Thunder City

Thundercity to launch 4 Lightning

Thundercity are planning another record attempt, this time to be the first ever civilian organisation to launch 4 supersonic Lightning interceptor jets simultaneously. This will take place at Africa’s largest aerospace exhibition and air show which will be held in the heart of Cape Town from 20-24 September 2006 at the South African Air Force base at Ysterplaats.

The Africa Aerospace & Defence (AAD) is the premier showcase for African aviation and will include many foreign and local exhibitors keen to get a slice in the burgeoning African aviation market. See www.aadexpo.co.za

“We will launch all four of our supersonic English Electric Lightnings in what will be one of the most spectacular formation displays since the end of the Cold War” said Thundercity CEO Mike Beachy Head. “It will also be a chance for our fourth Lightning (Royal Air Force serial number XP693) to make her public debut” said Mike.

Mike’s plan is for the Lightning formation to end its display with a spectacular ‘bomb-burst’ when all four machines will light their afterburners and separate at high speed. “Spectators are advised to wear ear protectors” warns Mike. When the Lightnings go into full power each aircraft will be burning 500 litres of Shell fuel per minute “that’s the equivalent of 34 car tanks of petrol per minute” mused Mike.

The Thundercity Lightnings are ZU BBD (XS452), ZU BEX (XS451), ZU BEW (XR773) and XP693 (ZU ?)

New Time-to-Altitude Record for Thunder City

Two new South African records have been set by one of Thunder City’s English Electric Lightnings, registration ZU-BEX. The first record achieved by Thunder City test pilot Dave Stock and Steve Quirk was 70 seconds from a standing start to an altitude of 6000m (just over 19 000ft). This was performed at the Overberg air show near Bredasdorp.

A week later Dave Stock and well known British businessman John Caudwell set another record; this time from a standing start to 9,000m (just over 29,000 ft) at the Ysterplaats air show in Cape Town. Despite being robbed of considerable power when one of the afterburners went out early in the attempt, the Lightning nevertheless reached the 6 km high target in 102 seconds after releasing its brakes.

Air Shows

Thunder City wowed the early spectators at the Overberg air show by arriving in a Diamond Four formation of 2 Buccaneers and 2 Lightnings – probably a world first. These are the only aircraft of this type flying anywhere.

Leading in Buccaneer ZU-AVI was Robbie Robinson, with Ian Pringle flying on his right in Buccaneer ZU-NIP and Dave Stock in Lightning ZU-BEX on his left with Mike Beachy Head making up the diamond in Lightning ZU-BEW.

Thunder City also performed some excellent solo displays in the Hunter, Lightning and Buccaneer at Overberg and at the Ysterplaats air show in Cape Town.

Thunder City English Electric Lightning Jet Time-to Altitude Record Attempt

Thunder City will attempt to establish a new all-Africa record for the fastest climb by an aircraft from a standing start on the runway to a given altitude using the famous Cold War supersonic interceptor, the English Electric Lightning

There will be two attempts; the first on 26 November 2005 during an Air Show/Fly-in at the South African Air Force base near Bredasdorp where the objective will be to reach 6000m (19800ft) in well under 60 seconds. The second attempt will be on 3 December 2005 at the South African Air Force Ysterplaats Air Show in the heart of Cape Town where the target will be to reach 9000m (29800ft) also in less than 60 seconds from a standing start.

Dave Stock, Thunder City’s test pilot, will be at the controls of the Lightning and well known British businessman, John Caudwell, will be in the right hand seat as crew for the 9000m attempt.

John, who is a qualified pilot, bought the privilege at a dinner auction for the Caudwell Charitable Trust for £9,000.

The Lightning will develop 36,000 lbs of thrust whilst burning 500 litres per minute of top quality Shell Jet A1 fuel. Dave will lift the aircraft off the runway at 160 knots (About 300 kilometres per hour) then accelerate rapidly to 600 knots (1116 kph) (Mach.95) before pointing the aircraft almost straight up to maximise the rate of climb. The first and most spectacular part of the climb will be clearly visible to spectators on the ground.

The Lightning is one of only four flying in the world, all belong to Cape Town based Thunder City.

The particular aircraft, a two seat Lightning T5, doing the record attempt is specially prepared for the flight and will have its external fuel tank removed to reduce weight.

This means that in full power with the afterburners aflame the aircraft will have only 5 minutes endurance.

On takeoff the jet will be producing above 36000 lbs of thrust (about 60 000 horsepower or equivalent to 75 formula one cars) –so spectators are advised to cover their ears!

All of the Thunder City jet types will be on display - Mike Beachy Head, CEO and owner of Thunder City will be flying the Lightning and Buccaneer solo display with Ian Pringle and Robbie Robinson doing the Hawker Hunter and Buccaneer formation flights preceding the solos.

Hot Gun

The latest Will Young music video “Hot Gun” was filmed at Thunder City recently. The title song “Switch it On” is backed up by some awesome flying shots of Thunder City’s Buccaneer and Hawker Hunter and of course some good volleyball and bar scenes to complete the Hot Gun scene, all filmed on location at Thunder City.

Be sure to watch it on the music channels MTV on DVD.



10 Years and 1300 jet flights later…….
Hawker Hunter ZU ATHI arrived in Cape Town in May 1995 flown by Mike Beachy Head and Brian Henwood. The arrival of the first Hunter, a two seat T8, symbolised the true beginning of Thunder City, which has since then grown into the world’s largest and most diverse civilian jet squadron with no less than twelve jets flying. The “Dazzling Dozen” is made up of 4 English Electric Lightnings, 3 Buccaneers and 5 Hunters. Since Mike and Brian flew in, Thunder City has flown over 1300 jet sorties and in 2004 saw record numbers arriving in the beautiful city of Cape Town to fly these pristine jet war birds.

Air Shows 2005
Thunder City will be flying Lightning, Buccaneer and Hunter aircraft at the Ysterplaat Air Show (right in the heart of Cape Town) on 3 December 2005. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Lightning, a surprise is planned for this show. Watch this space……

A week earlier Thunder City aircraft will again be performing at the Test Flying Development Centre Air Show at Overberg, which is a delightful 100 kilometres hop from Cape Town across the beautiful Western Cape winelands. Overberg is close to Cape Agulhas, the most southern point of the continent of Africa. This area is famous for its flora (many varieties of fynbos), whale watching and an abundance of tortoises which often make for interesting landings.

These shows are at the beginning of the Cape summer, so be sure to book early to join us and share the excitement.

Yello Squadron
Three Hawker Hunters were painted yellow, fitted with smoke generators and teamed up to perform formation displays around South Africa for the sponsor, MTN. The jets looked resplendent in yellow, stood out as only the Hunter can and attracted huge attention.

Fly Formation With Us
Thunder City now offers a unique experience of flying together, but apart. Formation flying has proved to be so popular with those wishing to share the jet experience that Thunder City has included this as a standard option. It offers a very different perspective of another jet flying in very close proximity as the formation wends its way around beautiful Cape Town. Great pictures can be taken of your buddy and vice-versa. The sortie starts with a full briefing, then a formation take off followed by frequent position and lead changes to give an all-round perspective. The aircraft then usually separate to do individual manoeuvres, before reforming and formation run and break to land.



Shell Customers Get Lucky
Shell Aviation recently offered customers attending a fuel procurement conference in Cape Town the chance for a lucky draw. The prize was a flight in the Hawker Hunter around the Cape Peninsula.