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XV428: A FS9 Memorial

Posted: 23 Aug 2006, 09:00
by phantom_fgr2
Hello Masses,

Usually i am not one to be at haste when it comes to revealing a new paintjob from my hangar, but when it can to the 1987 paintjob on XV428 i had to bite my lip pretty hard on this occasion.

On 23 September 1988, the crew of XV428 flew to RAF Abingdon to carry out a display practise prior to the air display the next day..
On arrival at Abingdon, they overflew the airfield at 2000ft before running in for their practice. During this overflight, they confirmed that the minimum height for the display was to be 500ft and they discussed the position of the display line and crowd centre. They were passed the surface wind as being between 240 & 330
degrees at 10 to 20 kts with occasional gusts to 30kts.

Having cleared the airfield area, XV428 then ran in from the west along the display axis parallel to and north of runway 08 with the crowdline 780ft to their right.
The aircraft was well to the right of crowd centre after completing a left 360 degrees hard turn since no allowance appeared to have been made for the strong wind. It was seen to roll out of the turn and immedietly enter a very hard pull up using full reheat.
As it approached the top of the loop, the aircraft appeared to be slower and lower than usual and at the apex, it was seen to fly in the inverted position for several seconds; the pilot appeared to be 'pushing' and maintaining level flight. During the second half of the loop, the initial pitch rate to the vertical appeared slow and at the vertical the aircraft was alarmingly low. From there on the pull became increasingly hard and some wing rock occured and just before impact the aircraft achieved a nose up attitude of 10-15 degrees but with a massive rate of descent. The Phantom impacted tail first some 819ft from and parellel to the crowdline. It disintigrated immedietly and wreckage came no closer than 400ft to the crowdline. The crew were killed on impact with the ground."
A very sad day indeed at Abingdon, RIP Flt lt Lackman & Flt Lt Thompson..

So you can see why i had to bite my lip. I would appreciate comments wether this repaint is appropriate for release.

Thank you for your time and patience in this matter.

Ben Hartmann
UKMIL Repaints

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Posted: 23 Aug 2006, 09:42
by AndyG
Ben,

It's an attractive scheme, and a fitting tribute.

As they say "Publish and be damned!".

AndyG

Posted: 23 Aug 2006, 09:57
by Filonian
AndyG wrote:Ben,

It's an attractive scheme, and a fitting tribute.

As they say "Publish and be damned!".

AndyG
Ben,

First, welcome back to the fold.

As Andy G says, it will be a fitting tribute and a great way to remember, and mark the passing of these two airmen.

Graham

Posted: 23 Aug 2006, 11:32
by airbee
Well, your question is well put and sensitive to the issues.
As to publishing - the model is great and the livery wonderfully rendered. I would therefore certainly consider publication appropriate.
What a wonderful tribute, remembrance and enduring source of pleasure to know that their Aircraft and their Colours are out there continuing to fly on.
Its up to you, but I would.

Posted: 23 Aug 2006, 11:47
by thehappyotter
I say go for it.

A nice tribute.

Posted: 23 Aug 2006, 13:33
by Motormouse
I'd say go for it Ben.

Only a fortnight or so before that I'd been 'working' at Great Warbirds,taking a break from my then day job on Phantom overhauls, and had been responsible for looking after Chris Lackman's plane, on my section of the ramp. I seem to recall they used a standard painted OCU bird for that show.

(The Phantom OCU carried the 64 Sqn 'numberplate' and colours http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h64.html)

XV428 you've painted there was only a week out of a major check
when it crashed at Abingdon.

Incidentally,Chris Lackman had converted to the Phantom from Vulcans,
he was one of the 'Black Buck 6' crew during Falklands.

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk ... story.html

ttfn

Pete

Posted: 23 Aug 2006, 14:32
by TobyV
Was the cause of this accident determined? I hadnt heard of it before.

Posted: 23 Aug 2006, 15:19
by Motormouse
TobyV wrote:Was the cause of this accident determined? I hadnt heard of it before.
I believe it was put down to pilot error in the official report, caused by
failing to take account of the strong wind. In trying to maintain his display
centred on a reference point and impress the gathered 'Top Neddy's' (the AOC was there watching) he became distracted from 'flying the plane' and it lost altitude while inverted at the top of its fatal loop.

These days it would be classed as a 'Human Factors' event.

If you want to see Chris Lackman 'in action'; I think his routine did
get recorded on the 1988 Great Warbirds Air Show video.

ttfn

Pete

Posted: 23 Aug 2006, 17:46
by phantom_fgr2
i have also added a 2D panel to the IRIS phantom, as it came without one.

Regards

Ben

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