English Electric Lightning - the Cold War fighter intercepter
Ranked #1,366 in Culture & Society, #32,962 overall
About the English Electric Lightning
During its years of service (1959-1988) it set and still holds a number of speed records. The photograph here shows the Lightning displayed at the RAF Museum in London, UK.
Contents
Find out about the Lightning
English Electric Lightning Postage by KitteasGallery
Make custom postage stamps at Zazzle.com
- Training pilots on the Lightning
- Height limit?
- Lightning Scramble - a short film
- Pilot's Manuals
- Flying Survivors
- The English Electric Lightning - WarbirdTech series vol.28
- Other Aviation Lenses
- Love this lens?
- Share your memories of the English Electric Lightning
- About the lensmaster
- Tirial's Bio and Featured Lenses
Training pilots on the Lightning
Height limit?
Known to have reached 88,000 feet the Lightning on one occassion apparently intercepted a U2 Spyplane...
Lightning Scramble - a short film
A story without words
Produced by Youtube user AussieDiamond.
Pilot's Manuals
The pilot's manuals for the English Electric Lightning
From Aircraft manuals.com
They also offer the flight crews notes, maintenance manuals and more. View here
From Amazon.com
The Lightning Association
All about the English Electric Lightning, this group is restoring XR724. The CAA will not licence her so she had to fly under military markings
Flying Survivors
Thunder City "Edge of Space" flight
The English Electric Lightning - WarbirdTech series vol.28
The pilot's manuals for the English Electric Lightning
English Electric Lightning - Warbird Tech Vol. 28
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 02/16/2012)
A quick and detailed reference to the supersonic jet interceptor.
Books and Resources
Amazon products for the English Electric Lightning
At RAF Hendon...
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Share your memories of the English Electric Lightning
Have your say
Do you remember this aircraft in flight? Any fond anecdotes and hair-raising stories? Please share them here.
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Iain
Sep 16, 2011 @ 9:24 pm | delete
- I dont have a personal exp except being on Camp at Wattisham with, at that time 56, 74, 111.
The weapons Instructor on 74 was one Geoffe Hawke who I flew with in the station Chippie. He went on to both fly the camera a/c - and direct the air scenes for the Battle Of Britain Film - amongst many other exploits. EG at the time, at Wattis' he was rebuilding an ME109 - went to Germany in the end I believe . An incredible pilot and allround Airperson! BTW When we flew - He was the first to get airsick - I'm still very proud of that!
However - bit of heads up - on 56 at time was W/Cmdr now retd Richard Pike - who I see has now written a book where he's has gathered together 22 of his old Lightning pals to tell of their own personal 'oops moments on the Lightning. Called the Lightning Boys - frm Amazon prob. Richards own claim to fame - he not only flew it - he actually came up with the name Lightning! Mod; not plugging; mod if necessry of course!
Great little site Btw.
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Dave Darney
Oct 21, 2010 @ 12:39 pm | delete
- I am ex 29 sqdn groundcrew. As Al McCormick pointed out the Frightning had short legs.However,when I had my trip in the T5 it was in Cyprus and was jammy enough to get a Victor tanker slot which extended the duration of my incredible experience. Iwonder if this was the same time as Al McCormicks trip?
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tfosh
Sep 14, 2009 @ 11:59 am | delete
- I was posted to 226 OCU (145 Sqn) at 'Colt' in 1965 We had one F1 on charge, XM 144, our 'Christmas tree'. All the rest of our aircraft were F1A's and T4's. The Lighting has been critized for only carrying 2 firestreak missile, Our F1As also carried, 4x30mm cannon and the T4s carried 2x firestreaks and 2x30mm cannon, with I believe, 750 rounds of ammo per gun. A formidable aircraft. The cannon from our aircraft are still in service today as the Rarden cannon in the Scorpion light tank. All Lightning Sqns had 'paint jobs' with the Sqn badge on the fin. Ours was Red and White down the fin. with a red and white cross under the cockpit. Our saftey record was good, we lost only 3 aircraft while I was there, with no fatalitys. I flew in XM 996. We did a pairs take off, and soon entered cloud, scarey or what! The G on take off was impressive! We did pracise interceptions over the N sea. I was suprised the the radar was of the time base type as opposed to the 360 degree sweep type.
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PTL
Jan 5, 2010 @ 11:10 am | delete
- Considering that you were " posted to 226 OCU (145 Sqn) at 'Colt' in 1965" you seem to know bugger all about Lighnings. No lightning ever carried four cannon. The cannon used in lightnings were ADENs - a totally different weapon firing a totally different round to the RARDEN cannon. The scorpion, by the way, was armed with a 76mm gun and not a Rarden anyway . . . You're a walt!
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KEA
Sep 19, 2011 @ 10:58 am | delete
- I was posted to Coltishall in '66'. Would agree early F1 / F1.a were only designed for two Aden Cannons. HOWEVER by '66' all guns were removed and blanked over (probably long before I arrived).
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Aviation, IT, History, Gaming, I'm interested in just about anything! I made the Squidoo Top 100 Club in June 2009. My first novel, "Fire Season", is now out, and I have a new title, "The Docks", out in Nov 2011.
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by tirial
Aviation, IT, History, Gaming, I'm interested in just about anything! I made the Squidoo Top 100 Club in June 2009. My first novel, "Fire Season, is now... more »
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The Lightning story
About the English Electric Lightning
LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE: The English Electric Lightning Story
Amazon Price: $17.78 (as of 02/16/2012)
Notes and manuals
English Electric Lightning P.1B Aircraft Pilot's Notes Manual - 1961
Amazon Price: $11.85 (as of 02/16/2012)
