WONZ 247 – Great Escapes 2 – Peter Lindsay

Guest: Peter Lindsay

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 30th of September 2021

Released:  29th of October 2021

Duration: 39 minutes 19 seconds

This episode is the second in a series called “Great Escapes”, covering stories of RNZAF ejections from aircraft that have saved lives in emergency situations.

In this episode Pete Lindsay tells the story of his incredible ejection from a BAC167 Strikemaster Mk. 88, NZ6367. He was on a cross-country exercise while training with No. 14 Squadron RNZAF on the 3rd of July 1985. While attempting to beat up the farmhouse of his wingman’s parents, he struck high tension power cables strung across a valley. The aircraft was put instantly into a spin from around 100 feet. Pete ejected a split second before the jet struck a hillside and exploded. This is one heck of a survival story.

The music used in this episode is Hazy After Hours, from Mixkit

Quick Links:

Great Escapes 1 – Geoff Hubbard

 Great Escapes 3 – Phil Barnes

 Great Escapes 4 – Safety And Surface

 Great Escapes 5 – Sean Singleton-Turner

Air to air view of No. 14 Squadron Strikemaster NZ6367, flown by Pilot Officer DP Barham flight over Cape Reinga, during exercise Falcons Roost 17 at Kaitaia Airport. This photo was taken on 26/04/1983, two years before this very aircraft was involved in Pete Lindsay’s incident. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo OhG878-83
Wreckage of No. 14 Squadron Strikemaster NZ6367, after a wire strike caused it to crash near Waiau, North Canterbury. Pilot Officer Peter Lindsay, ejected and survived. This was the first Strikemaster to be lost by the RNZAF. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo Wg-G679-22-85
Wreckage of No. 14 Squadron Strikemaster NZ6367, after a wire strike caused it to crash near Waiau, North Canterbury. Pilot Officer Peter Lindsay, ejected and survived. This was the first Strikemaster to be lost by the RNZAF. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo WgG679-23-85
The wreckage of Pete Lindsay’s Strikemaster NZ6367 after it was recovered to the No. 14 Squadron RNZAF hangar at Ohakea, Another Strikemaster sits to the left, and a preserved Vampire on the right. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Austin.
The photo montage wall at the Martin Baker factory in London. It represents the ejection by RAF pilot Martin Pert from a Hawker Harrier on the 14th of May 2009 at Kandahar, Peter Lindsay photo.
The photo montage wall at the Martin Baker factory in London. The names are all people who successfully ejected using Martin Baker seats. Peter Lindsay photo.
A close up pf Pilot Officer Peter Lindsay’s name on the photo montage wall at the Martin Baker factory in London. Peter Lindsay photo.

Below: Photos from Strikemaster owner Charles Davis which show the canopy detonation cord, thanks to Charles for the photos.

A set-up for a public display in an RNZAF Base Ohakea hangar of how an ejection seat works. Note this demonstrates the earlier method of the canopy being released before the seat rocket motor fires. Had Pete have been flying a Strikemaster with this set-up he would have undoubtedly not have had time to eject. Photo from Charles Davis.
The warning symbol on each side of the Strikemaster for those aircraft with the canopy detonation cord. Charles Davis photo.

Below: Three newspaper articles from Charles Davis’s scrapbook on Pete Lindsay’s crash and ejection. Thanks to Charles for these.

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