Aircraft

English Electric Lightning

Aircraft

F Mk 1 23 Squadron RAF

The English Electric Lightning was well named - It proved to be one of the fastest fighter aircraft of it's time. It served throughout the 1960s and well into the Cold War with the RAF, Kuwaiti, and Saudi Air Forces. The design was radical and innovative, with twin Rolls-Royce engines stacked vertically, and staggered to reduce frontal area. This meant that it had about double the thrust of other aircraft with a similar area. The Lightning was armed as follows: F Mk 1: 2 x 30mm cannon and 2 x Firestreak missiles or rocket packs F Mk 1A: 2 x 30mm cannon and 2 x Firestreak missiles or rocket packs F Mk 2: 2 x 30mm cannon and 2 x Firestreak missiles F Mk 2A: 2 x 30mm cannon and 2 x Firestreak missiles F Mk 3: 2 x Red Top missiles F Mk 3A: 2 x Red Top missiles F Mk 6: 2 x 30mm cannon 2 x Red Top missiles F Mk 53: 2 x 30mm cannon 2 x Red Top missiles Matra rocket pods on pylons

F Mk 1A 5 Squadron RAF

F Mk 1 56 Squadron RAF

F Mk 1A 23 Squadron RAF

F Mk 1 74 Squadron RAF

F Mk 1A 56 Squadron RAF

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Great Britain