Thunder City
Thunder City Lightnings steal the show!
 On Thursday 21 September 2006, trade day at the South African Aerospace Defence week (Africa's Farnborough equivalent) the clear blue Cape sky was shattered by the roar of eight mighty Rolls Royce Avons in afterburner.
Entering the Ysterplaat airspace (a SAAF base near the Cape Town city centre where the show is staged) were the world's only flying English Electric Lightnings, all four of them, in perfect diamond formation, much to the delight of the 70 000 spectators and captains of the Aerospace industry.
It is not often that a private concern steals the limelight when one considers the best of the industry offerings on show, yet steal it they did.
Thunder City is renowned for professional and polished performances and this four ship display was the culmination of years of safe operations, rebuilding and effort well supported by its sponsor - Shell Aviation.
The four ship display comprised a diamond formation entry, with Thunder City CEO, Mike Beachy Head in the lead aircraft (Lightning F6 XR773), Dave Stock, ex SAAF test pilot No2 (Lightning T5 XS 452), Keith Hartley ex BAE Eurofighter test pilot No3 (Lightning F6 XP693) and Ian Black, ex RAF Lightning pilot in the No4 position. (Lightning T5 XS 451)
After a series of wingovers and a 360-degree turn the formation presented eight rear ends to the crowd and simultaneously lit the afterburners and separated in a bomb-burst.
Mike pulled 773 straight up in classic Lightning pose while the remaining three cleared to the west while Mike returned to perform a spectacular solo display.
On completion of the solo the remaining three Lightning's performed a high-speed pass in vic formation and departed back to the Shell Thunder City base at Cape Town International airport.
It is seldom that an Airshow performance receives a standing ovation from the crowd - in the chalets normally reserved dignitaries stood on the tables and cheered and, as soon as the last rumble of the departing Avon's had gone, so did the crowd.
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.
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