EE Lightning Serial Help

[Steven]

Hi all,

I'm currently compiling a list of information on the RAF's EE Lightning fleet. I would like to know how the Lightning serials progress. I was born in 1992 so I don't have first hand experience. What I'm looking for is: for example the Typhoon production fleet starts at ZJ800 to ZJ815, ZJ910 to ZJ950, ZK300-onwards. I've seen that the Lightning fleet begins at XM134 and I'm hoping the FC community will give me the list in order. I don't want the entire list just where the serial begins and ends. For example XM134 - Lightning F.1 to XM168 - Lightning F.1A - XM169 and so on until the T.55.

Thanks so much in advance.

Steven.

[Vulcanone]

Steven,

Not a problem, all those years sat out at Crash Gate 3 as a youngster freezing my (insert suitable word here) at the other Fighter town, mean I can certainly help..

And I was looking at Roger Lindsay book only last night.

Will send you a pm ( Complete list sent )

Tim S

[Northolt Nobbler]

Or why not look at the rather groovy UK Serials website - http://www.ukserials.com/

[Steven]

Northolt: I'm getting most of my information from ukserials...what I was asking for was the sequence in which the serials progress from XM to XN etc.

Steven.

[POL]

A quick 5 minutes searching on UK Serials finds:

XG307-XG337 F.1 conversions to F.1/3 and F.3
XL628-XL629 T.4
XM134-XM168 F.1
XM169-XM218 F.1A
XN103-XN112 T.4 ntu
XN723-XN803 F.2, conversions to F.2A, F.3 and F.3a, 798-803 ntu
XP693-XP765 F.3, conversions to F.6
XR711-XR751 F.3, conversions to F.6
XR752-XR773 F.6
XS416-XS459 T.5
XS460-XS460 T.55
XS893-XS938 F.6
XV328-XV329 T.5
ZF577-ZF598 T.55

[Doughnut]

In the good old days before mobile phones, computors and the interweb we used books, we even had libraries where poor people who could not afford to buy books could borrow them.

But to be serious try reading one of the many Lightning books most of which list serials. An excellent and cheap option is to find copy of Roger Lindsay's Aircraft Illustrated Special which details all Lightning serials and C/N including their first flight, all squadrons and loss or disposal up until 1989. I can scan and email if required

[Ghastly Whisper]

XS416-XS459 T.5

XS416-423 T5

XS449-459 T5

[Thunderbird167]

ZF577-ZF598 T.55

Only ZF595-ZF598 are T.55
ZF577-ZF594 were F.53

[tm74sqn]

Only about 20 F.1s produced: XM134 to 147, XM163 to 167. Structural test airframe was allocated XM168, but doubt if it ever wore that.
F.1A XM169 to 192, XM213 to 216. XM217 and 218 never completed?

Best web site for production and other details that I've found is:-
http://www.lightning.org.uk/histories.html

Hope that helps,
TM74

[buzzer]

Not sure if you want to include the P.1B aswell?? But they were,
3 prototypes XA847,XA858 & XA856.
Plus 20 Development aircraft. XG307-XG313 and XG325-XG333.

[Steven]

Thanks a lot to all.

Steven.

[tm74sqn]

Not sure if you want to include the P.1B aswell?? But they were,
3 prototypes XA847,XA858 & XA856.
Plus 20 Development aircraft. XG307-XG313 and XG325-XG333.

Not XA858 - should be XA853 - according to the web site I qouted a couple of days ago.
Cheers, TM74

[rh226]

Steve,

Have a look at http://www.lightning.org.uk/. I think that they have done virtually all the work for you.

It includes the P.1s and all the Saudis and Kuwaitis.

Cheers

Bob

[buzzer]

Not sure if you want to include the P.1B aswell?? But they were,
3 prototypes XA847,XA858 & XA856.
Plus 20 Development aircraft. XG307-XG313 and XG325-XG333.

Not XA858 - should be XA853 - according to the web site I qouted a couple of days ago.
Cheers, TM74

Yes sorry. Fat fingers

[tm74sqn]

Steve,

Have a look at http://www.lightning.org.uk/. I think that they have done virtually all the work for you.

It includes the P.1s and all the Saudis and Kuwaitis.

Cheers

Bob

Yes, I'd pointed out that web site in my contribution the previous day - so old news!
Always worth reading what has gone before . . . .
Cheers, TM74

[rh226]

Didn't notice the link. Must read topic more thoroughly.

[buzzer]

Were the export aircraft given UK Serials like the Typhoons?

They definitely were when they were returned back to BAE. ( taken back in part ex for new Tornados /Tyhoons!!)