Checksix readers will be familiar with our reports from Bruntingthorpe on the project to return the Avro Vulcan Bomber to flight, but on the same site there are other aviation groups with equally interesting projects to report on.

One of these groups, the Lightning Preservation Group (LPG) who invited Checksix to spend a day with them as they prepared for the Bruntingthorpe open day. The day was to serve three purposes: the first was to publicize the Open Day taking place on the 27 May 2007 and the second was to start up the two English Electric Lightning F.Mk 6 for the first time this year, the third is to publicize fund raising for the LPG who are raising cash to complete construction on the two Quick Reaction Alert hangars (Q-shed) that were donated by the RAF when they were due to be demolished. 
LPG needs to raise £30,000.00 to finish cladding the steel frame of the building that will with the two Lightning F.6’s form a cold war museum with the real aircraft and the Q-sheds that housed them on constant alert.

To find out more about the Lightning Preservation Group look up to their website: www.lightnings.org.uk.  Andy Bonsall, an engineer with a passion for the English Electric Lightning explained, that the group was formed in 1987 at RAF Binbrook, The first Lightning (No 728) was aquired in 1988 with Lightning (No 904) being purchased from British Aerospace in 1992 and this was the last UK flight of a Lightning. We will have more about the two Lightning when we report from the open day. On the open day itself we can see several cold war warriors carrying out high speed taxiing, including the two Lightning and  dependant on serviceability a Blackburn Buccaneer, Hawker Hunter as well as an Vickers Victor Tanker and perhaps the Avro Vulcan (if its ready for taxing).

Will a little luck, there may also be a DeHavilland Comet on display, the worlds first passenger jet. There will be many stands and static displays to make the event a true family day. It must be said, that although one of the Lightning’s failed to start, the second one did without a problem and it was terrific to see this memorable cold war interceptor coming back to life. We look forward to seeing the LPG’s aircraft and the other venerable aircraft as they thunder down the Bruntingthorpe runway. The LPG is not organizing the day, this is for the British Aviation Heritage, but LPG is taking part and trying to raise awareness of the event. The Bruntingthorpe site is within easy reach of the M1 motorway and the East Midland Airport (Nottingham Leicester and Derby, Luton airport is also within easy reach via the M1 motorway). 

Checksix looks forward to reporting on the full open day at the end of May.

Will Moore / Checksix UK