.jpg) XM135 at Imperial War Museum Duxford | |
| Incident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 22 July 1966 |
| Summary | Unqualified person takes off after engaging afterburner by mistake during ground test |
| Site | RAF Lyneham |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | English Electric Lightning F.1 |
| Operator | RAF Maintenance Command |
| Registration | XM.135 |
| Flight origin | RAF Lyneham |
| Destination | RAF Lyneham |
| Passengers | 0 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Survivors | 1 |
On 22 July 1966, Walter "Taffy" Holden, a 39-year-old engineer in command of No. 33 Maintenance Unit RAF with limited experience flying small single-engine trainer aircraft, inadvertently engaged the afterburner of a Mach 2.0–capable English Electric Lightning during ground testing. Unable to disengage the afterburner, Holden ran down the runway, narrowly missing a crossing fuel bowser and a de Havilland Comet taking off, before taking off himself. Flying without a helmet or canopy, the ejection seat disabled, and the landing gear locked down, Holden aborted his first two landing attempts. He landed on his third approach, striking the runway with the aircraft's tail as he adopted the landing technique of a taildragger aircraft. The aircraft returned to service, and was subsequently acquired by the Imperial War Museum Duxford.