English Electric Lightning (F6) XR770

XR770

The aircraft was dismantled at RAF Binbrook by RAF technicians and members of the old Grimsby Aircraft Preservation Group in 1988 and moved to a temporary storage site at Laceby near Grimsby owned by J. H Food Machinery Ltd whilst Grimsby Borough Council were asked to find a suitable location for it to be displayed for the people of the town.

RAF Binbrook had been given the freedom of Grimsby some years earlier so no problems were anticipated however Grimsby Borough Council declined to provide a location for the aircraft.

The Grimsby Aircraft Preservation Group decided to re-assemble the aircraft at the temporary storage site to try and attract local interest and sponsorship.
Led by Phil Wallis (now AALO project leader) over a 5 month period the aircraft was re-assembled.

Just prior to completion of the re-assembly work, opposition from a local parish councillor regarding planning permission meant the group were asked to vacate the storage site.
With heavy hearts they started to undo the last five months work and look for another site.

Rodney Clayton and his wife Linda who owned Peaks Top Farm at New Waltham near Grimsby offered them a new home.

XR770 was moved again and re-assembled at the farm.

The collection was expanded later by the addition of English Electric Lightning T5 XS416, Lockheed Starfighter F104G 22+57, Saab Draken A-011 and Trevor Garrods' English Electric Lightning F6 XR757 cockpit section.

All went well at the farm for a number of years with visitors to the 'Pick Your Own' fruit and touring caravan site having a small aircraft collection to look round.

An expansion in the touring caravan side of the farm business meant that reluctantly Rodney and Linda had to ask for the aircraft collection to be moved to another site.

LINCAIR offered the aircraft collection a home at Grainthorpe until a formal museum could be founded to house the entire joint collection and the anticipated LINCAIR expansion plans.

All of the aircraft were dismantled at Peaks Top Farm and transported to the LINCAIR site at Grainthorpe.

The following images are of XR770 being re-assembled (again) at Grainthorpe.

She must be the only Lightning in history to have been dismantled, moved and re-assembled three times.

Loading the rear fuselage for transporting to the re-assembly area.

Moving the rear fuselage into position for re-assembly.

Rear fuselage in re-assembly position.

Moving the wings into position for bolting together.

Wings now firmly bolted together.

Time for a well earned breather!

The mated wings are aligned and levelled with the rear fuselage.

The crane is repositioned for the rear fuselage to be mated to the wing structure.

Aligning and levelling to wings for mating together.

Gently the rear fuselage is mated to the wing structure.

Finally in position with the wing structure the many fuselage bolts can be put in.

Wings and fuselage back together.

Cockpit bolted back on.

Back on her wheels at long last.

The fin is attached.

The main airframe structures complete.

Rudder, belly tanks, etc to be fitted and oleo legs to be recharged.