GoKawiilRAF Squadron Leader accidentally flew Lightning jet during ground taxi test
During a routine ground taxi test to diagnose an electrical fault in English Electric Lightning XM135, pilot Taffy Holden unintentionally pushed the throttle past the afterburner gate. Unfamiliar with disengaging the afterburner, Holden found the aircraft accelerating rapidly, narrowly avoiding a fuel tanker crossing the runway before becoming airborne despite having no flight training clearance, helmet, or radio for the exercise.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The episode illustrates how equipment shortages and scheduling pressures at RAF units could push personnel into high-risk situations far beyond their training, turning a mundane maintenance check into an unplanned and dangerous flight. It remains a cautionary tale in aviation safety circles about improvised testing procedures involving powerful military aircraft.
- A ground test on Lightning XM135 went wrong when the pilot accidentally engaged the afterburner.
- Pilot Taffy Holden had no helmet, radio, or flight authorization during the incident.
- The aircraft narrowly missed a fuel tanker before becoming airborne mid-takeoff.
Airfix English Electric Lightning F.6 Model Kit — If the tale of XM135's accidental flight has you hooked on Britain's Mach 2 interceptor, Airfix's English Electric Lightning kit lets you build one on your own desk. It's a satisfying weekend project that captures the Lightning's unmistakable stacked-engine profile and swept wings, perfect for aviation history buffs.
See Airfix English Electric Lightning F.6 Model Kit on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: en.wikipedia.org, 2026-08-31
Published there as: “Holden's Lightning Flight”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.