{"id":16734,"date":"2026-07-12T01:25:49","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T23:25:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/?page_id=16734"},"modified":"2026-08-28T20:27:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T18:27:43","slug":"english-electric-lightning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/pt\/aircraft\/english-electric-lightning\/","title":{"rendered":"English Electric Lightning \u2014 History, Specs &#038; Stories"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"mfam\">\n<style> @import url('https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;1,400;1,500&display=swap'); body.page-id-16734 h1.entry-title.main_title{display:none} body.page-id-16734 #main-content .container{padding-top:0} body.page-id-16734 #left-area{padding-bottom:0} html{overflow-x:hidden} body.page-id-16734{overflow-x:hidden} body.page-id-16734 #sidebar{display:none} body.page-id-16734 #left-area{width:100%!important;float:none;padding:0} #mfam{width:100vw;margin-left:calc(50% - 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64px;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:9px 0}#mfam .fname{font-size:14px;font-weight:600}#mfam .fbar{display:block;background:#eef1f6;height:16px}#mfam .fbar i{display:block;height:16px;background:#5C91FF}#mfam .fnum{font-size:14px;text-align:right;color:#3d4654;font-variant-numeric:tabular-nums}#mfam .spx-lede{font-size:17px;line-height:1.7;color:#3d4654;max-width:760px;margin:0 0 28px}#mfam .spx-note{font-size:13px;line-height:1.6;color:#697386;margin-top:18px;max-width:860px}@media(max-width:820px){#mfam .armgrid{grid-template-columns:1fr}#mfam .loadouts dl{grid-template-columns:1fr}#mfam .varlist{grid-template-columns:1fr}#mfam .frow{grid-template-columns:110px 1fr 56px;gap:10px}}<\/style>\n<p> <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can I fly in a Lightning?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. There are no public English Electric Lightning passenger or ride flights available today. A few aircraft have been kept airworthy privately in the past, but there is no bookable civilian Lightning experience. You can, however, fly in several genuine ex-military jets today via MiGFlug.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How fast was the English Electric Lightning?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Later marks could reach Mach 2.0, about 2,100 km\/h at 36,000 ft. Its more remarkable figure was a climb rate of roughly 20,000 ft\/min, reaching 36,000 ft in under three minutes.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How high could the Lightning fly?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Its official ceiling was secret, quoted only as in excess of 60,000 ft. In ballistic zoom-climbs pilots reached 80,000 to 88,000 ft, though this was not sustained level flight.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why did the Lightning have stacked engines?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The vertically stacked, staggered layout gave the thrust of two engines with the frontal drag of only about 1.5, roughly a 25% drag saving, and removed asymmetric thrust if one engine failed. The trade-off was harder maintenance and fire risk.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Did the Lightning ever see combat?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The RAF's Lightnings never fired in anger. The only real combat was flown by Saudi Arabian export F.53s during a 1969-70 border dispute with South Yemen, which included ground-attack sorties and the loss of one aircraft to ground fire.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is the story of the accidental Lightning flight true?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. On 22 July 1966 RAF engineering officer Wg Cdr Walter Taffy Holden accidentally got airborne in Lightning XM135 during a ground engine run, with only light-trainer flying experience, and landed safely after several approaches.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Are any Lightnings still flying?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Effectively no. The RAF retired the type in 1988. A few were kept airworthy privately, notably by Thunder City in South Africa, into the 2000s, but there are no regular airworthy Lightnings offering flights today.\"}}]}<\/script> <\/p>\n<header class=\"hero\">\n<div class=\"hero-media\"><img data-opt-id=86856522  data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:1440\/h:1080\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/english-electric-lightning-in-flight.jpg\"  src=\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201536%201152%22%20width%3D%221536%22%20height%3D%221152%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%221536%22%20height%3D%221152%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"English Electric Lightning interceptors in formation flight\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wrap hero-in\">\n<div class=\"crumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/\">Aircraft Museum<\/a> \u203a <span>Interceptor<\/span> \u203a <span>Lightning<\/span><\/div>\n<h1>English Electric<br \/><em>Lightning<\/em><\/h1>\n<p class=\"sub\">Britain\u2019s Cold War rocket with wings \u2014 a twin-engined interceptor that could stand on its tail and climb almost vertically to the edge of the stratosphere, and the only RAF fighter ever built purely to go up, fast.<\/p>\n<div class=\"statstrip\">\n<div class=\"stat\"><b>Mach 2.0<\/b><span>Top speed at altitude<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"stat\"><b>20,000 ft\/min<\/b><span>Sustained climb rate<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"stat\"><b>60,000 ft+<\/b><span>Official ceiling \u00b7 zoomed far higher<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"stat\"><b>337<\/b><span>Aircraft built \u00b7 1954\u20131972<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit\">Photo: Mike McBey \u00b7 CC BY 2.0<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"chips\"><span class=\"chip\"><b>Role<\/b>Supersonic interceptor<\/span><span class=\"chip\"><b>Era<\/b>Cold War<\/span><span class=\"chip\"><b>Engine<\/b>2 \u00d7 Rolls-Royce Avon (stacked)<\/span><span class=\"chip\"><b>Origin<\/b>United Kingdom \u00b7 English Electric<\/span><span class=\"chip\"><b>Status<\/b>Retired (1988)<\/span><a class=\"chip fly\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/flights-prices\/\">Want to fly a fighter jet yourself?<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">The Story<\/div>\n<h2>Built to go straight up<\/h2>\n<div class=\"cols\">\n<div>\n<p>In the late 1940s, English Electric\u2019s chief engineer W. E. W. \u201cTeddy\u201d Petter set out to give Britain something it had never had: a fighter that could reach supersonic speed in level flight and climb to meet a nuclear bomber before it could reach its target. The result of that idea, the research aircraft <strong>P.1<\/strong>, first flew in <strong>1954<\/strong> and quietly went supersonic days later. Its operational successor, the P.1B, became the <strong>Lightning<\/strong> \u2014 and in 1958 it was the first British aircraft to reach <strong>Mach 2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Everything about the Lightning was bent toward one job: get up, fast. Two <strong>Rolls-Royce Avon<\/strong> engines were mounted one on top of the other in a vertically stacked, staggered layout \u2014 the thrust of two engines with the frontal drag of about one and a half. Fed by a single nose intake, the aircraft could rotate off the runway and climb at close to <strong>20,000 feet per minute<\/strong>, standing almost vertically on a column of reheat. At airshows it became famous for exactly that: a near-vertical rocketing departure that no other fighter of its day could match.<\/p>\n<p>It entered RAF service in <strong>1960<\/strong> and guarded British airspace for nearly three decades, scrambling again and again to intercept Soviet aircraft probing the North Sea. Its Achilles heel was fuel: the Lightning drank it so fast that a full-reheat climb could empty the tanks in minutes, and its combat radius was measured in low hundreds of kilometres. It was a magnificent sprinter with almost no stamina \u2014 and pilots adored it anyway. The last RAF Lightnings flew in <strong>1988<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pull\">Nothing had the inherent stability, control and docile handling of the Lightning throughout the full flight envelope.<cite><b>Roland Beamont<\/b> \u2014 the test pilot who first flew it, having flown most of the US Century Series<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"deepset\">\n<details class=\"deep\">\n<summary><span class=\"no\">01<\/span><span class=\"t\">The English Electric Lightning\u2019s vertical-climb legend: how a 1950s fighter out-climbed almost everything<\/span><\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">\n<p>The Lightning\u2019s party trick was real. Using its optimum climb profile with both engines in reheat, it would lift the nose steeply off the runway and settle into a sustained climb of roughly <strong>20,000 ft\/min<\/strong>, reaching 36,000 ft in under three minutes. At displays, pilots would rotate into a near-vertical climb straight after take-off, the jet apparently hanging on its afterburners as it disappeared upward \u2014 an image that defined the aircraft.<\/p>\n<p>The official service ceiling was kept secret; low-security RAF documents simply said \u201cin excess of 60,000 ft.\u201d In practice Lightnings could zoom-climb far higher: pilots recorded ballistic climbs to 80,000\u201388,000 ft, and one F.53 was reportedly taken above 87,000 ft over Saudi Arabia. These were not sustained level flight \u2014 the aircraft ran out of air to breathe \u2014 but they let the Lightning reach targets that were supposed to be untouchable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr class=\"divider\">\n<section>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">Design &amp; Engineering<\/div>\n<h2>What makes the Lightning special<\/h2>\n<div class=\"cards3\">\n<div class=\"ecard\">\n<div class=\"num\">01<\/div>\n<h3>An interceptor that climbed like a missile<\/h3>\n<p>The Lightning was optimised for one thing: getting to altitude before an incoming bomber could release its weapon. With two Avons in full reheat it climbed at about <strong>20,000 ft\/min<\/strong> and could reach Mach 2 at height. Its official ceiling was secret \u2014 stated only as \u201cin excess of 60,000 ft\u201d \u2014 but in zoom-climbs it reached far higher, intercepting U-2 spyplanes at altitudes they had thought safe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ecard\">\n<div class=\"num\">02<\/div>\n<h3>Two engines, stacked one above the other<\/h3>\n<p>Uniquely, the Lightning\u2019s two <strong>Rolls-Royce Avon<\/strong> turbojets were mounted vertically stacked and staggered fore-and-aft, fed by a single nose intake. The layout gave the thrust of two engines with the frontal drag of only about 1.5 \u2014 a claimed 25% drag reduction over side-by-side twins \u2014 plus excellent handling with no asymmetric thrust if one engine failed. The penalty was maintenance: reaching the lower engine was awkward, and a fire in the upper engine bay was a recurring hazard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ecard\">\n<div class=\"num\">03<\/div>\n<h3>Guns above, missiles below, fuel everywhere<\/h3>\n<p>Weapons were packed around a slim fuselage: two <strong>30&nbsp;mm ADEN cannon<\/strong> ahead of the cockpit and an interchangeable belly weapons pack carrying two <strong>Firestreak<\/strong> or later <strong>Red Top<\/strong> heat-seeking missiles. Export F.53s even gained over-wing hardpoints for bombs and rockets. But the airframe was so fuel-hungry that later marks bolted a huge non-jettisonable ventral tank under the belly and ferry tanks <em>over<\/em> the wings \u2014 still never curing its notoriously short range.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"deepset\">\n<details class=\"deep\">\n<summary><span class=\"no\">02<\/span><span class=\"t\">The English Electric Lightning\u2019s stacked Avon engines: clever aerodynamics, awkward maintenance<\/span><\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">\n<p>Most twin-engined fighters place their engines side by side. English Electric instead stacked the Lightning\u2019s two Avons one above the other, staggered so the lower engine sat slightly forward. Fed by a single circular nose intake that split the airflow vertically behind the cockpit, the arrangement kept the fuselage narrow and cut drag sharply \u2014 the thrust of two engines with roughly the drag of 1.5. It also meant there was no asymmetric-thrust problem if one engine quit. The downsides were real: the engines sat close enough that an uncontained failure could wreck both, an engine change on the lower unit was a major job, and leaking fluid onto the hot upper engine casing \u2014 which could reach 600&nbsp;\u00b0C, protected by a gold-bearing heat-reflective paint \u2014 made fire a persistent worry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"deep\">\n<summary><span class=\"no\">03<\/span><span class=\"t\">The English Electric Lightning\u2019s fuel problem: a sprinter with no stamina<\/span><\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">\n<p>The Lightning\u2019s great weakness was endurance. The original specification asked only for a radius of operation of about 150 miles from its bases, and the thin wings that made it fast left little room for fuel. A full-reheat climb could burn through the tanks alarmingly fast, and typical sorties were short. Designers fought back with ever-larger tanks: a big ventral belly tank (made non-jettisonable and enlarged to 610 imperial gallons on the F.6), enlarged wing leading-edge tanks, and finally jettisonable ferry tanks mounted <em>over<\/em> the wings. These extended its reach for deployments but capped top speed to around 1,000 mph. The Lightning never shook off its reputation as a thirsty aircraft that had to be flown with one eye always on the fuel gauge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr class=\"divider\">\n<section>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">Technical Data<\/div>\n<h2>Full Lightning specifications<\/h2>\n<p class=\"spx-note\">Figures are for the <strong>Lightning F.6<\/strong>, the definitive RAF mark, with the cambered wing, the enlarged non-jettisonable ventral tank and overwing ferry-tank pylons. Where the F.1, F.3 and the export F.53 differ, the delta is given in grey alongside. Lightning performance was Cold War sensitive and the pilot&#39;s notes deliberately understated the top end, so several numbers here are best-available rather than definitive.<\/p>\n<div class=\"specgrid three\">\n<div class=\"spectable\">\n<h4>Dimensions &amp; weights<\/h4>\n<dl>\n<dt>Crew<\/dt>\n<dd>1 <span class=\"imp\">(the T.4 and T.5 trainers seated two, side by side, in a widened forward fuselage)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Length<\/dt>\n<dd>16.84 m <span class=\"imp\">(55 ft 3 in, including the intake shock cone)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Wingspan<\/dt>\n<dd>10.62 m <span class=\"imp\">(34 ft 10 in)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Height<\/dt>\n<dd>5.97 m <span class=\"imp\">(19 ft 7 in)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Wing area<\/dt>\n<dd>44.08 m&sup2; <span class=\"imp\">(474.5 sq ft, 60-degree swept notched delta)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Empty weight<\/dt>\n<dd>14,092 kg <span class=\"imp\">(31,068 lb &mdash; the zero-fuel weight with pilot, cannon, ammunition and two Red Tops aboard; stripped of those the airframe is 12,591 kg \/ 27,759 lb)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Loaded weight<\/dt>\n<dd>18,632 kg <span class=\"imp\">(41,076 lb, full internal fuel and two Red Top missiles)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Max takeoff weight<\/dt>\n<dd>20,752 kg <span class=\"imp\">(45,750 lb; above 20,412 kg \/ 45,000 lb the mainwheel tyres were treated as single-use)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Internal fuel<\/dt>\n<dd>~5,690 L <span class=\"imp\">(~1,251 imp gal: 716 imp gal in the wings and flaps plus a 535 imp gal ventral tank with the cannon pack fitted, 610 imp gal without it. The F.1 carried 700 imp gal in total, all of it in the wings.)<\/span><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"spectable\">\n<h4>Performance<\/h4>\n<dl>\n<dt>Max speed<\/dt>\n<dd>Mach 2.0 &mdash; 2,124 km\/h at 11,000 m <span class=\"imp\">(1,320 mph at 36,000 ft; 700 kn IAS, about 1,296 km\/h, down low. The small-fin F.1, F.1A and F.2 were held to Mach 1.7 by fin stability and shock-cone heating.)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Cruise speed<\/dt>\n<dd>Mach 0.87 &mdash; 924 km\/h at 11,000 m <span class=\"imp\">(574 mph at 36,000 ft, dry thrust; the standard transit and loiter profile)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Rate of climb<\/dt>\n<dd>102 m\/s <span class=\"imp\">(20,000 ft\/min, sustained to 30,000 ft at operational weight; 22,000 ft\/min clean, and zoom-climb rates of 50,000 ft\/min have been quoted). 36,000 ft in 2.8 minutes from brake release. The Lightning could rotate off the runway and go vertical, and in 1984 Flt Lt Mike Hale intercepted a U-2 at a height thought safe at 66,000 ft, then ballistic-climbed an F.3 to 88,000 ft. This is the number the aeroplane is remembered for.<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Service ceiling<\/dt>\n<dd>18,300 m <span class=\"imp\">(60,000 ft; RAF documents said only &#8220;in excess of 60,000 ft&#8221;. Zoom ceiling above 21,300 m \/ 70,000 ft, and a Saudi F.53 was taken to 87,300 ft.)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Combat radius<\/dt>\n<dd>~250 km <span class=\"imp\">(~135 nmi on a supersonic intercept &mdash; target engaged 10.7 minutes after brake release, home in a 35-minute total sortie. A subsonic profile stretched it to ~685 km \/ 370 nmi with 15 minutes on station.)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Ferry range<\/dt>\n<dd>~1,480 km <span class=\"imp\">(~800 nmi on internal fuel; ~2,040 km \/ 1,100 nmi with the two overwing tanks, which capped speed at a reported 1,000 mph)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Takeoff run<\/dt>\n<dd>610&ndash;915 m <span class=\"imp\">(2,000&ndash;3,000 ft, military power or full reheat; 50 ft cleared in 497 m \/ 1,630 ft of ground distance)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Landing run<\/dt>\n<dd>1,000&ndash;1,200 m <span class=\"imp\">(3,300&ndash;3,900 ft, brake parachute streamed, with Dunlop Maxaret anti-skid brakes; published figures vary with weight and chute use, and a tailhook for airfield arrestor gear backed it up)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Load factor<\/dt>\n<dd>+6 g <span class=\"imp\">(the commonly quoted operational limit, reduced with overwing tanks fitted. At high Mach the fin, not the wing, was the real constraint &mdash; two development aircraft were lost to fin failure during high-speed rolls.)<\/span><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"spectable wide\">\n<h4>Propulsion &amp; systems<\/h4>\n<dl>\n<dt>Engines<\/dt>\n<dd>2 &times; Rolls-Royce Avon 301R afterburning turbojets <span class=\"imp\">(stacked vertically in the fuselage, one above and behind the other, rather than side by side &mdash; a genuinely unusual arrangement that kept the frontal area and the drag of a twin-engined fighter down to something close to a single. The bill came in maintenance: reaching the upper engine meant working through the lower one&#39;s bay, and fluid leaking down from the top engine was a recurring fire hazard.)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Thrust each<\/dt>\n<dd>56.4 kN dry, 72.8 kN reheat <span class=\"imp\">(12,690 lbf and 16,360 lbf. The F.1A&#39;s Avon 210R gave 50.0 kN \/ 11,250 lbf dry and 64.2 kN \/ 14,430 lbf in reheat.)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Armament<\/dt>\n<dd>2 &times; 30 mm ADEN cannon, 120 rounds each, plus 2 &times; de Havilland Firestreak or Hawker Siddeley Red Top infrared missiles <span class=\"imp\">(guns in the front of the ventral pack on the F.6, in the upper nose on early marks, and deleted altogether on the F.3. Missiles rode an interchangeable forward-fuselage pack. No radar-guided weapon was ever carried.)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Radar<\/dt>\n<dd>Ferranti AI.23 AIRPASS <span class=\"imp\">(Airborne Interception Radar and Pilot&#39;s Attack Sight System, housed in the intake centre-body; AI.23B from the F.3 onward for forward-hemisphere Red Top shots. An early integrated radar and attack-sight system, but with no look-down capability, so ground-controlled interception found the target and the Lightning flew the last few miles.)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Fuel capacity problem<\/dt>\n<dd>Inadequate from the start <span class=\"imp\">&mdash; and by design, not by accident. The P.1 fuselage was so tightly packed with stacked engines that there was no room for fuel at all, so it went into the thin wings: 700 imp gal on the F.1, against a specification asking only for a 150-mile radius of action. Endurance was famously short; a supersonic intercept was a 35-minute sortie that ended in the circuit with 800 lb of fuel. The 610 imp gal non-jettisonable ventral tank on the F.6 nearly doubled the fuel, and the jettisonable overwing ferry tanks stretched deployments, but both were fixes bolted onto a shape whose limitation had been designed in years earlier.<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>First flight<\/dt>\n<dd>4 April 1957 <span class=\"imp\">(P.1B XA847, Roland Beamont, supersonic on the first flight; the earlier P.1A prototype flew on 4 August 1954)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Service entry<\/dt>\n<dd>1959 <span class=\"imp\">(F.1 deliveries from December 1959; 74 Squadron at RAF Coltishall was the first operational unit in July 1960. The RAF flew the type until 30 June 1988.)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Built<\/dt>\n<dd>~340 <span class=\"imp\">(usually given as 337: roughly 277 single-seat fighters, 52 two-seat trainers and the prototype and development airframes, every one of them assembled at Samlesbury)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Unit cost<\/dt>\n<dd>~GBP 0.3&ndash;0.6 million per airframe in 1960s money <span class=\"imp\">(a hedged figure. No audited flyaway price was ever published, and quoted values swing with the mark and with whether spares, weapons and support are folded in; the export F.53 packages were priced as programmes, not per aircraft. Very roughly GBP 6&ndash;12 million in today&#39;s money.)<\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Cost per flight hour<\/dt>\n<dd>~USD 30,000&ndash;50,000 per hour if one flew today <span class=\"imp\">(an order-of-magnitude estimate, not a published figure &mdash; neither the RAF nor any export operator released a Lightning flight-hour cost, and there is nothing currently flying to benchmark against. A small number of UK airframes are kept in fast-taxi running condition at Bruntingthorpe, Cranfield and the former RAF Binbrook, which burns fuel and engine life without ever leaving the ground. The only recent civil flying was Thunder City&#39;s in South Africa, whose passenger sorties were priced in five figures in US dollars for well under an hour &mdash; a price, not a cost. Two thirsty Avons, the stacked-engine access problem and a spares chain that no longer exists all push the real number toward the top of that band.)<\/span><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"deepset\">\n<details class=\"deep\">\n<summary><span class=\"no\">04<\/span><span class=\"t\">The English Electric Lightning\u2019s cost: why no clean price exists<\/span><\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">\n<p>The Lightning was a 1950s\u201360s British state defence programme, not an aircraft sold on an open market, so a single tidy flyaway price is hard to pin down. Contemporary figures for a Lightning were of the order of several hundred thousand pounds each in 1960s money \u2014 a large sum for the era \u2014 and the aircraft was notoriously expensive to keep flying, demanding intensive maintenance because of its complex systems, stacked engines and fire-prone bays. Export customers Saudi Arabia and Kuwait paid a premium for support packages. Any precise cost-per-flight-hour figure you see for the Lightning should be treated as an estimate rather than a sourced number.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr>\n<section>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<p class=\"kicker\">Armament &amp; payload<\/p>\n<h2>The Lightning carried two missiles and two guns, and that was the entire argument<\/h2>\n<p class=\"spx-lede\">The Lightning was built to do one thing: get off the ground at Binbrook or Wattisham, climb faster than anything else in the sky, and put a pair of infrared missiles into a Soviet bomber heading for the United Kingdom. Judged on that job it was superb, and pilots loved it &mdash; the climb and acceleration are still remarkable sixty years on. Judged on anything else it was narrow to the point of severity. Two missiles, no reloads, no radar-guided weapon, no look-down radar, no meaningful air-to-ground capability in RAF hands, and an endurance measured in tens of minutes. That narrowness was deliberate: the 1957 Defence White Paper environment assumed the manned fighter was on its way out and missiles would take over, so the Lightning was funded as the last British interceptor rather than the first of a family. Only the export F.53 stretched the airframe into a multirole aircraft, and the RAF never bought that capability.<\/p>\n<div class=\"armgrid\">\n<div class=\"armcard\">\n<h4>Cannon<\/h4>\n<p>Two 30 mm ADEN cannon with 120 rounds each. On the F.1, F.1A and F.2 they sat in the upper nose, and a swap-in forward pack could add two more for four guns on the F.2A. The F.3 deleted them entirely on the doctrine that missiles were sufficient &mdash; a decision pilots disliked intensely, because a peacetime interception often calls for a warning burst rather than a missile, and because the Red Top could not be fired at everything a Lightning was sent to look at. Guns came back on the F.6, mounted in the front of the ventral tank, at a cost of 75 imp gal of fuel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"armcard\">\n<h4>Air-to-air missiles<\/h4>\n<p>Two de Havilland Firestreak infrared missiles on the early marks: rear-hemisphere only, so the Lightning had to be manoeuvred into a stern chase before it could shoot. The Hawker Siddeley Red Top that followed on the F.3 and F.6 had a larger warhead, a better seeker and forward-hemisphere capability, with a launch limit around Mach 1.8. Two rounds was the whole magazine; the missiles sat on an interchangeable forward-fuselage pack rather than on pylons, and there was no way to carry more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"armcard\">\n<h4>Ground attack (export marks)<\/h4>\n<p>Unique to the F.53. Two extra underwing hardpoints carried up to two 1,000 lb bombs, or SNEB pods of eighteen 68 mm rockets each, and a retractable ventral launcher held 44 unguided 2 in rockets. BAC also proposed clearing the overwing pylons for weapons and Matra JL-100 combined rocket-and-fuel pods, which on paper gave a developed export Lightning six 1,000 lb bombs, or 44 rockets of 2 in plus 144 of 68 mm. Carrying ordnance above the wing is an unusual sight, forced by the fact that the wing underside was full of retracted undercarriage. Royal Saudi Air Force F.53s flew ground-attack sorties against targets on the Yemeni border in 1969. No RAF Lightning ever had this fit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"armcard\">\n<h4>Fuel tanks &amp; range extension<\/h4>\n<p>The F.6 carried a 610 imp gal non-jettisonable ventral tank, cut to 535 imp gal when the cannon pack went in the nose of it, plus two jettisonable 260 imp gal ferry tanks on overwing pylons. Overwing again because there was nowhere underneath to hang them. They roughly doubled deployment range but capped speed at a reported 1,000 mph, so they were a transit fit, not a combat one. An in-flight refuelling probe under the port wing arrived with the F.1A, and Victor tankers effectively became part of the Lightning weapon system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"armcard\">\n<h4>Radar &amp; interception<\/h4>\n<p>Ferranti AI.23, known as AIRPASS: Airborne Interception Radar and Pilot&#39;s Attack Sight System, packaged inside the conical centre-body of the nose intake, with AI.23B from the F.3 to support forward-hemisphere Red Top shots. It was an advanced integrated system for the late 1950s, driving both the radar picture and the sight, but it had no look-down or shoot-down capability against low-flying targets. In practice the UK ground radar chain and the fighter controller did the finding; the Lightning did the last few miles very fast indeed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"armcard\">\n<h4>Reconnaissance fit<\/h4>\n<p>Because the forward-fuselage weapons pack was interchangeable, the export F.53 could take a reconnaissance pack carrying five 70 mm Vinten Type 360 cameras in place of its missiles. Changing role between interception, reconnaissance and ground attack was a matter of swapping packs on the flight line, and that flexibility was BAC&#39;s main selling point to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. RAF Lightnings were never given a reconnaissance fit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"loadouts\">\n<h4>Three typical Lightning fits<\/h4>\n<dl>\n<dt>QRA intercept (F.6)<\/dt>\n<dd>Two Red Top missiles, two 30 mm ADEN with 120 rounds each in the ventral pack, full internal and ventral fuel, no overwing tanks. The Quick Reaction Alert fit: two aircraft held at cockpit readiness, airborne within minutes, sent north under ground control to identify and shadow Soviet Tu-95 and Tu-16 aircraft probing towards UK airspace &mdash; frequently with tanker support arranged before the wheels were up, because the fuel state allowed nothing else.<\/dd>\n<dt>Practice intercept<\/dt>\n<dd>Two acquisition-round missiles &mdash; seeker heads without motor or warhead &mdash; guns loaded or empty, ventral fuel, no overwing tanks. Thirty-five to forty-five minutes wheels-up to wheels-down, which on this aeroplane counted as a full sortie and usually included a practice diversion because the fuel margin was so thin.<\/dd>\n<dt>F.53 ground attack<\/dt>\n<dd>Two 1,000 lb bombs or four SNEB rocket pods on the underwing pylons, the retractable 44-round 2 in rocket launcher in the ventral pack, cannon fitted, ventral fuel full. The export profile the RAF never flew, and the only configuration in which a Lightning was a strike aircraft.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"spx-note\">Almost every statement about Lightning armament is mark-dependent, and the type contradicts itself across its own production run: the F.1 had nose cannon and rear-aspect Firestreaks, the F.3 had no cannon at all and all-aspect Red Tops, the F.6 put the cannon back into the fuel tank, and only the export F.53 could carry a bomb. Any single-line summary of what a Lightning carried is wrong for most of the fleet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr>\n<section>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<p class=\"kicker\">Variants<\/p>\n<h2>Lightning marks, from nineteen F.1s to the Saudi F.53<\/h2>\n<p>The Lightning was developed forwards under constant pressure from two directions: more thrust and higher Mach numbers on one side, and the same nagging fuel problem on the other. Almost every mark change is a response to one or the other. The political backdrop matters too &mdash; the 1957 Defence White Paper assumed guided missiles would replace manned fighters, so the Lightning was developed as an endpoint rather than as the first of a line, and the multirole growth that would have been normal elsewhere happened only on the export aircraft. Set against that, the RAF still flew it on Quick Reaction Alert until 1988, its maintenance burden was heavy and its serviceability rates ordinary, and the pilots who flew it have never stopped talking about it.<\/p>\n<dl class=\"varlist\">\n<dt>F.1 \/ F.1A<\/dt>\n<dd>19 F.1s delivered from December 1959 and 28 F.1As from 1961. Avon 200-series engines, small fin, Mach 1.7 limit, twin nose ADEN, two Firestreaks and AI.23. The F.1A added an in-flight refuelling probe and UHF radio. Short front-line careers, then conversion training.<\/dd>\n<dt>F.2 \/ F.2A<\/dt>\n<dd>44 F.2s from 1962, essentially a refined F.1A. 31 were rebuilt as F.2A with the cambered wing, the large ventral tank, an arrestor hook and provision for up to four ADEN. RAF Germany flew them at low level into the late 1970s, and they had the longest endurance of any RAF Lightning, around two hours. Five ex-RAF F.2s became F.52s for Saudi Arabia.<\/dd>\n<dt>F.3<\/dt>\n<dd>70 built from 1964. Avon 301R engines, a larger square-cut fin, strengthened shock cone clearing Mach 2.0, AI.23B and Red Top &mdash; and no cannon whatsoever. The highest-performing Lightning yet and the thirstiest, so its radius of action was worse than the aircraft it replaced. 16 interim F.3As with the big ventral tank and cambered wing followed as a stopgap.<\/dd>\n<dt>F.6<\/dt>\n<dd>The definitive RAF mark: 39 new-build plus nine converted from F.3 and 15 from F.3A. Cambered wing, 610 imp gal non-jettisonable ventral tank, overwing ferry-tank pylons, Red Top, and eventually two ADEN restored in the front of the ventral pack. This was the aircraft on QRA at Binbrook to the end in 1988.<\/dd>\n<dt>T.4 and T.5 trainers<\/dt>\n<dd>Side-by-side two-seat conversion trainers: 22 T.4s based on the F.1A from 1962, and 22 T.5s based on the F.3. Both retained combat capability in principle and served the Lightning Conversion Unit. The side-by-side cockpit meant a wide, draggy forward fuselage and a modest performance penalty.<\/dd>\n<dt>F.53 (Saudi \/ Kuwait export)<\/dt>\n<dd>46 built, 34 for the Royal Saudi Air Force and 12 for Kuwait, plus one converted from an F.6. F.6 airframe and avionics with two extra underwing hardpoints, and swap-in forward packs for missiles, a 44-round rocket launcher or five Vinten cameras. The only genuinely multirole Lightning. Saudi service ran from 1967 to 1986, Kuwaiti from 1968 to 1977, and serviceability suffered from the same maintenance difficulty the RAF knew well.<\/dd>\n<dt>T.55 export trainer<\/dt>\n<dd>Eight built, six for Saudi Arabia and two for Kuwait, plus one converted from an RAF T.5 that crashed before delivery. Unlike the RAF two-seaters it was fully combat-equipped, combining the T.5 fuselage with the F.6 wing and large ventral tank.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<p class=\"spx-note\">A good number of Lightnings survive. Dozens sit in British museums and as gate guardians, and several are maintained in fast-taxi running condition &mdash; engines lit, reheat occasionally seen, but never airborne &mdash; at sites including Bruntingthorpe, Cranfield and the former RAF Binbrook. A handful were flown privately in South Africa by Thunder City at Cape Town, offering passenger sorties, until a fatal accident at the Overberg airshow on 14 November 2009 effectively ended that operation; one aircraft flew again briefly after restoration before Thunder City closed in 2016, and its surviving airframes have since been stored or sold on. No Lightning is known to be flying anywhere today.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr class=\"divider\">\n<section>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">Timeline<\/div>\n<h2>From research prototype to Cold War guardian<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tl\">\n<div class=\"tl-item\">\n<div class=\"yr\">1947\u201349<\/div>\n<h3>The P.1 takes shape<\/h3>\n<p>English Electric\u2019s Teddy Petter proposes a supersonic fighter; the Ministry of Supply backs the P.1 research aircraft with its distinctive 60\u00b0 swept wing and stacked engines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tl-item\">\n<div class=\"yr\">1954<\/div>\n<h3>First flight<\/h3>\n<p>Roland Beamont flies the P.1A (WG760) on 4 August from Boscombe Down; it goes supersonic in level flight days later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tl-item\">\n<div class=\"yr\">1957<\/div>\n<h3>P.1B \u2014 the real Lightning<\/h3>\n<p>The reheated, radar-equipped P.1B first flies on 4 April, the true prototype of the operational interceptor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tl-item\">\n<div class=\"yr\">1958<\/div>\n<h3>Mach 2 and a name<\/h3>\n<p>On 25 November the P.1B becomes the first British aircraft to reach Mach 2; the type is officially named \u201cLightning.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tl-item\">\n<div class=\"yr\">1960<\/div>\n<h3>Enters RAF service<\/h3>\n<p>No. 74 Squadron at Coltishall receives the Lightning F.1 from July \u2014 the RAF\u2019s first Mach-2 interceptor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tl-item\">\n<div class=\"yr\">1962<\/div>\n<h3>Catching the uncatchable<\/h3>\n<p>Interception trials prove the Lightning can reach U-2 spyplanes at up to 65,000 ft under ground control.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tl-item\">\n<div class=\"yr\">1966<\/div>\n<h3>The accidental flight<\/h3>\n<p>Engineer Wg Cdr \u201cTaffy\u201d Holden, not a fast-jet pilot, accidentally takes off in Lightning XM135 during a ground run \u2014 and lands it safely. Saudi and Kuwaiti export orders are placed the same period.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tl-item\">\n<div class=\"yr\">1985<\/div>\n<h3>Overtaking Concorde<\/h3>\n<p>During BA trials, only a Lightning \u2014 XR749, flown by Mike Hale \u2014 manages a stern intercept and overtakes Concorde where F-15s and F-14s could not.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tl-item\">\n<div class=\"yr\">1988<\/div>\n<h3>The last Lightnings<\/h3>\n<p>The RAF retires the type; the final flight is on 30 June from Binbrook. It is replaced by the Tornado F3.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr class=\"divider\">\n<section>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">Stories &amp; Eyewitnesses<\/div>\n<h2>From the cockpit: twelve Lightning stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"car\"><button class=\"cbtn p\" onclick=\"document.getElementById('stcar').scrollBy({left:-712,behavior:'smooth'})\">\u2039<\/button><button class=\"cbtn n\" onclick=\"document.getElementById('stcar').scrollBy({left:712,behavior:'smooth'})\">\u203a<\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"track\" id=\"stcar\">\n<div class=\"mscard\">\n<div class=\"tag\">Origins<\/div>\n<h4>The fighter that had to go up<\/h4>\n<p>Teddy Petter\u2019s 1940s vision was a jet that could climb to a bomber before it struck.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>Read the full story<\/summary>\n<div class=\"full\">The Lightning was born from a single strategic fear: a Soviet nuclear bomber that Britain\u2019s fighters could not reach in time. English Electric\u2019s Teddy Petter answered with the P.1 \u2014 a radical design with a steeply swept wing and two engines stacked in the fuselage, built to reach supersonic speed and climb faster than anything before it. First flown in 1954, it became the only all-British Mach-2 fighter ever to enter service.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mscard\">\n<div class=\"tag\">Airshow legend<\/div>\n<h4>Standing on its tail<\/h4>\n<p>The near-vertical take-off climb became the Lightning\u2019s signature and the reason crowds loved it.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>Read the full story<\/summary>\n<div class=\"full\">No other fighter of its generation could do what a Lightning did at a display: rotate off the runway, light both afterburners and rear up into an almost vertical climb, apparently hanging on its exhaust as it vanished into the cloud. Sustained climb was around 20,000 ft\/min. The image \u2014 a jet going straight up \u2014 is the one thing almost everyone remembers about the Lightning.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mscard\">\n<div class=\"tag\">The big one \u00b7 1966<\/div>\n<h4>The engineer who accidentally took off<\/h4>\n<p>Wg Cdr \u201cTaffy\u201d Holden, an engineering officer, unintentionally got airborne in Lightning XM135 \u2014 and brought it home.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>Read the full story<\/summary>\n<div class=\"full\">On 22 July 1966 at RAF Lyneham, Wing Commander Walter \u201cTaffy\u201d Holden \u2014 an engineering officer, not a fast-jet pilot \u2014 was running up Lightning XM135 on the ground. The canopy was off and he had no helmet or radio. During the checks the throttles slid past the reheat gate; the jet surged down the runway and, to avoid a taxiing Comet, Holden found himself airborne. With only light-trainer experience, no proper instruments visible and no radio, he flew a wide circuit, made several approaches, and on the third attempt landed the aircraft. Both pilot and jet survived \u2014 one of aviation\u2019s most extraordinary accidental flights.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mscard\">\n<div class=\"tag\">Cold War \u00b7 1962<\/div>\n<h4>Reaching the U-2<\/h4>\n<p>Lightnings proved they could intercept the high-flying U-2 spyplane at heights thought to be safe.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>Read the full story<\/summary>\n<div class=\"full\">In September 1962 RAF Fighter Command ran interception trials against Lockheed U-2s cruising at 60,000\u201365,000 ft. Under ground control, Lightnings made successful intercepts at up to 65,000 ft \u2014 and in later years pilots zoom-climbed even higher, once reaching a U-2 at around 66,000 ft. Details were kept out of the pilots\u2019 logbooks because of the sensitivity of the flights.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mscard\">\n<div class=\"tag\">1985<\/div>\n<h4>The jet that caught Concorde<\/h4>\n<p>Only a Lightning managed to overtake Concorde during a NATO intercept exercise.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>Read the full story<\/summary>\n<div class=\"full\">During British Airways trials in April 1985, Concorde was offered as a target to NATO fighters \u2014 F-15s, F-16s, F-14s, Mirages and F-104s. Only one aircraft managed a stern-conversion intercept and actually overtook it: Lightning XR749, flown by Mike Hale, who described it as \u201ca very hot ship, even for a Lightning.\u201d Two decades after entering service, the old interceptor still had the raw speed to run down the fastest airliner in the world.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mscard\">\n<div class=\"tag\">Engineering<\/div>\n<h4>Two engines, one on top of the other<\/h4>\n<p>The stacked-Avon layout was the Lightning\u2019s most distinctive engineering feature.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>Read the full story<\/summary>\n<div class=\"full\">Rather than sit the two Rolls-Royce Avons side by side, English Electric stacked them vertically and staggered them fore-and-aft, fed by one nose intake. It cut frontal drag by roughly a quarter and removed any asymmetric-thrust problem if an engine failed. The cost was maintenance access and fire risk: the upper engine casing could reach 600&nbsp;\u00b0C and was shielded with a special gold-bearing heat-reflective paint.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mscard\">\n<div class=\"tag\">The weakness<\/div>\n<h4>Always watching the fuel<\/h4>\n<p>The Lightning\u2019s short range shaped \u2014 and limited \u2014 everything it did.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>Read the full story<\/summary>\n<div class=\"full\">For all its speed, the Lightning was famously thirsty. Its original brief asked for a radius of just 150 miles, and its thin wings held little fuel. A full-reheat climb could drain the tanks in minutes. Engineers strapped on ever-bigger tanks \u2014 an enlarged belly tank and even ferry tanks mounted over the wings \u2014 but the aircraft was always flown with one eye on the gauges, its sorties dictated by how far it could reach.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mscard\">\n<div class=\"tag\">Guarding Britain<\/div>\n<h4>Scrambling against the bombers<\/h4>\n<p>For nearly three decades the Lightning was Britain\u2019s front-line quick-reaction interceptor.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>Read the full story<\/summary>\n<div class=\"full\">Through the 1960s, \u201970s and \u201980s, Lightnings sat at readiness across the UK and at overseas bases in Germany, Cyprus and Singapore, scrambling to meet Soviet aircraft probing NATO airspace over the North Sea. Pilots would climb hard, formate on the intruder \u2014 often a Tupolev \u2014 and shadow it. The Lightning never fired a shot in anger in RAF hands; its job was to be there, fast, every time.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mscard\">\n<div class=\"tag\">Export \u00b7 Saudi Arabia<\/div>\n<h4>The Lightning goes to war<\/h4>\n<p>Saudi Lightning F.53s flew the type\u2019s only real combat \u2014 ground attack over the Yemen border.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>Read the full story<\/summary>\n<div class=\"full\">Saudi Arabia bought the multirole F.53, fitted with over-wing hardpoints for bombs and rockets. In 1969\u201370 Royal Saudi Air Force Lightnings flew ground-attack missions during a border conflict with South Yemen \u2014 the only combat sorties in the type\u2019s history. One F.53 was lost to Yemeni ground fire in May 1970; the pilot ejected and was rescued. The RAF\u2019s own Lightnings never fired in anger.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mscard\">\n<div class=\"tag\">Export \u00b7 Kuwait<\/div>\n<h4>A short, hard-pressed career<\/h4>\n<p>Kuwait\u2019s small Lightning fleet struggled with maintenance and was gone within a decade.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>Read the full story<\/summary>\n<div class=\"full\">Kuwait ordered 14 Lightnings in 1966. Without the extensive contractor support the Saudis used, serviceability was poor and the complex jet proved a handful to keep flying. The fleet was replaced by Mirage F1s in 1977, and the stored survivors were largely destroyed during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mscard\">\n<div class=\"tag\">The last flyers<\/div>\n<h4>Thunder City\u2019s Lightnings<\/h4>\n<p>Long after RAF retirement, a handful of Lightnings kept flying privately in South Africa.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>Read the full story<\/summary>\n<div class=\"full\">After the RAF stood the type down in 1988, most Lightnings became museum pieces or gate guardians. A rare exception was Thunder City at Cape Town, which kept several ex-RAF Lightnings airworthy for display and experience flights into the 2000s \u2014 among the last places on Earth to see one climb for real.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mscard\">\n<div class=\"tag\">Retirement \u00b7 1988<\/div>\n<h4>The end of the sprint<\/h4>\n<p>The Lightning bowed out in 1988, out-ranged and out-teched but never out-climbed.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>Read the full story<\/summary>\n<div class=\"full\">By the 1980s the Lightning was outclassed on avionics, weapons and range by newer fighters, and keeping the ageing airframes flying took enormous effort. The RAF retired the type in 1988, replacing it with the Tornado F3 \u2014 an aircraft with far more range and modern radar, but nothing like the Lightning\u2019s raw, vertical thrill. The final RAF Lightning flight was on 30 June 1988.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr class=\"divider\">\n<section>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">Gallery<\/div>\n<h2>The Lightning in pictures<\/h2>\n<div class=\"car\"><button class=\"cbtn p\" onclick=\"document.getElementById('gal').scrollBy({left:-660,behavior:'smooth'})\">\u2039<\/button><button class=\"cbtn n\" onclick=\"document.getElementById('gal').scrollBy({left:660,behavior:'smooth'})\">\u203a<\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"track gal\" id=\"gal\">\n<figure data-full=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:1280\/h:826\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/english-electric-lightning-xm135.jpg\"><img data-opt-id=1465138785  data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:980\/h:632\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/english-electric-lightning-xm135.jpg\"  class=\"ph\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20980%20632%22%20width%3D%22980%22%20height%3D%22632%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22980%22%20height%3D%22632%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"English Electric Lightning F.1 XM135 preserved at Duxford  the very jet an engineer once flew by accident.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>English Electric Lightning F.1 XM135 preserved at Duxford \u2014 the very jet an engineer once flew by accident.<span>Photo: Mike McBey \u00b7 CC BY 2.0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure data-full=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/english-electric-lightning-in-flight.jpg\"><img data-opt-id=1589993901  data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/english-electric-lightning-in-flight.jpg\"  class=\"ph\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20100%%20100%%22%20width%3D%22100%%22%20height%3D%22100%%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%%22%20height%3D%22100%%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"A Lightning in flight, gear up  the RAFs first Mach-2 interceptor in its element.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>A Lightning in flight, gear up \u2014 the RAF\u2019s first Mach-2 interceptor in its element.<span>Photo: Adrian Pingstone \u00b7 Public domain<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure data-full=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:1280\/h:960\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/english-electric-lightning-xr749-f3.jpg\"><img data-opt-id=969593362  data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:980\/h:735\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/english-electric-lightning-xr749-f3.jpg\"  class=\"ph\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20980%20735%22%20width%3D%22980%22%20height%3D%22735%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22980%22%20height%3D%22735%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Lightning F.3 XR749  the aircraft that famously overtook Concorde in 1985.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>Lightning F.3 XR749 \u2014 the aircraft that famously overtook Concorde in 1985.<span>Photo: Africa23 \u00b7 Public domain<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure data-full=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:1280\/h:854\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/english-electric-lightning-f53-saudi.jpg\"><img data-opt-id=1801882987  data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:980\/h:653\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/english-electric-lightning-f53-saudi.jpg\"  class=\"ph\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20980%20653%22%20width%3D%22980%22%20height%3D%22653%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22980%22%20height%3D%22653%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"A Lightning F.53 in export markings  the multirole version flown by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>A Lightning F.53 in export markings \u2014 the multirole version flown by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.<span>Photo: Alan Wilson \u00b7 CC BY-SA 2.0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure data-full=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:1280\/h:735\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/english-electric-lightning-f6.jpg\"><img data-opt-id=527533775  data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:980\/h:563\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/english-electric-lightning-f6.jpg\"  class=\"ph\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20980%20563%22%20width%3D%22980%22%20height%3D%22563%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22980%22%20height%3D%22563%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"A preserved Lightning F.6  the definitive interceptor mark with its enlarged belly tank.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>A preserved Lightning F.6 \u2014 the definitive interceptor mark with its enlarged belly tank.<span>Photo: Greg Goebel \u00b7 CC BY-SA 2.0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure data-full=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:1280\/h:713\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/english-electric-lightning-cockpit.jpg\"><img data-opt-id=1004162522  data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:980\/h:546\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/english-electric-lightning-cockpit.jpg\"  class=\"ph\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20980%20546%22%20width%3D%22980%22%20height%3D%22546%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22980%22%20height%3D%22546%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"The front office of a Lightning T.5  analogue dials and the raw feel of a 1950s interceptor.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>The front office of a Lightning T.5 \u2014 analogue dials and the raw feel of a 1950s interceptor.<span>Photo: Peter Evans \u00b7 CC BY-SA 2.0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr class=\"divider\">\n<section>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">Watch<\/div>\n<h2>The Lightning in motion<\/h2>\n<p>A dedicated Lightning video feature is coming soon. In the meantime, explore the photo gallery above and the twelve stories for the full picture of Britain\u2019s vertical interceptor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr class=\"divider\">\n<section>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">Watch<\/div>\n<h2>The English Electric Lightning in motion<\/h2>\n<div class=\"vidwrap\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/a7tn0P4BYMQ\" title=\"English Electric Lightning documentary \u2014 Megaprojects\" loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Megaprojects \u2014 one of the most-watched English Electric Lightning films on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr class=\"divider\">\n<section>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">Operations<\/div>\n<h2>Where the Lightning flew<\/h2>\n<div id=\"eelt-map-widget\" style=\"font-family:'Gilroy semiBold','Gilroy 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\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(){var el=document.getElementById(\"eelt-data\");var js=decodeURIComponent(escape(atob(el.getAttribute(\"data-js\"))));var sc=document.createElement(\"script\");sc.text=js;document.body.appendChild(sc);})();<\/script><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr class=\"divider\">\n<section>\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">Combat Record<\/div>\n<h2>The score that defines it<\/h2>\n<p>The RAF\u2019s Lightning <strong>never fired a shot in anger<\/strong>. It was a pure air-defence interceptor whose whole career was deterrence \u2014 scrambling, climbing and shadowing Soviet aircraft, thousands of times, without ever needing to shoot. Its only true combat was flown by export F.53s of the Royal Saudi Air Force in a 1969\u201370 border conflict with South Yemen. The Lightning\u2019s record is written not in kills, but in intercepts nothing else could reach.<\/p>\n<div class=\"combat\">\n<div class=\"cstat\"><b>0<\/b><span>Shots fired in anger by the RAF<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"cstat\"><b>65,000 ft<\/b><span>Height at which it intercepted the U-2<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"cstat\"><b>1985<\/b><span>The year it out-ran Concorde<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Compare the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/fighter-jet-combat-statistics\/\">combat record of every military aircraft<\/a>. Figures as of July 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr class=\"divider\">\n<section id=\"faq\">\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">Questions &amp; Answers<\/div>\n<h2>Everything people ask about the Lightning<\/h2>\n<div class=\"qa\">\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>Can I fly in a Lightning?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">No \u2014 there are no public English Electric Lightning passenger or ride flights available today. A small number of aircraft have historically been kept fast-taxi-able or airworthy by private operators, but there is no bookable civilian Lightning experience. You <b>can<\/b>, however, fly in several genuine ex-military jets today \u2014 see <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/flights-prices\/\">migflug.com\/flights-prices\/<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How fast was the English Electric Lightning?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Later marks could reach Mach 2.0 (about 2,100 km\/h) at 36,000 ft. Its more remarkable number was climb rate \u2014 roughly 20,000 ft\/min \u2014 letting it reach 36,000 ft in under three minutes.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How high could the Lightning fly?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Its official ceiling was kept secret and quoted only as \u201cin excess of 60,000 ft.\u201d In ballistic zoom-climbs pilots took Lightnings much higher \u2014 recorded climbs of 80,000\u201388,000 ft \u2014 though these were not sustained level flight.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Why did the Lightning have its engines stacked on top of each other?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">The vertically stacked, staggered layout gave the thrust of two engines with the frontal drag of only about 1.5 \u2014 roughly a 25% drag saving \u2014 and eliminated asymmetric thrust if one engine failed. The trade-off was harder maintenance and a fire-prone upper engine bay.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Did the Lightning ever see combat?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">The RAF\u2019s Lightnings never fired in anger \u2014 they were interceptors that deterred rather than fought. The only real combat was flown by Saudi Arabian export F.53s, which carried out ground-attack missions during a 1969\u201370 border dispute with South Yemen, losing one aircraft to ground fire.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Is the story of the accidental Lightning flight true?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Yes. On 22 July 1966 an RAF engineering officer, Wg Cdr Walter \u201cTaffy\u201d Holden, accidentally got airborne in Lightning XM135 during a ground engine run, having only light-trainer flying experience. After several approaches he landed safely. The aircraft survives at Duxford.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Why was the Lightning\u2019s range so short?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">It was designed as a point-defence interceptor with a required radius of only about 150 miles, and its thin high-speed wings held little fuel. Reheat burned fuel very fast. Later marks added large belly and over-wing tanks, but short range remained the type\u2019s defining weakness.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Are any Lightnings still flying?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Effectively no. The RAF retired the type in 1988. A few were kept airworthy privately \u2014 notably by Thunder City in South Africa \u2014 into the 2000s, but there are no regular airworthy Lightnings offering flights today.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<div class=\"ad\">\n<div class=\"adin\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">The part of the collection you can touch<\/div>\n<h2>You can\u2019t fly the Lightning.<br \/>These, you can.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"adp\">Some legends only live in museums \u2014 others are fuelled and waiting. MiGFlug has put civilians in real military jet cockpits since 2004.<\/p>\n<div class=\"car\"><button class=\"cbtn p\" onclick=\"document.getElementById('flycar').scrollBy({left:-520,behavior:'smooth'})\">\u2039<\/button><button class=\"cbtn n\" onclick=\"document.getElementById('flycar').scrollBy({left:520,behavior:'smooth'})\">\u203a<\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"track\" id=\"flycar\"><a class=\"flycard\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/flights-prices\/\"><span class=\"fico\"><img data-opt-id=791639987  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,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\" alt=\"Aero L-39 Albatros side profile\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\"><\/span><b>Fly the L-39 Albatros<\/b><span>The world\u2019s most-flown jet trainer \u2014 aerobatics included<\/span><\/a><a class=\"flycard\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/flights-prices\/f104-starfighter-flight\/\"><span class=\"fico\"><img data-opt-id=791639987  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAACPCAMAAADjln0EAAAAYFBMVEVHcEwHGUK2ydymxN2sw9qHrOWuyN2FmsWhu8lqjrutyN13wvdqj8AKGDYOGDEVIDSyyNrI09xckf+OrNP29vaJqdGNs+Rcsf+3zeS81Oiht9KEyvZ1mMTT3+owWabj6vAX5uI5AAAAEHRSTlMA9xtl+jm7AgX+kfivqFQeZrxunAAACuBJREFUeNrtnYlisrwShi2E1S5BCg1R5P7v8mSysUO0gP2\/M692USnUPMyWRU4nFAqFQqFQKBQKhUKhUCgUCoVCoVAoFAqFQqFQKBQKhUKhUCgUCoVCoVAo1D+sSChWEr9he7yYRRz3n4qRyetoKBaxF\/hpKJSmfgBPxdg2L6ARS0PwAoGCskqLsTAFJmgkr6ABMIhgwSilRN6ExMPQj5HIsa4KaPgpEa1PJ1RVYYBu61B5PrgpRudUMSRyoH0EKTGmQYSmiDCKRA4DImJH4HniLhT44SQQwoiHRA6lcopUTJ\/zW0AEI\/thNCQMUi2EEVqFSOSoIOLJyoNzuqgqjJDIEYpPfg0NvgZEEMFulGOIhMwJCK1SNJEjIkigmpsT6kAkRiS7e6xUFSE5pUjkLxhITFRuxSkS+RshXfNwAiLjCBLZE0gUKo9F3IAQsBFstj07TnQsd7QQYSM+EtnVY1UGCHMkwpDIjhYSh5Vz1otEjihCjF3klCKRv1OEuMb0DhHMtXYwkMgUIY8BIUAEs989DCQwo+j8IQtBG9krhITPAsGafacixMT0B5IsrNn3q9J9O+\/ncSBIZE+PRTilzxDBAZJti5A2b3oGCIwhIpE9ipAnYno78wFLxO2IhOyXQGhFcAbdhkWI5cGeBSLnNGJo36hMT4VhEHXPCX2WiCgR0Ui2KUJ4R\/R5ydAe\/fGTT67Sgx\/RdBcSvPpqj+VXdBMRWK7wF7OtyMp5+xdSaUdCfq+Kpd4fMpIxBi8IAt\/3Uz9N5WK9c6swJGGYihd9r\/3r13isPM+ltyJzixAeyrb80+kPMOmd5BJD+h7+XH5A9Xd9nVLT1PI7K0PfDyLVhxG9wGOVRVHkRZ7DDyme82fBEFaFfvTKNbsySqiDx4KE\/\/7+rjgIneX3a13rh9fzWcOAn3UNP6qmkk8IKsELmIj\/Pix5WeZdCTy\/CO6VQOJJXxgdLhuRJYqL1k9f57pJ7veLYSTcleRRSQM5ayBSaqXr0Uw84VXDIuc9KL8AQiirSBp4L7IQTy0gzmp2ucwQqZvb3RKxWOpakWikoVjTSX3F5Fi\/FUfCyRZ5aykqoEBMWbz3BeUhY7DWJ6srKkze0wq0vFbBQBNPjTboa+o1PxUoslooy8pZIKzhAsh9aDe1spa61k6sZRIcykSFP7D3wA8NE4gqJqQsqeiIZz1BoyjZpiHmGVpceipZb7splWqfdd2AehuX7UEbe1BymQVybaoxENZUBkwbWgyUc+odnasAFfHl+aFA4kBigs0ASDbRNGzcWCCqEc4iKUtWf3fV23TyqP1dDYPIfeCzwI9dzS\/FPbknYC3nNgU7y8B4cKoSQaUdB2leFhsCYd2GkU+UE+e+gVdOoGi+x+o0OFs5C8ZgVBDpmcgVPJZU1eTdF03Mb74ZpF3R8UxO0UdSPmMiM0CGjU\/7TVSwuZYsy2qShVQz9oPzRx2K1SQRiVZ5lSWhxlBZh0ZH9nM+Mxla0uD4AC9s5OPtvp2FDE55vmAe7V\/8LLEAHHVdzu9AiC8CUQw5YcyGirphGs21YfdxiBHApAPTVdaxmePH21vyhNfiqw5rHBsm3A1E7e9FicjNDOgie9xABhBFXnitwADOmk09BiKAQQ6mkMTHIgELeXvbLoasnql9GN9ramoqe3pMj48Vgf4Flq3mazNWVUHCDi0u60YB5GrcWcejSSZn\/9gPRoq2BUIdm2UdRqPyK7FLmhnTonA3nwdiyJDLirIFVVmdJ5BnSWdmixT4TUaWw5EoC7ntkvZ28x3aq1nWLUMxyVZFKRdF1DoQ4RlrVUJO7oVwGWG6IV96sntyASblZ3xYh3C0MZBJB8IfgtHY8sNF4ngrRMC+OkdtFJyZff1cVJGS3I0gfU6Sz+iYXvrNLWSCiA3mLkHjEfOweUS+CIT2gZjaZtnh3rsSdN7ePj4\/v\/YfO4k2t5AREWJofDvbhrN56IPlq1G9duI9zBLvhsub1sfH59e+prKDhWTZz7hXqnGB0HnoykOd01sBmUkSJZe3LhRlKrukwztYSPd9KW\/VrJBohmBceWhr5Ot5rxuQxWCkPJemIvxXbLoFN9XXHkCyYa7bWohu++a783MkZx7ax+RlsZpmOQFZLmmI+L\/4Lbl3TCXWjn\/bSl0AKXr6NRA6qswfCOfuPEynCS\/LJSTt8ZuVY6zUmFQNCmSUW2MRpmKgRBtW6nyg3NxcgTCosTqlBu1U5moYi1WyEKirVrWVHPbQSWntzsNEq7yUeiTNmjxIvez7Lj+d9F1gyTUWMJXN8i8ZQ2AFD1sdrNU3M2IIA4bq3krV1ExsVsLcSBjAF1LfS+FYxA1GxfS9kDctsbGZC8PYYx7rws0u5jttaqesgV4e6oYBKuSmsAhT2SL\/UhbCfzcdyOAw5Cgpfy\/iQMV0C2gLmXNbU2lWnbnkvZNF5tCsBBYCoeX+0StVoufQRGBzZBsgrZG1RHo2MqvR69yFh3X5XP3J1FEu5Q8AYVnT1WzZeXmyY0x2y5A8Se5tqG9nw0Vx7I7oU4hW0Jjktzy6Xo+Pmpv3HvNFHPSRpFdaiJxc1vO89u1k48n7YwfN9MewTjAtfuyt2ws0iSWrM14k7+\/CVKTiKH7caX3FfhrCR47rD4B\/HgjrvD\/11noTwLq\/jTK5MteBhnPXEGLP55lp48+cYQz6kzMIkANW5tVVQR9yxQQWW7OIqA\/6lAJMa1Ni5cghTNgiT2GZAAJ94zKVHuTTS8ptzq2GOwhlrkBy+iekGo3BJ4bz5P1jqE+J5OtT974sTtWK1Ah7HAfSWFi1+Gm+k0CuigjRJLaRHJcSaJZdVpG\/HgVRKAQLuAKLF5urFY0aWja1m+sSW8dwqZ3YC1KDpXLlAVEIBvaKXSRn801gUTZE+QttwpAQ7x8m1AdebGv3yKZbcRx359o+NndZ15z6kjtEYmGrQPhzDf0glunci\/NXcCBUXwNHuAWLAkxA5lQTVhA9O+6o5zFH+sPhAz+0XNgMD5HvJcntdnu8kR8V79mHDlcHwwB\/IL0HUVeI8rxOu+02VhJpc5HWF8HSF7AXqriwTgyDR4JGoqWxFHJe\/WZw5I7ErpMkJ8N+HnJAgCDqnVaGA6z2CQLPuiblkY5bl6SDDAR9kYyJbIxoa9UqNIykg+VW3Exj2oUPFlLu4MPa6cQ3YHFTu9dTTjZZceSQMxkMDPqM1KqrwItsr\/vTBfkWk7S7hwYw0mS0J6U8l+fvSLdWhUXkIMXgpnba7rgg03Xd1hCqqktBYYiH7uMPrOdTy1rtjG1pM+DMUskGEt5OMw7IDB+Km\/pm\/kI97G3R+8Nbke9mEhYBowaCpmAitHJOalnv31vqejJLiiM9EAD\/qVrHId7Gu1DXNAyeKQtyk7AsPumgiP2+9jVIRNprBMpOIxkWJARYfxLLHg+NwLzZ\/8YHJdgk+xR1118CHbXkD9gkfTrOUmU7Ie0lFn8lyI2YNYEwVVagVgDFvblwLYT\/8GVo26V\/kTRyfT1XWa92F0D573Cbk3jNt1tapR1BS7Z3N6X67Je7llfeUmdQZE9+yCfjTvl2+tcUtWGvnQYA\/ZhfXZ83lFpxJ7Za7CKNOnfH\/2b0i\/0H2tWqp\/8bdWzH9iYsLNqVxe7Cq\/oWRw\/c9JnfaX786ByX87k961sTiJ4xCRQKhUKhUCgUCoVCoVAoFAqFQqFQKBQKhUKhUCgUCoVCoVAoFAqFQqFQqH9Q\/wN4BIUv7R8M8wAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Lockheed F-104 Starfighter side profile\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\"><\/span><b>Fly the F-104 Starfighter<\/b><span>\u201cThe missile with a man in it\u201d<\/span><\/a><a class=\"flycard\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/mig-21-launch\/\"><span class=\"fico\"><img data-opt-id=791639987  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,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\" alt=\"Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 side profile\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\"><\/span><b>Fly the MiG-21<\/b><span>The Cold War\u2019s most-produced jet<\/span><\/a><a class=\"flycard\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/flights-prices\/t-33-in-canada\/\"><span class=\"fico\"><img data-opt-id=791639987  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,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\" alt=\"Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star side profile\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\"><\/span><b>Fly the T-33 Shooting Star<\/b><span>America\u2019s first jet trainer<\/span><\/a><a class=\"flycard\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/flights-prices\/vampire-flight-near-london\/\"><span class=\"fico\"><img data-opt-id=791639987  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,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\" alt=\"de Havilland Vampire side profile\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\"><\/span><b>Fly the DH Vampire<\/b><span>A piece of early jet history<\/span><\/a><a class=\"flycard\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/flights-prices\/s-211-jet-flight-munich\/\"><span class=\"fico\"><img data-opt-id=791639987  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,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\" alt=\"SIAI-Marchetti S.211 side profile\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\"><\/span><b>Fly the S.211<\/b><span>Agile Italian jet trainer<\/span><\/a><a class=\"flycard\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/flights-prices\/l-39-mb-326-jet-provost-in-italy\/\"><span class=\"fico\"><img data-opt-id=791639987  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAACQCAMAAAARFs1KAAAAYFBMVEVHcExlaUNbseJssstwfl1vdUx0fFBze05ygWBzelJpttiNk2ywtaR0fE+NlWpQUDRmakRawv91eVRAQCR7gldrcEhfX0FvdkuFi2PAwKVNTDGRnHkKMn5YWTtGRiovdLqSyISMAAAADXRSTlMA1\/7sG6PR\/kB1l9L451oyxAAAC0pJREFUeNrtnQtbozoQhrcKpFhDI4bLlkX\/\/788mVwg4VawJNTnzId7Vj2rbfMyt2SS\/vmDQqFQKBQKhUKhUCgUCoVCoVAoFAqFQqFQqF+i87IiHKGwipKaLylJEUlYpZxQR8S+iEByxkEKCoRWjoZ4CKdIJCgQVrb2VdERkQRHKWQQOVWFpZLRoQiPcZgCKub26JcloWOh0woKhPSirCUTJoJOK2hUt1W0BZ0gkuI4hQsiObWMopoIIkIcnVY4JU4lUpYTFoJO6yggIohMRnV0WscFkbKYAoKZVsAg4g59yfikiSQ4qXUIEBFEGGPVGEiG5eExUb0oy7JllLgeq86yBp1WqCDiAIHycFCvEy54CKHTCqPzcAZeWEnluiupBp3WUUAqUa\/339M8BBHMfcNE9WSYVxGrXicdj6y5oNMKoni0atgHEYsHOq1jojqoq9cJzWyh0zqgVicFK5hZOSS1CwSdVqAgYpsIa0UpYiZQMlfotAKVhoM1kaqqBhmWAYLlYfha3VoTGXgsdFrHBJF+TWQMBON6kCCSOxNXrCvUJ4DgnFYI5TNrIoSPgWTotAIEEToMImQ6y0KndUhpaC2sT5kIOi3vGswvMmu2t55yWjhivqO6C8SZ7Z2K61gehq3VSWvN9lJ0Ws8QRMjU\/DuWh+GA1MSdPbGXDNFpHRLVySCIUMy0jg0ilM60+E5Wh+i0PMtdNSSspMthHcvDkEBgn0h1B0iWodPyGtXd1ji3xXeSR4PlYchKZLrvBJ1WOCWuz7IqkTkg6LQ8A5lrXpwFgk7LbxAZrYmQhflFdFreS8NBb5YVRLJ5\/XKnFTl6sifnAiHdFPx8CPml5WEUyYOO3oReQS8fHx\/yk1fxnSc6A2kYREQlQubW1X+l0zqf0zdFARAs6AXIpIcbf0qcU2jMjvUlA\/kdc1rGGD7ucBhKWMyhLy4tXbXsvoE8caYlYgKAeN1IYUTl7bDYci5YAW293VWQ+wbyfE5LcEiF4uRBEpYHezvGUsbbRFYYyPNkWiJSp7FQkuRcnpK3GxDQIUycY2iIWh8h9C6PQ51WJA0iAeUaBGyThGe+KxDhuy5voX3XYNVwrYEIpyUSxXBPNtJ5K7glqm4crkDIrFDfSQbIy\/c\/oe\/H6TRZ3QQ2k\/Few\/sRRLfEZ5dLnKY+83fwSBAcYvFIwilxw8DsHCajfZKSwcs\/rU1EvkHuTzR1XYvvBEUyFUTqbKUaQSVPEvDi+xmMCtDiV14uF\/kQIOGXlGGQqVNZeiCvMI6Gx7\/vDUF8guGr4NGoz85Bg8jwWKZsg7j2HZzmSS7dOlgN0IFpiWglAjhJOI3Ti5RGDVLY4WEIXSTRGbdtIFuA\/BtbFfDIui\/OoXzzEAjZxCOjlt\/g1PEp4N6V9RhZhzWbb4El9ObWZBqCwmA\/DF0lCCI9kPU+63sM8aVWDqvLuQIhSflPHRbITgnsRK1jdF+rHpCuFKl3A9LUmXZYXWkSIo+PE7I5w7I91p07VyWjZOkfrDHJei0QWmU2kO\/tQAzEpgsgVlDxaSQRwMgJ5484rNV37qLfrx\/mbhNpdgHyOnBYfo0E0skEPL5O4++1Nuxw5y66mR2BwBlGzBpdpQ9zrQDy3QUQYyDwC7pIEu0PQ9RW4LrJ2JeQbQFk0527ZCJ302u+\/rfVfWIAWVIz0OuEXl5fLCDSRDKbB\/zPb62d3dZZzvpwTqbd+laH9aDH6mb966GGgT8vFsUYM39YkYtfmHeq5FdWCiGhcV5zeJjavgHNg8u6x3ZYFiywn\/Nu5ZYMGZy6NKxZrO5IpkHOOfZU+uLVYFhsle71pGq7z1ih5r2LKgdYWW9cdc41XvH3Hrv2VchQEaMvsKwMVYcTbt+a4lP9LOTNB8+2fxWdFl6qS4ONr15FPtBGC+lMLa\/gprdtLZuyOMuAxreTfH2loMLrOT00XwQhQ9joxNSPwCC8hnouZqSvt+vtdvu6Xa3h7sdNP\/XCMoyqv9x3wHDnkIl8NPei\/eeyDnQ\/nGt98lDbRWVf6euaU136I+u+rycFauO6xA3AgAq8c0Sr3kGitP8wdoJyN\/oBDB0yctdLVQBB3+hXqZvW1ajialJEBn6eU3HBV8oJc863h+6R+krybuxanTxsLKPmkgiFRbzk7jL\/UX\/DWNTVKYk3mUpkMls1HrBkLjF0g24DGOhW8NkhtZ0ddVdSfOVZNdlkITupsaxNmZn1LbBayI5okq7tWElr4EEqZQ8tuKO1ul0rSvZIaXcaxxkL4ebA550tZO0sHjy0nMAjyZp1iJhIDi2YwhdYw221pt4uwacW28DAQmRcYnZKJ8KUOr2I00OA1N1pb+AdIAlKRFyJlifWKzsD2SQaWhMDCcmRoNCq0Nq2Ayu2Uj2Rb1TaaQYDMnAgCgpNlsLKOeFPM94rTURHU8hy2qudblwnwl1n9IYQlBI0u1dE7aMJJ6oXlinN59zXOZbpXDO+OHk6JHJmTNQFrB3kexsEP1YWOe9XVbw5rJkFGmWn4o6Kpxulzm9\/J1U\/mY0IDqJUbH9MYgiFVXVwAxn6r2QaSfT2\/pRATJsIAZtol3PwH0AREaZu\/Ef0pdc3\/\/ac6fuTAVHOlkI6rlBcPeiz+evPca1ZUYbJiRki52ezEAEDMnJPKJS+mr\/v781RBmKQzBB5fw4g+mVUqkr1CMMA+fvuyUBWv+D8\/KxAdJNqVZTt1TuMzkL8mMj6qc65N0w9HIiMGQWDkBGAhW8gGxaUZ940agSEB7eQoiyDGIYL5G9zXATRUznnZ7QQ3wE8rIVsqqr5MwIpgtMwQb05NILI1s3oCYGU1wMEQJrsYI9F1wb1sDGE3Q4B4qkK2eCxZguRgy2EsNKsewXTrfRWpW+Zw57Zi9mI8PYOdVIHJPhsL8xZmdUy3xEF2jQ+r76mF1dW6VJzh1RedEOF6q8QcHj14Cr4I9O6pSrU\/XCRMKS4H49V3wMh9\/vDqnnBZvcq92vzsBpS13XVd\/V0XTvB5rG4NBe332IfGF9Cn0ZFQCAdBqtbsDjNN9RdGrttommyYZeh7MOErr2ejy9AZgkH+i\/Yl9RtZxRKLPMLhFjGMDGap6X1ddirB03ItaaS5ey+nKbAHXp9Bq4LJrXsMVRo1q8W6n86BuEXSF1rUygWhq4SOBb7T0xrnqQCv7ZgP9Cgb\/MBPux6+1ySgvM12xTzNY9hbyCmMbVrQa3uDlN1itP77aSXvmNSRJGc7aNRd+0qMyJFef30Lvaj4bfHX4Q73QFs9x3fGRAWr2sxlacfXMxO45wVBfMmHY6cHiT3tAhYoWq\/jgbi7n6AWyWfADDUAgt2ire3YZ9TwSU+nU7C1VWFTy5LFiVhiXrxyx+VQrqbzOqGN73v0KpsNcAvj\/9IkzFcpI2nOI0e3KIAe5IFmGKYsAUEJHPfmw8qXwXVN3ulBn3bsK8HIm4tgLHXxip5hAigATLzu2+8QtElyb5cSpr7UeXaO4NDLPwdsqPZnNjJ9jGsCIJFbZGATuTH0ZR57hGIumNPpzTYATwajnJqJxlxmCyDQnm3Uk18XU2Wq3TPTelC89YW3njkXHioE\/ioA0\/N1H5NA5KIWNXvo2J+TMikamajmbuZbqDSLmZzP+5KZgRJnB55gmk0Yz5Rd2BJnMbagobZlH144C4+rWCsmLtyO23dl4L+tUkShz0j7HEnB5QiY0jG150GuGY3Nj+myoM1cMUB9n38IhArQP2J7BOAYqWTuobErCNrzbUKXLUTA8Uh0YeApef\/3VsK6QO\/R8c2gStM1Uds6eTIMjf+gGBXa6IsAc6Q+lWO6aBA1l0DWQdwRfoj3aDu557yGHgUCoVCoVAoFAqFQqFQKBQKhUKhUCgUCoVC+dB\/CKPAjcVDJ\/8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt=\"Aermacchi MB-326 side profile\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\"><\/span><b>Fly the MB-326<\/b><span>The classic Aermacchi jet<\/span><\/a><a class=\"flycard\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/flights-prices\/mig-15-fagot-czech-republic\/\"><span class=\"fico\"><img data-opt-id=791639987  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\" alt=\"Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 side profile\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\"><\/span><b>Fly the MiG-15<\/b><span>The Soviet legend of the Korean War<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/flights-prices\/\">See all flights &amp; prices<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section style=\"padding-top:44px\">\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">Related Aircraft<\/div>\n<h2>Continue the tour<\/h2>\n<div class=\"relgrid\"><a class=\"rel\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/f-104-starfighter\/\"><span class=\"rk\">The Contemporary<\/span><span class=\"rh\">F-104 Starfighter<\/span><span class=\"rp\">The other great Cold War interceptor built for pure speed and climb \u2014 a \u201cmissile with a man in it\u201d on the Western side.<\/span><span class=\"go\">Read the F-104 story<\/span><\/a><a class=\"rel\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/eurofighter-typhoon\/\"><span class=\"rk\">The Descendant<\/span><span class=\"rh\">Eurofighter Typhoon<\/span><span class=\"rp\">Britain\u2019s modern agile interceptor \u2014 the spiritual heir to the Lightning\u2019s job of guarding UK skies, decades on.<\/span><span class=\"go\">Read the Typhoon story<\/span><\/a><a class=\"rel\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/de-havilland-vampire\/\"><span class=\"rk\">The Predecessor<\/span><span class=\"rh\">de Havilland Vampire<\/span><span class=\"rp\">An earlier British jet fighter from the generation before the Lightning \u2014 and one you can still fly with MiGFlug.<\/span><span class=\"go\">Read the Vampire story<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr class=\"divider\">\n<section style=\"padding:48px 0 64px\">\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"kicker\">Sources &amp; Further Reading<\/div>\n<h2>Every fact, checked<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"srclist\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baesystems.com\/en\/heritage\/english-electric-lightning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BAE Systems Heritage \u2014 English Electric Lightning<\/a><span>Manufacturer heritage record of the Lightning\u2019s development and service.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightningassociation.co.uk\/design-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Lightning Association<\/a><span>Design and development history maintained by the type\u2019s enthusiast association.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.key.aero\/topic\/english-electric-lightning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Key Aero<\/a><span>Detailed features on Lightning operations, variants and records.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationgeekclub.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Aviation Geek Club<\/a><span>The Concorde intercept, U-2 zoom-climbs and cockpit accounts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oldhaltonians.co.uk\/post\/wing-commander-taffy-holden-s-inadvertent-flight-in-lightning-xm135\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Old Haltonians \u2014 \u201cTaffy\u201d Holden\u2019s inadvertent flight<\/a><span>Account of Wg Cdr Holden\u2019s accidental 1966 flight in XM135.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwm.org.uk\/collections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Imperial War Museums (Duxford)<\/a><span>Reference for preserved Lightning airframes, including XM135.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rafmuseum.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Royal Air Force Museum<\/a><span>RAF service history, squadrons and retirement of the Lightning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryfactory.com\/aircraft\/detail.php?aircraft_id=229\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Military Factory<\/a><span>Specifications, variants and production summary for the Lightning.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div id=\"galfix71\" 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sc=document.createElement(\"script\");sc.text=js;document.body.appendChild(sc);})();<\/script><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aircraft Museum \u203a Interceptor \u203a Lightning English ElectricLightning Britain\u2019s Cold War rocket with wings \u2014 a twin-engined interceptor that could stand on its tail and climb almost vertically to the edge of the stratosphere, and the only RAF fighter ever built purely to go up, fast. Mach 2.0Top speed at altitude 20,000 ft\/minSustained climb rate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19970,"parent":15960,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-16734","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>English Electric Lightning \u2014 History, Specs &amp; Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The English Electric Lightning climbed like a rocket and once intercepted a U-2 at 88,000 ft \u2014 full history, specs, photos and stories.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/pt\/aeronave\/english-electric-lightning\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"pt_PT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"English Electric Lightning \u2014 History, Specs &amp; Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The English Electric Lightning climbed like a rocket and once intercepted a U-2 at 88,000 ft \u2014 full history, specs, photos and stories.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/pt\/aeronave\/english-electric-lightning\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MiGFlug\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-28T18:27:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:78--.b845\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:96\/f:best\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/english-electric-lightning-in-flight.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Tempo estimado de leitura\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"20 minutos\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/aircraft\\\/english-electric-lightning\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/aircraft\\\/english-electric-lightning\\\/\",\"name\":\"English Electric Lightning \u2014 History, Specs & Stories\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/aircraft\\\/english-electric-lightning\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/aircraft\\\/english-electric-lightning\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\/\\/migflug.com\\/wp-content\\/uploads\\/2026\\/08\\/english-electric-lightning-in-flight.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-11T23:25:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-28T18:27:43+00:00\",\"description\":\"The English Electric Lightning climbed like a rocket and once intercepted a U-2 at 88,000 ft \u2014 full history, specs, photos and stories.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/aircraft\\\/english-electric-lightning\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"pt-PT\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/aircraft\\\/english-electric-lightning\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"pt-PT\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/aircraft\\\/english-electric-lightning\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/migflug.com\\/wp-content\\/uploads\\/2026\\/08\\/english-electric-lightning-in-flight.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\/\\/migflug.com\\/wp-content\\/uploads\\/2026\\/08\\/english-electric-lightning-in-flight.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1440,\"caption\":\"Photo: Staff Sgt. 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