Big Boys Toys

[red750]

Channel surfing on Foxtel and on Turbo Max on the program Extreme Maachines, came across a story about South African Michael Beachy Head who has a business called Thunderbirds Classic Jets where anyone with the money can go for a ride in his Hawker Hunter, Blackburn Buccaneer or English Electric Lightning at up to Mach 2, but you will need at least US$20,000. Googled him and found this link:

 

http://www.incredible-adventures.com/beachy.html

 

http://www.incredible-adventures.com/capetown.html

 

Cheers,

 

Peter,

 

 

[Spin]

I believe that fleet is or was up for sale after one of the Lightnings went in at an airshow a year or two back - sad story all around, appears that a fire in the rear fuselage disabled the controls, however multiple prior attempts to eject were thwarted by the canopy refusing to jettison. I've got a number of photos and references tucked away somewhere, I'll have a look this evening and post for interest sake.

 

I'd always dreamed of spending a bunch of money to go supersonic in one of them - when my ship came in:cool:, seems it won't be happening. Photo courtesy of Gary Shephard - was provided to CAA for the accident investigation.

 

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[red750]

I guess you're like me, when my ship comes in I'll be at the airport - lol.

 

Peter.

 

 

[Spin]

I guess you're like me, when my ship comes in I'll be at the airport - lol.Peter.

Yup, you and me both!

http://www.caa.co.za/resource%20center/accidents%20&%20incid/reports/2009/ZU-BEX.pdf

 

There is also video and further photos taken immediately before the crash, search up "ZU-BEX accident" - RIP Dave Stock

 

 

[willedoo]

Issue 31 of Aero Australia ( July/September 2011) has a good story about the one that crashed. It's by a journalist about his mach 2 ride as a passenger in it in 1967 when it was RAF XS-451. Well worth reading & very interesting as it's written from a civilian passenger's point of view. There's also a two page profile on Lightnings in the same mag. He mentions the SA company doing supersonic joyflights, I wonder if they did altitude as well.

 

Cheers, Willie.