Supersonic Jets Electic Lighning BAe Buccuneer Hawker Hunter

English Electric Lightning:

Technical info:
Powerplant Two 16,300 lb. After burning Rolls Royce Avon 30201 turbojets Weights Max. take-off 18,900 kg (41,700 lb.) Maximum velocity Mach 2 at 15,000 feet Dimensions Wing span 10.61m Length 16.84m Height 5.97m Crew 2 Ceiling 60,000 feet plus

History:

Not since the era of the Spitfire, has any single aircraft captured the hearts and imaginations of fighter pilots like the English Electric Lightning. Undoubtedly Britain’s most charismatic and best-loved jet fighter, this supersonic cold war jet interceptor is powered by the Rolls Royce Avon 302 afterburning turbojet engine and is capable of supersonic performance in most flight conditions.

The Lightning is known for its vertical climb performance and it still holds a number of world climb-to-altitude records. It is capable of Mach 2.2 (1500 m.p.h.) and an initial climb rate of 50,000 feet per minute.

We operate the last two serviceable twin engined two-seater (side-by-side) supersonic cold war jet-interceptor Lightnings in the world, together with two single seater F6 that is primarily used for aerobatic displays at air shows.

This jet legend aircraft will change you forever – just as your perception of the earth will change when you see its curvature. Especially after climbing to 50,000 feet - in one minute!

Your sortie:

You don’t fly the Lightning like a conventional aeroplane – you strap her to your back and experience the thrust of the jet fighters. She’s a beauty, offering the incredible power and ‘g’s’ of the supersonic jet interceptor.

Soon after take-off, you go vertical very quickly, and as you are climbing to 50 000ft, you break the sound barrier and marvel at the smooth and gentle handling of this heavy metal jet. At the apex of the climb, you join the elite few who’ve seen the curvature of the earth from 50,000 feet.

BAe Buccaneer:

Technical info:
Powerplant Two 12,600 lb. dry thrust Rolls Royce RB.168-1Spey turbofan Weights Max. take-off 24,494 kg (55,000 lb.) Dimensions Wing span 12.90m Length 19.33m Height 5.03m Range 6,440km Crew 2 Payload 7,258kg (16,000lb.)

History:
The BAe Buccaneer is a twin-engined tandem seat strike attack aircraft powered by two Rolls Royce Spey non-afterburning bypass turbofans – each of which develops 12,600 lb. static thrust.

Equipped with terrain-hugging radar, this low level attack jet performs at its peak when it’s flying low and fast. And it’s perhaps superior to supersonic aircraft because it can carry more ordnance, fly further and make its attack with equal precision - and probably at lower altitude.

And as for speed? Well, none of the supersonic planes can actually attack at supersonic speed. And, even carrying its internal bomb load of 4000 lb., the Buccaneer flies faster than, for example, the Jaguar, Phantom, F-111, Mirage, F-15E, Tornado or Su-24.

The British Aerospace Buccaneers are the last three serviceable Buccaneers in the world.
The last all-British strike jet bomber, the Buccaneer is a low level strike attack aircraft that was designed to fly extremely fast and extremely low.

Your sortie:

Take off from Cape Town International airport and head out to sea at a speed of close to 650 miles per hour – and just 50 feet above the water: your ‘g’ limits and sortie profile are determined purely by your ability to handle them.
Seated in the jet behind the pilot, you’ll be working with him to maximise your experience - whether it be an extreme adrenaline rush through the rugged Cape Swartland Mountains or a sortie along the dramatic Cape coast.This is one jet experience you’ll never forget.

Hawker Hunter:

Technical info:
Maximum velocity (level flight) Mach 0.97 – supersonic in a shallow dive Maximum Initial rate of climb 17,000 feet per minute Service ceiling 52,000 feet Tactical Radius 713km on a hi-lo-hi mission with two tanks and typical attack ordinance Weights Max. take-off 11,300 kg (25,000 lb) Dimensions Wing span 10.25m Height 4.02m Wing Area 34.43 m(2) Range 2,960 km Crew 2

History:
The versatile Hawker Hunter jet was originally designed as a superior air fighter, which, due to its versatility, was easily adapted for air-to-ground attack and reconnaissance roles. It was the first swept wing, indigenous British built fighter, with the first prototypes taking to the air in 1951 - and it held the world speed record for a brief period in 1953.
With its clean lines, brilliant handling and excellent load carrying capacity, the classic Hunter was possibly the best transonic jet fighter and ground-support aircraft of its kind - and it was built in greater numbers than any other British aircraft of the post-war era.

The Hunter formed the backbone of the Royal Air Force’s jet fighter squadron between 1954 and 1961 and remained in frontline service until the early seventies. It was only finally withdrawn from active service in 1995. Nearly two thousand Hunters of all types were built for various airforces - including those of Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Holland, India, Sweden and Switzerland.

The Swiss ultimately ordered 160 Hunters and operated the class from 1958 until December of 1994

Your sortie:

Regarded as the “Spitfire” of the jet age the Hunter is one of the most elegant combat aircraft ever to grace the skies; hence it is a favourite at airshows around the world. The Hunter is the ideal aircraft for aerobatic sorties or simply fast and gentle trips around the magnificent Cape coastline and its winelands.

If you chose an aggressive aerobatic jet sortie, you’ll pull loops, rolls, barrel rolls, inverted flight, vertical manoeuvres and a host of other exhilarating manoeuvres –and you’ll come out of them feeling like you have lived the fighter pilot experience