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[Craig.]

What is the problem with afterburner in civilian hands then? Is there a more complex way of operating it, or just the fact that we don't want any forests going up in flames?

I would have thought you would be able to restrict/limit/disable/whatever the afterburner on an engine...

I believe its partly to do with noise and speed, but also to do with how busy the sky is round the UK. But maybe Doug or Charlie can better answer.

[Hagar]

What is the problem with afterburner in civilian hands then? Is there a more complex way of operating it, or just the fact that we don't want any forests going up in flames?

I would have thought you would be able to restrict/limit/disable/whatever the afterburner on an engine...

As I understand it the CAA will not allow any privately owned aircraft with an afterburner to be flown in the UK. I can see their point as airspace is already crowded & afterburners are usually only fitted to fast military types. It could end up with privately owned warbirds (like the Lightning) with a better performance than those operated by the RAF zooming around all over the place.

[C]

According to the Air Antique website it's at the Midland Air Museum in Texas. Read my earlier reply.

Aye, it is indeed. It has been airworthy in the states since the late 90s, and is a former RAF AEW varient (tailwheel) unlike the SAAF MR.3 (tricycle undercarriage)...

To be fair, if anything more potent than what ever is allowed now was operated in civilian hands, the CAA would have to do a lot of regulation with regards to who flies them. Military pilots spend 2 or 3 years learning how to handle and operate fast jet aircraft on a regular basis, so it would be hard to justify allowing a non military pilot to fly a very high performance jet on what would probably be very rare occasions. Currency on complex types would be a major issue.

The airspace is also becoming more and more congested with regional airports appearing left, right and centre, with associated airspace... and the free airspace is quite often used my military aircraft (East Anglia, Lincolnshire, Vale of York, North Wales, SW England...)

[Souichiro]

Now wouldn't that be funny!!

Hey! would ya look at those slow Tornado guys

[Craig.]

Correct me if I am wrong but if a rouge Lightning went on a rampage around the skies, I dont think there is anything in the airforce which could keep up with it, I think Typhoon has a simmilar top speed, but is not as quick to it. Of course the Lightning would be out of fuel long before it got anywhere. But still.

[Tweek]

They'd have to utilise the SR-71 sitting at Duxford

[C]

Correct me if I am wrong but if a rouge Lightning went on a rampage around the skies

To be fair it wouldn't be able to do much anyway but run out of fuel...

[Tweek]

To be fair it wouldn't be able to do much anyway but run out of fuel...

So to prevent a Lightning rampage, tell the pilot about his fuel problem, and remove the ejector seats!

[Hagar]

To be fair, if anything more potent than what ever is allowed now was operated in civilian hands, the CAA would have to do a lot of regulation with regards to who flies them. Military pilots spend 2 or 3 years learning how to handle and operate fast jet aircraft on a regular basis, so it would be hard to justify allowing a non military pilot to fly a very high performance jet on what would probably be very rare occasions. Currency on complex types would be a major issue.

The airspace is also becoming more and more congested with regional airports appearing left, right and centre, with associated airspace... and the free airspace is quite often used my military aircraft (East Anglia, Lincolnshire, Vale of York, North Wales, SW England...)

Good points. Although it's disappointing I have to agree with the CAA. I also suspect the insurance would be way beyond most civil operators & indeed the air display organisers. That situation is bad enough already.

[Craig.]

Cant you just take the afterburner section out? or disable it? The lightning doesn't exactly need it.

[Hagar]

Well, it wouldn't be a LIghtning without afterburners. More like a Damp Squib.

[HawkerTempest5]

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