RAF Binbrook

[carmedic]

My plan for the weekend was to go flying with friends in Lincolnshire, unfortunatly the forecast was predicting unfavorable weather so I put plan B into action which was to visit several disused airfields. RAF Binbrook was one that was on the list.

The Hangars
Binbrook_2015 by Chris Hall, on Flickr

Binbrook_2016 by Chris Hall, on Flickr

Binbrook_2018 by Chris Hall, on Flickr

Binbrook_2022 by Chris Hall, on Flickr

The QRA shed
Binbrook_2021 by Chris Hall, on Flickr

Binbrook_2024 by Chris Hall, on Flickr

The Tech Site
Binbrook_2029 by Chris Hall, on Flickr

Binbrook_2030 by Chris Hall, on Flickr

The Lightnings
XR724 by Chris Hall, on Flickr

XS457_2017e by Chris Hall, on Flickr

ZF595 by Chris Hall, on Flickr

Tail Fin at Binbrook School
School_2035 by Chris Hall, on Flickr

Binbrook Village
XR725_2049e by Chris Hall, on Flickr

XR725_2047e by Chris Hall, on Flickr

XR725_2041e by Chris Hall, on Flickr

XR725_2038e by Chris Hall, on Flickr

[billsamuels]

Morning Chris,

Well plan B looks like an interesting day out... I've never been to Binbrook but by the look of those Lightnings I'd better get up there sooner rather than later... I always feel a bit sad when you come across an old disused airfield, especially one with such am impressive past.

Are those Lightnings part of a museum project?

Great shots Chris, you certainly have a knack of recording an interesting story.  

Thanks mate.

Bill

[carmedic]

Hi Bill

The Lightnings at Binbrook are at the Binrook Heritage centre.
The plan with the cockpit of XS457 is to fit it with the rear fuselage from ZF595 and the wings from ZF577.

XR724 is owned by the Lightning Association
XR725 is at the home of Charles Ross, who is the Chairman and Secretary of the Lightning Association. He also ownes Lightning XM192 which is on loan to the Thorpe Camp Museum at Tattershall Thorpe.

There is also a Sea Harrier at Binbrook, it is being restored and the owner didn't want it photographed while it is in bits, also stored here but not seen is the cockpit section of another Lightning and a complete Vampire.

I think I will revisit in the summer and photograph the Lightnings without the tarps on them

Chris

[chevvron]

Went there for ATC summer camp back in 1966, when No 5 Sqdn were in residence with their Lightning F6s. We were being shown round the aircraft by one of the pilots when he was called away for something 'more important'; wonder what that could have been? (he was wearing flying suit and 'g' suit!)
This part of Lincs was full of disused airfields; the bus into Grimsby/Cleethorpes went across Kelstern and the mapreading exercise we did one day took us past a mysterious looking place called Ludford Magna which was still surrounded by high fences although disused. It was much later I found out it had been a Thor ICBM site which had only been de-activated in about '63.

[zz]

Nice thread.

I only went to Binbrook as an active base once, for the Last Lightning Show in 1987.
I was 12 years old and it was one of the most memorable displays I've ever been to!

The weather was awful but it didn't matter.
There were over 60 Lightnings on the field (I must dig out the log), and there was a diamond nine fly past of Lightnings.

The best bit was 11? Lightnings taking off in turn. One would get airborne, turn 270 degrees over the field and pass over the runway just where the next was getting airborne, and at that point, pull up into a steep climb. Amazing sight and noise.

I must try and find it on YouTube.

[rh226]

Sadly, zz, this old git must admit to seeing 75 Lightnings there at the 1982 Show. That was including the Gate Guard, the one on the Dump and the two F-1A decoys.  Still got the log.

I think that meant there were only half a dozen or so from the entire inventory (at the time) that were not there - including the BAe test ones.

[zz]

Excellent.
Have just found an online listing of the '87 show, there were 69 Lightnings. My log is in the loft somewhere!

Having only been spotting since '81 (age 6) I needed over 50 of them!