Thunder & Lightnings - English Electric Lightning - Survivor 54-608 (ex 54-651, XM992)

English Electric Lightning
Survivor 54-608 (ex 54-651, XM992)
Prince Sultan Air Base (gate guard), Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia

Well this one's a bit of an oddity... the fuselage is clearly that of a T.54, as it has short cable ducts and rounded fin, but it is fitted with most of the belly tank from a T.55, and appears to also have the kinked and cambered wings of a T.55 as well. As there were only two T.54s delivered to the RSAF, and the other one (54-650) is on display at Dharan, I assume this is the other - 54-608. If this is indeed 54-608, she was originally built as a T.4 for the RAF as XM992, first flown on 13th December 1961 and served with 111 Squadron. Bought back by BAC and converted to a T.54, she was delivered to the RSAF as 54-651 in June 1966 and later renumbered as 54-608. She was badly damaged in a starter fire in 1970. Any additional information welcome!

Information on this page current as of 01/11/2008

Find other photos of 54-608 on the following sites:

Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - IrishAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net - Vertical Reality

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