MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Lightning Test Pilot

Interesting prog on Talking Pictures TV on Tuesday evening…


Dave O'Neill 2

Might watch. I flew them for 6 years and have over 1,000 hours on type. I was never a test pilot though. Most I ever did was post deep servicing test flights that included general handling, Shutting down each engine in turn, checking they relit ok and operated within limits. I was one of the few that never had an engine fire nor reheat zone fire. All my issues were control restrictions and jams. Only once came close to ejecting from one when the upper right Aden cannon disintegrated and bent some control rods, jamming the rudder and ailerons both fully left. Got some jerky movements back into the ailerons with brute force using both hands. The aircraft was in a vertical spiral from 20,000ft in cloud and I lost 8,000ft before I recovered. Flew like a crab after that. Made for an interesting landing with only left brake available and no nosewheel steering in that aircraft. Tried to take the approach end cable but the hook skipped it. Fortunately the crosswind from the right kept me on the tarmac and I took the cable at the far end of the runway. I used a couple of my 9 lives that day.

Bought my MGA 22 years later.

Steve
Steve Gyles

My cousin Tony Doidge flew Lightnings out of Leuchars. Sadly he lost his life due to a reheat fire.
Roger D

Roger

I was on 11 Sqn with Tony back then in March 1970. I had just finished flying for the day and was chatting with him just prior to him walking out to his aircraft. Very tragic evening. The photo was taken 2 weeks earlier. Tony standing extreme right. I am holding the Boss's dog Henry.

Steve


Steve Gyles

Thanks for posting the picture,I think I have seen it before.
Sarah, his widow, is still with us and celebrated her 89th birthday last week. I would guess that she has that picture but I will ask her next time I speak to her.
Roger D

This thread was discussed between 21/08/2023 and 12/09/2023

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.