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The English Electric Lightning !! (More images added)

Warbirds, Replicas and Nostalgic photos in here please.
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bigcrow
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The English Electric Lightning !! (More images added)

Post by bigcrow » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:43 am

A few Lightning's to brighten up your weekend..

#1 XP695 belonging to 11 Squadron shot at RAF Greenham Common July 1976

ImageXP695/O Lightning F3 11 Squadron, RAF Binbrook. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#2 XP693 at RAF Wattisham belonging to BAE Warton in 56 Squadron markings for there anniversary. This eventually ended up in South Africa.

ImageXP693 Lightning F6 BAE Warton by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#3 XS458 belonging to the Lightning Training Flight caught returning to RAF Binbrook April 1986

ImageXS458\DY Lightning T5 LTF, RAF Binbrook. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#4 Here is XS458 as she currently looks owned by Russel Carpenter at Cranfield.

ImageXS458/T Lightning T5 T5 Projects, Cranfield by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#5 The other side of XS458

ImageXS458/T Lightning T5 T5 Projects, Cranfield by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#6 XS897 shot at RAF Lakenheath August 1975 belonging to 56 Squadron at RAF Wattisham

ImageXS897/S Lightning F6 56 Squadron 'Firebirds', RAF Wattisham. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#7 11 years later XS897 was with 5 Squadron shot at RAF Binbrook, August 1986 with non-standard roundel, currently at AeroVenture-South Yorkshire Aviation Museum.

ImageXS897/AC Lightning F6 5 Squadron, RAF Binbrook by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#8 XS904 Belonging to 11 Squadron, then went on to become a trials aircraft with BAE Warton. It was finally delivered to the Lightning Preservation Group, Bruntingthorpe, Leics, in January 1993, Where its still current in taxiing condition.

ImageXS904/BM Lightning F6 11 Squadron, RAF Binbrook. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr
Last edited by bigcrow on Mon Feb 16, 2015 4:38 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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Dan214sqn
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !!

Post by Dan214sqn » Fri Feb 13, 2015 12:30 pm

more please :clap:

tigercat
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !!

Post by tigercat » Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:01 pm

The first Lightning shot is XP695!
From the UK, where the Typhoon reigns supreme.

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Mike
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !!

Post by Mike » Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:24 pm

tigercat wrote:The first Lightning shot is XP695!
You're correct, this was at the '76 IAT at Greenham.

Wonderful shots as always, Stu. :thumb:
This season, I'll be mostly wearing........A THONG!

bigcrow
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !!

Post by bigcrow » Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:48 pm

Thanks for the correction guys, should of known it was not XP693 seeing as it spent all it's life as a trials aircraft..

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Richard B
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !!

Post by Richard B » Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:52 pm

Top class images from those bygone days, film really did capture the ful tonal range of a shot. :thumb:

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Jazz
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !!

Post by Jazz » Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:17 pm

A good reminder to try and get down to Cranfield this year. Electric shots :thumb:
Dieu et mon droit. In hoc signo vinces

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paddyboy
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !!

Post by paddyboy » Fri Feb 13, 2015 4:35 pm

:Wow: :Wow: :Wow:

My all-time fave plane :O

Takes me back to my beloved Colt, with 74 Sdrn and 226 OCU :(

Thanks for posting ;)

I need a dark room NOW :lol:

Cheers

Paddyboy :clap:
XH558, always the first lady in my life
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MKR
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !!

Post by MKR » Fri Feb 13, 2015 7:27 pm

Very nice set Stuart , by the way XS897 is currently at Coningsby painted up as XP765 and fitted with a small ventral tank .
Thanks for posting .
Mike

CookyBoy
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !!

Post by CookyBoy » Fri Feb 13, 2015 10:54 pm

Lovely stuart,
What scanner, program did you use for these please.

Thanks Steve

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LTFT5
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !!

Post by LTFT5 » Sat Feb 14, 2015 8:22 am

These wonderful shots have made my day. :thumbs:
Such an iconic plane that thankfully escaped being cancelled when the then Defence Minister, Duncan Sandys, stated in the 1957 Defence White Paper
that the era of manned combat was at an end and ballistic missiles were the weapons of the future.


Also the post has made me realise how retro I have become, constantly looking at old aircraft shots rather than new.

I love seeing the F53, T5, F3 and F6 but still believe the lightning could have been further and aggressively developed for the export market against the Starfighter.

Great images Stuart of a true classic.
Andy
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”

bigcrow
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !!

Post by bigcrow » Mon Feb 16, 2015 4:28 pm

Cheers guys here are a few more... :thumb:

#9 XR716 belonging to 5 Squadron caught landing art RAF Binbrook April 1986.

ImageXR716\DE Lightning F3 5 Squadron, RAF Binbrook. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#10 XR724 belonging to 5 Squadron landing at Binbrook April 1986. It was purchased by the Lightning Association and flown to Binbrook on 23rd July 1992, where it still resides today I believe?

ImageXR724/AE Lightning F6 5 Squadron, RAF Binbrook. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#11 XS928 Belonging to BAE Warton where it is now preserved.

ImageXS928 Lightning F6 BAE, Warton. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#12 XP737 Belonging to 226 Operational Conversion Unit based at RAF Coltishall

ImageXP737 Lightning F3 226 Operational Conversion Unit, RAF Coltishall. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#13 XR751 Belonging to 5 Squadron, ended up on Binbrook's dump

ImageXR751\R Lightning F3 5 Squadron, RAF Binbrook by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#14 XM192 Belonging to Wattisham Target Facilities Flt. Spent a time as Wattisham's gate guard. Now preserved at Tattershal Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre, Lincs.

ImageXM192 Lightning F1A Wattisham Target Facilities Flight. RAF Wattisham. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#15 XR753 belonging to the CO of 23 Squadron. Now preserved at RAF Coningsby in 11 Squadron markings.

ImageXR753\A Lightning F6 23 Squadron. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

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andrewn
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !! (More images added)

Post by andrewn » Mon Feb 16, 2015 5:06 pm

Beautiful pics, thanks for sharing.

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The Phantom
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !! (More images added)

Post by The Phantom » Mon Feb 16, 2015 6:34 pm

Cracking set :thumbs:

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JONLITE06
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !! (More images added)

Post by JONLITE06 » Mon Feb 16, 2015 7:51 pm

Fantastic Pics!!! :thumb:

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Gary West
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !!

Post by Gary West » Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:40 pm

bigcrow wrote:#12 XP737 Belonging to 226 Operational Conversion Unit based at RAF Coltishall

ImageXP737 Lightning F3 226 Operational Conversion Unit, RAF Coltishall. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

wow thats stunning, complete with Mk2 bone dome

TS010
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !! (More images added)

Post by TS010 » Tue Feb 17, 2015 12:58 pm

XS928 with the ASF zap on the fin applied by me. :halo:

Grifter
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Re: The English Electric Lightning !! (More images added)

Post by Grifter » Tue Feb 17, 2015 5:19 pm

I love these threads! Thanks for posting!


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