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E.E. LIGHTNING

English Electric Lightning, Bruntingthorpe 1994 - pic by Dave Key
English Electric Lightning, Bruntingthorpe 1994 ©Dave Key

ROLE
Interceptor / Fighter.

FIRST FLIGHT
4 April 1957.

The English Electric Lightning was designed to have a low frontal area with an efficient inlet for two stacked and staggered engines.

The fuselage was as small as possible and left no room for a fuel tank or main undercarriage, a three-section main fuel tank is in the leading edge with the wing also containing a fuel tank giving an internal fuel capacity of 700 gallon.

The main undercarriage was housed in the wings with the legs retracting towards the wing tip resulting in a thin main tyre at a high pressure of 23 - 24 bar.

To counteract the threat of a supersonic high altitude bomber, the Lightning was able to be fitted with a rocket engine which could be used to boost its performance. However this threat never materialised and the option was cancelled in 1958.

The ventral store which held the rocket engine could also be used to house an extra fuel tank which held 250 gallon.

The Lightning's maximum speed varied from Mach 1.7 at 36,000 ft for the earlier models F.1, F.1A, F.2 and up to Mach 2.0 at 36,000 ft for later models F.2A, F.3, F.3A, F.6 and F.53.

The Lightning’s directional stability decreased as its speed increased which could lead to yaw which in turn could result in vertical fin failure if not corrected by the rudder.

To provide more stability at higher speeds the later models were fitted with a larger vertical fin.

A lightning that flew at its optimum climb angle could reach 36,000 ft in less than 3 minutes and had an official ceiling altitude of around 60,000 ft. However, there were reports that a Lightning F.3 had reached an altitude of 88,000 ft by ballistic climb.

As aircraft design progressed and the need for alternative fighter roles was recognised the Lightning was phased out between 1974 and 1988 being replaced by the Panavia Tornado F.3, an interceptor variation.

PRODUCTION
The English Electric Lightning was produced from 1959, with 337 built.

ENGINES
2 x RR Avon 302’s, producing 31,360 lb st.

ARMAMENT
2 x Aden 30mm cannon
6,000 lb (2,722 kg) Bomb/Rocket load
2 x air-to-air missiles

The Lightning F.1 entered service with the RAF Air Fighting Development Squadron in May 1960 and front line service with No.74 Squadron in July 1960 which was appointed the RAF's fighter command aerobatic team for 1961.

Two more squadrons were converted to Lightning’s, namely No. 54 and No. 111 both based at RAF Wattisham by 1961. The Lightning F.2 first flew on the 11th of July 1961 and entered service with No. 19 Squadron in 1962 and No. 92 Squadron in early 1963.

Crew - 1
Length - 53ft 3in (16.25m)
Wingspan - 34ft 10in (10.60m)
Height - 19ft 7in (5.95m)
Empty Weight - 28,000lb (12,700kg)
Max. Weight - 50,000lb (22,680kg)
Max. Speed - 1,500 mph (2,415 km/h)
Range - 800 miles (1,290 km)


PHOTOGRAPHS

English Electric Lightning, Bruntingthorpe 1994 - pic by Dave Key English Electric Lightning, Bruntingthorpe 1995 - pic by Dave Key English Electric Lightning, Bruntingthorpe 1997 - pic by Dave Key
Bruntingthorpe 1994 Bruntingthorpe 1995 Bruntingthorpe 1997
English Electric Lightning, Waddington 1990 - pic by Dave Key English Electric Lightning, Bruntingthorpe 1993 - pic by Dave Key English Electric Lightning, Bruntingthorpe 1994 - pic by Dave Key
Waddington 1990 Bruntingthrope 1993 Bruntingthorpe 1994
English Electric Lightning, Brentwaters 1970 - pic by Dave Key English Electric Lightning, I.A.T. 1970's - pic by Dave Key English Electric Lightning, Cranfield 1990's - pic by Dave Key
Brentwaters 1970 I.A.T. 1970's Cranfield 1990's


Photos copyright of ©Nigel Key




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