Parked Lighnings - Flaps up always?

[Gary West]

I believe it was standard for Lightnings to raise flaps for parking - total lack of photo's to the contrary seems the bear that out.

Before I glue mine in place level, can anyone supply pics to suggest otherwise?

Cheers

[entlim]

Not at home, will look when I get back tomorrow, or john willbeat me to the punch again- butas best as I recall they were always up

[dswoofie]

I have to say that every shot I've seen of a stationary Lightning has had the flaps up. I did do a bit of looking around when I did my 92sqn F.2 and I didn't find any pics at all with them down...

Karl.

Yep, just checked all my reference shots and can't find a single one of a Lightning 'at rest' with the flaps down.

Edited December 31, 2007 by dswoofie

[Fmk.6john]

The flaps on Lightnings were also used as fuel tanks so when a Lightning was parked the flaps were always left up so that de-fuel and re-fuel could be done properly.

This was the explanation once given to me once but there could be another reason why, I for one have never seen a Lightning with flaps down on the ORP unless it was for maintenance purposes.

Regards,

John.

[Gary West]

That'll do for me - thanks all

[Ian @ KitsforCash]

That'll do for me - thanks all

yes mate always selected up on shutdown

[AnonymousA667]

Flaps up after clearing the active is considered good manners/airmanship. I think you will find many RAF pilots tell you that whilst not considered a hanging offence you would likely get a 'word' from the CO with subsequent serious damage to your wallet in the bar later if you ever forgot. Flaps down are selected for the pre-flight walk round, but once you've checked that the linkages are OK and that they are not going to fall off it is normal form to raise them again after the walk round.

peebeep

Edited December 31, 2007 by peebeep

[Fmk.6john]

Peebeep

After consulting my airframe manuals and pilots notes the flaps on a Lightning had interlocks on the hinges that prevented 'droop', these interlocks locked the flaps in the 'up' position and the locks only unlatched when there was pressure in the down system of the hydraulics curcuit.

All the linkages for the flap system are inside the wing and the only checks that can be done pre-flight are with the pilot strapped in and engines running, the pilot then selects 'flaps down' and a ground crew signals the travel of the flap, this is also done with the airbrakes prior to taxi out to the runway.

Regards,

John.

[DamienB]

Similarly you'd rarely see a Lightning with airbrakes out when parked - they'd be selected closed when taxiing off the runway and stay that way. If the pilot did leave them open it'd be for a specific reason, as the number of strokes on the hand-pump to put them back again without engine power would result in one or two groundcrew aching to punch said pilot out with their one remaining good arm...

[bexwh773]

Similarly you'd rarely see a Lightning with airbrakes out when parked - they'd be selected closed when taxiing off the runway and stay that way. If the pilot did leave them open it'd be for a specific reason, as the number of strokes on the hand-pump to put them back again without engine power would result in one or two groundcrew aching to punch said pilot out with their one remaining good arm...

Now thats funny Although our Lightning at Gatwick is still in bits, the fuel & hydrualic systems are fully pressurised and operational and the flaps are always kept up, I dont know if that helps, but its what Ive seen.

Bex

[atdb27]

Similarly you'd rarely see a Lightning with airbrakes out when parked - they'd be selected closed when taxiing off the runway and stay that way. If the pilot did leave them open it'd be for a specific reason, as the number of strokes on the hand-pump to put them back again without engine power would result in one or two groundcrew aching to punch said pilot out with their one remaining good arm...

At Binners a taxy in with A/B's open was indication of a Defect, the then planned Quick T'R would be done with less haste.

With the linnies aware the pilot woud close the a/b's before engine shut down.

Flaps from what I remember Always left up.

Adrian

[rdxtnt]

At Binners a taxy in with A/B's open was indication of a Defect, the then planned Quick T'R would be done with less haste.

With the linnies aware the pilot woud close the a/b's before engine shut down.

Adrian

That's interesting that. As an aside I seem to remember that RAF Phantoms used to taxy in with the refuelling probe extended if they had a snag, to let the ground crew know in advance. Different ways of delivering the same message.

[Craig]

My father also said that a parked Lightning in a hanger should have drip trays under the wings.

Apparently the wing fuel tanks used to leak a bit.

Craig.

[Edgar]

When we went to Binbrook, while researching for the Echelon Lightning, one "erk" said that, if, at least, three drip trays weren't included, it wouldn't be a proper Lightning, but he said that they'd be under the fuselage, too. He showed me several small "L" shaped tubes, sticking out of the fuselage sides, and said that they represented umpteen thousands of pounds-worth of research on fuel leaks; in the end they gave up, and just ensured (or tried to) that the leaks went outside the fuselage/engines, via the pipes.

Edgar

Edited January 1, 2008 by Edgar

[atdb27]

When we went to Binbrook, while researching for the Echelon Lightning, one "erk" said that, if, at least, three drip trays weren't included, it wouldn't be a proper Lightning, but he said that they'd be under the fuselage, too. He showed me several small "L" shaped tubes, sticking out of the fuselage sides, and said that they represented umpteen thousands of pounds-worth of research on fuel leaks; in the end they gave up, and just ensured (or tried to) that the leaks went outside the fuselage/engines, via the pipes.

Edgar

Next to Fuel, Avpin, Hyd Oil and Engine Oil the next biggest spend on a Lightning sqdn was the Light Green Drip Trays about 4" in depth by about 5'x3' laid end to end from just fwd of the gun pack on Mk 6 and just fwd of the belly tank for the 3's and 5's.

For the more serious 'drippers' cut down 45 Gal drums on a simple angle iron framework with castor wheels was used.

This exspence was closely followed by the small tins of PRC sealant. (God I can still smell it now!)

When the #1 Engine came out for what ever reason the area was dried ( ) as best possible and recoated in PRC.

To the initiated you know the stuff I'm on about -

To the none initiated its Like brown and very smelly. You almost want to be

'erk' not very nice slang for a Skilled aircraft fitter(s)technicians who kept those Mach 2 babys ready and waiting rain or shine / day or night 24/7 in those dark 'Cold War' days.

Adrian

[Ian @ KitsforCash]

Next to Fuel, Avpin, Hyd Oil and Engine Oil the next biggest spend on a Lightning sqdn was the Light Green Drip Trays about 4" in depth by about 5'x3' laid end to end from just fwd of the gun pack on Mk 6 and just fwd of the belly tank for the 3's and 5's.

For the more serious 'drippers' cut down 45 Gal drums on a simple angle iron framework with castor wheels was used.

This exspence was closely followed by the small tins of PRC sealant. (God I can still smell it now!)

When the #1 Engine came out for what ever reason the area was dried ( ) as best possible and recoated in PRC.

To the initiated you know the stuff I'm on about -

To the none initiated its Like brown and very smelly. You almost want to be

'erk' not very nice slang for a Skilled aircraft fitter(s)technicians who kept those Mach 2 babys ready and waiting rain or shine / day or night 24/7 in those dark 'Cold War' days.

Adrian

hear hear, having spent my first year at binbrook on the fuel leak team / tank bay in 80/81 we finally got to grips with leaks, many a frenzied hour scraping prc....oh deep joy,,then the job satisfaction of the leak appearing six inches further down the line :shithappens:

[AnonymousA667]

All the linkages for the flap system are inside the wing and the only checks that can be done pre-flight are with the pilot strapped in and engines running, the pilot then selects 'flaps down' and a ground crew signals the travel of the flap, this is also done with the airbrakes prior to taxi out to the runway.

Thanks for the gen John, although I was speaking in general rather than specific Lightning terms. I should've made that clearer - a jet jock I ain't! I think the general rule applies whether at a club or RAF squadron, park the aircraft 'clean'.

peebeep

[AnonymousA667]

Re: Lightning drip trays, I can remember sneaking a peek into one of the hangars at a Wattisham open day and there were dozens of the things littering the floor.

peebeep

[Ian @ KitsforCash]

Re: Lightning drip trays, I can remember sneaking a peek into one of the hangars at a Wattisham open day and there were dozens of the things littering the floor.

peebeep

1st job every morning was too empty the buggers.....what a ball ache....bad leakers we had to stack them, in layers for weekends!