RAF Binbrook The Last Lightning Show 1987

A very wet and cloudy day greeted the final airshow at RAF Binbrook on 22 August 1987. This did not stop those who attended from having a truly memorable day that saw one of the final Diamond Nine formations flown by Binbrook's Lightnings. It was very odd returning to Binbrook in November 2010 to think that all that power and noise generated by the Lightnings ever actually happened. The place is so quiet now, sitting atop its commanding viewpoint in the Lincolnshire Wolds, the runways and control tower now gone. Even more strange to me was visiting the QRA sheds, which still stand. To think that Lightnings used to stand 24-hour guard here to meet the incoming Soviet threat was quite thought-provoking. In this gallery, there are some digital shots from the 2010 visit. I thought this provided a nice then-and-now feel to the scanned shots.

Official Show Programme - Click to open

Page Photo Index - Aircraft Within This Gallery

English Electric Lightning F.6 XP693 - English Electric Lightning F.3 XP764 DC and T.5 XS456 DX - English Electric Lightning F.3 XP764 DC Lightning Training Flight - English Electric Lightning F.6 XP693 - F.3 XP764 DC and T.5 XS456 DX - HS Harrier T.4 XZ146 W - Dassault Mirage F1C 9/30-MR EC TT2/30 - McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom FG.1 XT870 - English Electric Lightning F.6 XR769 - English Electric Lightning T.5 XS416 AZ - F.6 XR724 AE - F.6 XS922 AF - English Electric Lightning F.6 XR724 AE