
The English Electric supersonic interceptor (WG760), piloted by Roland Beamont, first flew at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire as the English Electric P1 on 4th August 1954.

Not only were the initial flight tests a success, just a week later it officially achieved supersonic flight for the first time, exceeding the speed of sound during only its third flight. In fact, it was later discovered during the data analysis of its first flight some days later that it had already exceeded Mach 1 (1,225 km/h). However, these flights had proven the English Electric P.1 design to be viable although they were restricted to Mach 1.51 (1,850 km/h) due to directional stability limits.


Often referred to as the ‘Export Lightning’ the English Electric F.53 Lightning was developed by BAC as a private venture. From the outset, this variant was designed to have a multi-role capability changing between interception, reconnaissance, and ground-attack duties. Based upon the airframe and avionics of the F6, it incorporated large ventral fuel tank, cambered wing, and over-wing pylon mountings for drop tanks. It boasted a capability to carry a large menu of weaponry as well as the almost essential defensive Aden Cannons.

SPECIAL FEATURE:
Click here for the memories of Lightning Test Pilot Craig Penrice
EE Lightning Image Gallery

EE Lightning F.1 with Roland Beamont Flight Test Crew
EE Lightning F.1 with Roland Beamont Flight Test Crew
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

EE Lightning F.1 RAF (XM145) ground engine runs at night
EE Lightning F.1 RAF (XM145) ground engine runs at night
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

EE Lightning F.1 (XM149) landing with chute deployed
EE Lightning F.1 (XM149) landing with chute deployed
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

EE Lightning F.2 RAF (XN776 & x3 others) fuselage assembly
EE Lightning F.2 RAF (XN776 & x3 others) fuselage assembly
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

EE Lightning F.2 Formation
EE Lightning F.2a (XN783), F.3 (XP739), F.3 (XP746) & F.2 (XN779) in formation
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

EE Lightning F.2a RAF (XN793 & x1 other) in close formation
EE Lightning F.2a RAF (XN793 & x1 other) in close formation
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

EE Lightning F.6 RAF (XP697) air to air
EE Lightning F.6 RAF (XP697) air to air
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

EE Lightning F.6 with Beamont at controls 1964
EE Lightning F.6 with Beamont at controls 1964
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

EE Lightning F.6 (XS919) air to air
EE Lightning F.6 (XS919) air to air
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

EE Lightning F.63 Royal Saudi Air Force (53-683 & 53-689) on approach to Dhahran
EE Lightning F.63 Royal Saudi Air Force (53-683 & 53-689) on approach to Dhahran
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)
Variants
Variant | Description |
---|---|
English Electric P.1A 3 built |
Single-seat supersonic research aircraft. |
English ElectricP.1B 3 built |
Single-seat operational prototypes to meet Specification F23/49, 20 development aircraft ordered in February 1954 - Type was officially named 'Lightning' in October 1958. |
English Electric Lightning F.1 20 built |
Development batch aircraft, single-seat fighters delivered from 1959. Nose-mounted twin 30 mm ADEN cannon, two Firestreak missiles, VHF Radio and Ferranti AI-23 "AIRPASS" radar. |
BAC Lightning F.1A 28 built |
Single-seat fighter, delivered in 1961. Featured Avon 210R engines, an inflight refuelling probe and UHF Radio. |
BAC Lightning F.2 44 built |
Single-seat fighter (an improved variant of the F.1), delivered in 1962 - 31 later modified to F.2A standard, five later modified to F.52 for export to Saudi Arabia. |
BAC Lightning F.2A 31 conversions |
Single-seat fighter (F.2s upgraded to near F.6 standard); featuring Avon 211R engines, retained ADEN cannon and Firestreak (replaceable Firestreak pack swappable with ADEN Cannon Pack for a total of four ADEN Cannon), arrestor hook and enlarged Ventral Tank for two hours flight endurance. |
BAC Lightning F.3 70 built |
Single-seat fighter with upgraded AI-23B radar, Avon 301R engines, new Red Top missiles, enlarged and clipped tail fin due to aerodynamics of carriage of Red Top, and deletion of ADEN cannon. |
BAC Lightning F.3A 16 built |
Single-seat fighter with extended range of 800 miles due to large ventral tank and new cambered wings. |
BAC Lightning T.4 22 built |
Two-seat side-by-side training version, based on the F.1A with two aircraft converted to T.5 prototypes and two aircraft later converted to T.54. |
BAC Lightning T.5 22 built |
Two-seat side-by-side training version, based on the F.3. One former RAF aircraft later converted to T.55 for Saudi Arabia. |
BAC Lightning F.6 39 built |
Featured new wings with better efficiency and subsonic performance, overwing fuel tanks and a larger ventral fuel tank, reintroduction of 30 mm cannon (initially no cannon but later in the forward part of the ventral pack rather than in the nose), use of Red Top missiles. Nine aircraft were converted from F.3 and 15 from F.3A. |
BAC Lightning F.7 | Proposed single-seat interceptor featuring variable geometry wings, extended fuselage, relocated undercarriage, underwing hardpoints, cheek-mounted intakes, new radar and use of the Sparrow/Skyflash AAMs. Never built. |
BAC Lightning F.5 25 conversions |
Slightly modified ex-RAF F.2 single-seat fighters for export to Saudi Arabia. |
BAC Lightning F.5 346 built / 1 conversion |
Export version of F.6 with pylons for underwing bombs or rocket pods. |
BAC Lightning T.5 42 conversions |
Ex-RAF T.4 two-seat trainers supplied to Saudi Arabia (two converted). |
BAC Lightning T.5 58 built / 1 conversion |
Two-seat side-by-side training aircraft (export version of the T.5), 6 for the Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force, two T.55Ks for the Kuwaiti Air Force and one converted from T.5 that crashed before delivery). |
BAC Sea Lightning FAW.1 | Proposed two-seat Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier capable variant with variable-geometry wing; not built. |
Specifications (F.6)
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
Powerplant | 2 x Rolls-Royce Avon 301R after-burning turbojets (16,000lb with AB) |
Span | 34 ft 10 in (10.6m) |
Maximum Weight | 45,750lb 20,752kg) take-off weight |
Capacity | 1 Pilot (1 student & 1 instructor in training variants) |
Armament | 2 x 30mm Aden cannons with hard point mountings for Air to Air missiles. |
Maximum Speed | Mach 2.0 (1,300mph / 2,100 kph) at 36,000 ft |
Maximum range | 850miles (1,370km) |
Number built
Number Built | Types |
---|---|
337 | All variants and prototypes |
Survivors
Variant & Serial No | Location and website (If available) |
---|---|
BAC Lightning P.1A
(WG7601st Prototype)
|
RAF Museum Cosford, England
|
BAC Lightning P.1A
(WG763 2nd Prototype)
|
Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, UK
|
BAC Lightning
P.1B/F.1 (XG329)
|
Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton, UK
|
BAC Lightning
P.1B / F.1 (XG337)
|
RAF Museum Cosford, England
|
BAC Lightning
F.1A(XM178)
|
Savigny-les-Beaune, France
|
BAC Lightning
F.1A (XM135)
|
Imperial War Museum Duxford, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.1A (XM192)
|
Thorpe Camp Museum,Tattershall Thorpe, Lincolnshire
|
BAC Lightning
F.2A (XN730)
|
Luftwaffe Museum, Gatow, Germany
|
BAC Lightning
F.2A (XN784)
|
PS Aero Museum, Baarlo, Netherlands
|
BAC Lightning
F.2A (XN782)
|
Flugausstellung Hermeskeil, Germany
|
BAC Lightning
F.2A (XN776)
|
National Museum of Flight, East Fortune, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.3(XP706)
|
AeroVenture, Doncaster, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.3 (XR713)
|
Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, Leicestershire, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.3(XR749)
|
Score Group Integrated Valve and Gas Turbine Plant, Peterhead, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.3(XR753)
|
RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.6(XS897 / XP765)
|
RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.6(XS903)
|
Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, UK www.yorkshireairmuseum.org |
BAC Lightning
F.6(XS904)
|
Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, Leicestershire, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.6(XS925)
|
Castle Motors, Liskeard, Cornwall, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.6(XS928)
|
BAE Systems, Warton Aerodrome, Lancashire
|
BAC Lightning
F.6(XS936)
|
RAF Museum, London, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.6(XR728)
|
Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, Leicestershire, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.6(XR770)
|
RAF Manston History Museum, Manston, Kent, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.6(XR771)
|
Midland Air Museum, Coventry, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.6 (S929)
|
RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus
|
BAC Lightning
T.4(XL629)
|
MoD Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, UK |
BAC Lightning
T.5(XS417)
|
Newark Air Museum, Newark, UK
|
BAC Lightning
T.5(XS420)
|
Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, Farnborough, UK
|
BAC Lightning
T.5(XS456)
|
Skegness Water Leisure Park, Lincolnshire, UK
|
BAC Lightning
T.5(XS458)
|
Cranfield Airport, Bedfordshire, UK
|
BAC Lightning
T.5(XS459)
|
Fenland and West Norfolk Aviation Museum, Wisbech, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.52(XN770)
|
Royal Saudi Air Force Museum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
|
BAC Lightning
T.5(XS422)
|
|
BAC Lightning
F.53(53-418)
|
Kuwait Science and Natural History Museum, Kuwait City
|
BAC Lightning
F.53(ZF578 / XR753)
|
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, Tangmere, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.53(ZF579)
|
Gatwick Aviation Museum, Charlwood, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.53(ZF580)
|
BAE Systems, Samlesbury, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.53(ZF581)
|
Bentwaters Cold War Museum, Suffolk, UK
|
BAC Lightning
.53(ZF583)
|
Solway Aviation Museum, Carlisle Airport Cumbria, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.53(ZF584)
|
Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum, Dumfries, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.53(ZF588)
|
East Midlands Airport Aeropark, Castle Donington, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.53(ZF592 as 53-686)
|
City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Norwich, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.53(ZF594 / XS733)
|
North East Aircraft Museum, Sunderland, UK
|
BAC Lightning
F.53(? )
|
Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base, Kuwait |
BAC Lightning
T.54(XN989)
|
Main entrance to King Abdul-Aziz Air Base, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia |
BAC Lightning
T.55(55-716)
|
Royal Saudi Air Force Museum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
|
BAC Lightning
T.55(ZF598 / 55-713)
|
Midland Air Museum, Coventry, UK
|
Airworthy aircraft |
The following aircraft were listed for sale in 2020 and their current location is unknown.
|
BAC Lightning T.5 (ZU-BBD / XS452) |
Offered for Sale 2020 |
BAC Lightning T.5 (ZU-BEW / XR773) |
Offered for Sale 2020 |
BAC Lightning T.5 (ZU-BEY / XR693) |
Offered for Sale 2020 |