bentwaters81tfw Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Lightnings T Mk4s serials XM989 and XM992 were issued to RAF Wattisham. One of these was issued to 56 squadron at the time (1965) they formed the 'Firebirds' aerobatic team in that wonderful red and NMF scheme. Does anyone know if 1. it was painted to match the single seaters, 2. what was the a/c identity letter, and, 3. which a/c was it?? Have exhaused my resources, and the Thunder and Lightniings site, but to no avail! TIA Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 XM989, coded X is your bird and yes it looked just like a Firebird, red spine and tail, checker board nose and red LE's . My source is Ian Black's 'Lightning' and there is a fab colour photo a few pages in. peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted September 5, 2008 Author Share Posted September 5, 2008 Thanks for that, I only have his 'Last of the Lightnings' Come on Trumpy.....and Aeroclub!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 It's a curious thing, isn't it? I'm a props man at heart but I have three Lightnings built in 72nd scale, several more stashed, I'm about to embark on another F6 build and I shall try and pick up one or two Airfix 1/48 jobbies. When the Trumpy and Academy 72nd kits come out I'll probably get a bucketful, but I'll draw a line under 1/32, unless... The Lightning seems to do that to you. peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 XM989, coded X is your bird and yes it looked just like a Firebird, red spine and tail, checker board nose and red LE's . My source is Ian Black's 'Lightning' and there is a fab colour photo a few pages in.peebeep Photo of the tail in Lightning Strikes by Martin W Bowman. All of 56 Squadron is lined up, 10 of them with red tails. It was considered for this project - http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18289 XM989/X is the second aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Lanc Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 The Lightning seems to do that to you.peebeep Me too i'm a prop man The first time i got up close and personel to a lightning was about 4yrs ago at old RAF Binbrook where they showed me around a lightning which is stored up there then sat my son in it then we stood back a watched them start her up.. MY GOD did it make my hair stand up loved them ever since. Made four 1/48 and three 1/72 lightnings and i can't wait til' Trumpeter brings that 1/32 goddess out. ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted September 5, 2008 Author Share Posted September 5, 2008 I have maybe a dozen of the beasts, either Airfix or Hasegawa in 1/72, plus some Matchbox T55s and a couple of resin T bird conversion fuselages. Also the Maintrack conversion with the small belly tank and small fin for a P1B. Made a P1 earlier this year from the FROG kit with parts from Airfix and Aeroclub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousAA72 Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Lightnings T Mk4s serials XM989 and XM992 were issued to RAF Wattisham. One of these was issued to 56 squadron at the time (1965) they formed the 'Firebirds' aerobatic team in that wonderful red and NMF scheme. Does anyone know if 1. it was painted to match the single seaters, 2. what was the a/c identity letter, and, 3. which a/c was it??Have exhaused my resources, and the Thunder and Lightniings site, but to no avail! TIA Frank Here's a (b&w) photo Frank....T4 XM989/"X" RAF 56Sqn "Firebirds" I'd say that this was most likely a year or two earlier than '65 - that was when 56 converted onto F3's from F1a's. Incidentally I've never seen any references to their T5(s) (which they had when converted to the F3) having the same [as the F3] Red/White chequerboard tail.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted September 6, 2008 Author Share Posted September 6, 2008 (edited) Thanks for that Bill, T.Mk5 was XS456, but no idea on a/c letter. Presumably X or Z again.... Edited September 6, 2008 by bentwaters81tfw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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