Thunder City
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | Cape Town, South Africa (1998-05-07[1]) |
| Headquarters | Cape Town, South Africa |
| Key people | Owner/Founder Mike Beachy Head; CEO Emilio Titus[2] |
| Revenue |  unspecified |
| Net income | unspecified |
| Website | http://www.thundercity.com/ |
Thunder City is an aircraft operating and maintenance company based at the Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town, South Africa. It was well known for owning the largest civilian-owned collection of former military jet aircraft in the world.[3] These aircraft were used to perform in airshows and could also be hired by the general public for novelty flights, including going supersonic and climbing to altitudes around 50,000 feet. Following an incident in which an English Electric Lightning was lost in an airshow crash in which the pilot died, the company ceased flying operations.[4]
The company's other activities include upgrading older models of the Aerospatiale Puma helicopter with modern avionics and renovating airframes and engines.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Company Structure
Thunder City Holdings (Pty) Ltd. is the parent company of several subsidiaries:
- Thunder City Aircraft Company
- Thunder City Aircraft Maintenance Company
- Thunder City Education
- Thunder City Aircraft Entertainment
- Thunder City Flying Company
- Thunder City Property Company
[edit] Fleet
Some of the aircraft are the only examples of the type in airworthy condition.
- Three English Electric Lightnings, including the only airworthy two-seater and two single seaters used in airshows.[6] One T5 was lost in an accident on 14 November 2009.
- Three Blackburn Buccaneers, the only currently (October 2008) airworthy examples.[7]
- Seven Hawker Hunters.[8]
- One BAC Strikemaster.[9]
- One Aerospatiale Puma, a demonstrator of the company's upgrade and refurbishment services.[3]
[edit] Non-airworthy aircraft
- One Gloster Javelin FAW Mk.1 (RAF No. XA553). Mounted as a "Gate Guard" on display at the entrance to the company premises.[10]
[edit] AAD 2008 Controversy
During a display flight at the 2008 African Aerospace and Defence show in Cape Town a pair of Thunder City Lightnings flew close to the city at supersonic speed. Only the higher one of the pair was planned to fly supersonic as it was considered to be high enough so as not to cause alarm, however the lower aircraft also broke the sound barrier.[11] The resulting sonic boom brought many complaints from the public.[12]
[edit] Lightning crash 14 November 2009
An English Electric Lightning T5, ZU-BEX, (RAF No. XS451) was destroyed in an accident during the biennial South African Air Force Overberg Airshow held at AFB Overberg near Bredasdorp on 14 November 2009. Veteran Lightning pilot Dave Stock was killed in the crash.
[edit] Suspension of Flight Operations
On 9 September 2010, it was reported that the Thunder City fleet would no longer take paying passengers. The South African Civil Aviation Authority suspended its operating certificate in March 2010.[13]
On 22 August 2011 3 Lightnings, 3 Buccaneers and 4 Hunters were listed as 'for sale by private treaty' with Go Industry. The closing date for bids is 29 February 2012.[14]
[edit] References
- ^ "THUNDER CITY HOLDINGS". CIPRO. http://www.cipro.co.za/ccc/EntDet.asp?T1=M1998008649&T2=THUNDER%20CITY%20HOLDINGS&T3=1998/008649/07. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ a b [2][dead link]
- ^ "Thunder City has ceased flying". August 2010. http://www.saflyermag.co.za/index.php/saflyer-news/111-thunder-city-has-ceased-flying-.html.
- ^ http://www.thundercity.co.za/pages/499409045/News-Articles/press-releases/Thunder-City-offers-Puma-upgrade---Defenseworldnet-.asp
- ^ http://www.thundercity.co.za/pages/499409045/our-jets/eel.asp
- ^ http://www.thundercity.co.za/pages/499409045/our-jets/baeb.asp
- ^ http://www.thundercity.co.za/pages/499409045/our-jets/hunter.asp
- ^ 17:49. "Africa Aviation / Afrika Lugvaart". Flyafrica.info. http://www.flyafrica.info/forums/showthread.php?t=11409. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
- ^ "Thunder & Lightnings - Gloster Javelin - Survivor XA553". Thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk. 2010-11-11. http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/javelin/survivor.php?id=685. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
- ^ "Africa Aerospace and Defence 2008". aviationdimension.com. http://www.aviationdimension.com/AAD20082.html. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
- ^ Independent Newspapers Online (2008-09-21). "Air show booms rankle residents - South Africa | IOL News". IOL.co.za. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=14&art_id=vn20080921083943787C798675. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
- ^ http://m.24.com/afr/FullArticle.aspx?aid=e90365bf-42d2-49b8-887f-5e9b2df211ae&cat=Die%20Burger&sh=Hoof%20Stories
- ^ "Thunder City Aircraft Company - Historical Military Jets - GoIndustry DoveBid". Go-dove.com. 2011-08-04. http://www.go-dove.com/event-15794?lcid=en&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=15794. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||
