stennis, MI survived Katrina ok, and from last report are being worked on again, with the plan to get one of them airworthy. It is an amazing story, to be honest, with a team flying out from the UK several times a year to provide the experience necessary for the US component to carry on in their absence. It's been reported upon several times in the UK mags. Hopefully it will come to a successful conclusion in the end.

Cheers,
Richard

Had a chat to most of the UK team members last weekend at the Lightning Preservation Group's pairs fast taxi run day at Bruntingthorpe.

Despite Katrina (they were very, very lucky in that the project escaped unscathed) restoration work on T.5 XS422 is now continuing, despite the continued struggle for lifed spares for these aircraft)
They did acknowledge that the website needed updating but that it was hoped to be updated in the near future.

When ready will this be the only jet in the USA that will need AVPIN to start the engines.....?
The nasty stuff is now only made in India and in the UK costs £3.5k per 45 gal drum ...which is enough for about 90 starts in UK climate, less in hot and humid climates.......