Photo taken on 19th September 1962. The Plane was a Lighting XG332. The pilot ejecting was George Aird. The tractor diver was a 15 year old called Mick Sutterby. Photographer was Jim Meads. The tractor model was . . . . . . ?

by KamikazeChief

14 comments

  2. Tractor is a Fordson of some flavour, but I have just used up all my Fordson tractor knowledge.

  6. Well I’ve just checked the DVLA website and it isn’t taxed or MOT’d so I’m reporting it immediately

  8. I used to know that sort of thing, but I’ve moved on… now I’m an extractor fan.

  9. The pilot, George Aird, landed in a greenhouse breaking both his legs but recovered and resumed his career. The plane was involved in missile trials, a split pipe ignited some fuel. Amazing thing the Internet.

  10. I’ve seen this a few times to know the story…and I think there’s a following picture.

    Something along the lines of… the photographer was trespassing on the farmer’s field to take pictures of the aircraft and the farmer trundled over in his tractor to admonish him. Just as he did that the photographer heard the engine tone change above and took the picture.

    The pilot was too low to get a good swing of his parachute but survived as he fell straight through the glass of a greenhouse (which you can just see on the left of the photo). In my mind he squished some guy’s tomatoes, but I may have made it up.

    I’m now going to try and find the source of this random info. 👍🏻

    Edit: it was a Fordson Super Major. And it was tomatoes!!!

    https://fearoflanding.com/photography/the-story-behind-an-unbelievable-photograph/

  12. Being a bit pedantic but its a Lightning F1, number XG332

  13. I was wrong, I thought it was a Fordson Major.

    Then I was corrected.

    Super.

  14. 15 year olds back then looked so much older #BringBackSmoking

Leave a Reply