Thunder & Lightnings - English Electric Lightning

English Electric Lightning
Survivors

Lightnings have thankfully survived retirement very well, with many airframes preserved throughout the UK (and a few elsewhere). Some are even flying, though not in the UK. The sheer popularity of the Lightning is evident in the number that have ended up in museums - and not only just parked on the nearest bit of grass, but often pampered with nice air-conditioned hangars! Given the importance of the Lightning in beginning Britain's defence exports to the Middle East and its advanced design for its time, it is only fitting that you don't have to travel far to find at least one of these wonderful pieces of aviation history.

The list here is compiled from a number of sources, with particular credit to Wrecks & Relics, Military Aircraft Markings, Lightnings Live On, Demobbed and of course many visitor contributions.

Click on the serial of a survivor entry for further information. Please comment on any individual survivor entry you feel requires an update!

Sadly not all can be saved - XN774 was used for fire crew training duties, ending up as a prop in a crash training scenario at RAF Coningsby before finally being buried under a pile of gravel; Nick Challoner

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
WG768	SB.5	RAF Museum Cosford, Shropshire	17/05/2007

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
WG760	P.1A	RAF Museum Cosford, Shropshire	17/05/2007
WG763	P.1A	Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester	17/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XA847	P.1B	Giles Howell (stored), Stowmarket, Suffolk	18/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XG313	F.1	RSAF, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
XG329	F.1	Ian Hancock, Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton, Norfolk	18/10/2008
XG337	F.1	RAF Museum Cosford, Shropshire	17/05/2007
XM135	F.1	Imperial War Museum, Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire	17/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XM172	F.1A	Lakes Lightnings, Spark Bridge, Cumbria	17/10/2008
XM173	F.1A	MSS Holdings, Kirkham, Lancashire	17/10/2008
XM178	F.1A	Association des Amis du Musee du Chateau, Savigny-Les-Beaune, France
XM192	F.1A	Charles Ross, Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire	17/06/2010

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XN728	F.2A	Privately owned (derelict, extremely poor condition), Balderton, Nottinghamshire	17/06/2010
XN730	F.2A	Luftwaffenmuseum, Gatow, Germany	18/10/2008
XN776	F.2A	Scottish National Museum Of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, Lothian, Scotland	17/10/2008
XN782	F.2A	Luftfahrtausstellung Museum, Hermeskeil, Germany	18/10/2008
XN784	F.2A	PS Aero, Baarlo, Netherlands	18/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XP706	F.3	Scott Clayton, Aeroventure, Lakeside and Leisure Complex, Doncaster, South Yorkshire	18/10/2008
XR713	F.3	111 Squadron (BDRT/mascot), RAF Leuchars, Fife, Scotland	14/09/2002
XR718	F.3	Anthony Harker, Darlington, Durham	03/01/2006
XR749	F.3	Integrated Valve & Gas Turbine Solutions (gate guard), Glenugie Engineering Works, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire	19/10/2008
XR751	F.3	Roy Flood, Venland Manor, St. Clear, Cornwall

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XL629	T.4	MoD Boscombe Down (displayed near gate), Wiltshire	18/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XS416	T.5	Privately owned, Whaley Farm, New York, Lincolnshire	21/01/2009
XS417	T.5	Newark Air Museum, Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire	13/03/2008
XS420	T.5	Lakes Lightnings, Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum (gate guard), Farnborough, Hampshire	17/10/2008
XS422	T.5	Anglo-American Lightning Organisation (restoration to fly), Stennis International Airport, Hancock County, Mississippi, USA	17/10/2008
XS451 (ZU-BEX, ex G-LTNG)	T.5	Classic Jets (crashed), Thunder City, Cape Town, South Africa	14/11/2009
XS456	T.5	Privately owned, Lincolnshire	17/06/2010
XS458	T.5	Russell Carpenter (taxiable), Cranfield, Bedfordshire	12/10/2008
XS459	T.5	Fenland Aviation Museum, Bamber Garden Centre, West Walton Highway, Norfolk	19/10/2008
ZU-BBD (ex XS452)	T.5	Classic Jets (flyer), Thunder City, Cape Town, South Africa	18/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XP693 (ZU-BEY, ex G-FSIX)	F.6	Classic Jets (flyer), Capetown, South Africa	19/10/2008
XR724	F.6	Lightning Association (taxiable?), Binbrook airfield, Lincolnshire	19/10/2008
XR725	F.6	Charles Ross, Chestnut Farm, Binbrook village, Lincolnshire	19/10/2008
XR728	F.6	Lightning Preservation Group (taxiable), Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire	19/10/2008
XR753	F.6	RAF Coningsby (11 Sqn mascot, displayed), Lincolnshire	29/06/2007
XR755	F.6	Ernie Marshall, near Callington, Cornwall	20/02/2006
XR770	F.6	5 Squadron (mascot, displayed), RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire	06/07/2010
XR771	F.6	Midland Air Museum, Coventry Airport, Warwickshire	19/10/2008
XR773 (ZU-BEW, ex G-OPIB)	F.6	Classic Jets (flyer), Capetown, South Africa
XS897	F.6	RAF Coningsby (29 Sqn mascot, displayed), Lincolnshire	06/11/2009
XS903	F.6	Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire	19/10/2008
XS904	F.6	Lightning Preservation Group (taxiable), Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire	12/10/2008
XS919	F.6	Wonderland Pleasure Park (for sale), near Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire	15/09/2009
XS925	F.6	RAF Museum, Hendon, Greater London	19/10/2008
XS928	F.6	BAE Systems, Warton (displayed within the site), Lancashire	17/10/2008
XS929	F.6	RAF Akrotiri (gate guardian), Cyprus	19/10/2008
XS936	F.6	Roy Flood, Castle Air/Castle Motors, on A38 near Liskeard, Cornwall	19/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
52-609 (ex 52-655, XN767)	F.52	Technical Services Institute, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
52-610 (ex 52-656, XN770)	F.52	Saqr al Jazira (RSAF) Museum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	23/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
53-412	F.53	Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait
53-415	F.53	RKAFB Al Jaber (gate guardian), Kuwait
53-416	F.53	RKAFB Al Jaber (gate guardian), Kuwait
53-417	F.53	RKAFB Al Jaber (gate guardian), Kuwait
53-418	F.53	Educational Science Museum, Kuwait City, Kuwait
53-420	F.53	Kuwait Technology Institute, Kuwait
53-421	F.53	Air Museum, Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait
53-422	F.53	RKAFB Ali Al Salem (gate guardian), Kuwait	16/11/2008
53-423	F.53	RKAFB Ali Al Salem (gate guardian), Kuwait	16/11/2008
53-684? ('1303')	F.53	Displayed, Taif, Saudi Arabia	07/02/2009
53-687	F.53	RSAF, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia
53-698	F.53	RSAF Tabuk (gate guardian?), Saudi Arabia	23/10/2008
53-699	F.53	RSAF Tabuk, Saudi Arabia	23/10/2008
'XR753' (really ZF578, ex 53-670)	F.53	Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, Tangmere, West Sussex	19/10/2008
ZF579 (ex 53-671)	F.53	Gatwick Aviation Museum, Charlwood, Surrey	22/04/2007
ZF580 (ex 53-672)	F.53	BAE Systems (gate guard), Samlesbury, Lancashire	17/10/2008
ZF581 (ex 53-675)	F.53	BAE Systems Avionics (gateguard), Rochester, Kent	02/08/2006
ZF583 (ex 53-681)	F.53	Solway Aviation Society, Carlisle Airport, Cumbria	05/05/2003
ZF584 (ex 53-682)	F.53	Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum, South Gyle, Edinburgh, Scotland	01/11/2008
ZF588 (ex 53-693)	F.53	East Midlands Aeropark, East Midlands Airport, Leicestershire	18/10/2008
ZF591 (ex 53-685)	F.53	Location unknown
ZF592 (ex 53-686)	F.53	City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk	21/04/2007
ZF593 (ex 53-692)	F.53	Museum of Aviation, Warner-Robins AFB, Georgia, USA	18/10/2008
ZF594 (ex 53-696)	F.53	North East Aircraft Museum, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
54-607 (ex 54-650, XM989)	T.54	RSAF (displayed), Dhahran Airport, Saudi Arabia
54-608 (ex 54-651, XM992)	T.54	Prince Sultan Air Base (gate guard), Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia	01/11/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
55-410	T.55	RKAFB Ali Al Salem (wreckage, derelict), Kuwait	2001
55-411	T.55	Air Museum, Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait
55-713 (ZF598)	T.55	Midland Air Museum, Coventry Airport, Warwickshire	18/10/2008
55-716	T.55	Saqr al Jazira (RSAF) Museum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	23/10/2008
ZF597 (ex 55-711)	T.55	Olympic Flight Museum, Olympia, Washington, USA	17/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
'XM171'	Simulator	Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (cockpit), Farnborough, Hampshire	20/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XG325	F.1	1476 ATC (cockpit), Rayleigh, Essex	26/05/2003
XG331	F.1	Jet Age Museum (cockpit only, stored), Gloucestershire	19/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XM144	F.1A	Lakes Lightnings, Spark Bridge, Cumbria	17/10/2008
XM169	F.1A	Highlands Aviation Museum, Inverness Airport, Scotland	19/10/2008
XM191	F.1A	Privately owned, North Scarle, Lincolnshire	19/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XN769	F.2	Malta Aviation Museum, Ta' Qali, Malta	18/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XN726	F.2A	Hugh Trevor, Boscombe Down Museum, DERA Boscombe Down, Wiltshire	11/04/2009
XN734	F.2A	Privately owned, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
XN774	F.2A	Darren Swinn (cockpit only), Boston, Lincolnshire
XN795	F.2A	Nigel Towler, Cockpit Collection, Rayleigh, Essex

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
N/A (simulator)	F.3	1268 ATC, Haslemere, Surrey
XP701	F.3	Robertsbridge Aviation Society, Mayfield, East Sussex	18/10/2008
XP703	F.3	City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk	19/10/2008
XP743	F.3	351 Squadron ATC, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire	19/10/2008
XP745	F.3	Vanguard Haulage (undergoing restoration for display at The Lightning pub next door), Greenford, Greater London
XP757	F.3	Martyn Steele (cockpit only), Stamford, Lincolnshire	25/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XS421	T.5	Nigel Towler, Cockpit Collection, Rayleigh, Essex
XS457	T.5	Lincair, Binbrook, Lincolnshire	19/10/2008
XV328	T.5	Phoenix Aviation, Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, Leicestershire	12/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XR726	F.6	Privately owned, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
XR747	F.6	Privately owned, Cubert, Newquay, Devon	12/10/2004
XR754	F.6	Aeroventure, Lakeside and Leisure Complex, Doncaster, South Yorkshire	19/10/2008
XR757	F.6	Privately owned, RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire	18/10/2008
XR759	F.6	Andrew Exton, Haxey, Gainsborough, Humberside	28/07/2003
XS898	F.6	Tony Collins, Lavendon, Buckinghamshire	19/10/2008
XS899	F.6	City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk	21/04/2007
XS922	F.6	Lakes Lightnings (cockpit only), Spark Bridge, Cumbria	16/03/2006
XS923	F.6	Sue & Roy Gorman, Welshpool, Powys, Wales
XS932	F.6	Richard Scarborough, Walcott, Lincolnshire	06/04/2009
XS933	F.6	Hadyn Block, Terrington Aviation Collection, Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
ZF577 (ex 53-668)	F.53	Pinewood Film Studios (nose only?), Buckinghamshire	19/10/2008
ZF582 (ex 53-676)	F.53	Bournemouth Aviation Museum, Hurn, Dorset	01/11/2008
ZF586 (ex 53-688)	F.53	Pinewood Film Studios (nose only?), Buckinghamshire	19/10/2008
ZF587 (53-691)	F.53	Mike Coleman, Lashenden Air Warfare Museum, Headcorn, Kent	07/05/2004
ZF587 (ex 53-691)	F.53	Giles Howell (fuselage), Suffolk
ZF590 (ex 53-679)	F.53	Lincair (fuselage), Binbrook, Lincolnshire	19/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
ZF595 (ex 55-714)	T.55	Anglo-American Lightning Organisation (nose, spares use), Stennis International Airport, Hancock County, Mississippi, USA	19/10/2008
ZF595 (ex 55-714)	T.55	Lincair (fuselage, stored), Binbrook, Lincolnshire	19/10/2008
ZF596 (ex 55-715)	T.55	Anglo American Lightning Organisation (fuselage - stored, spares use), Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, Leicestershire	19/10/2008
ZF596 (ex 55-715)	T.55	BAE Northwest Heritage Group, BAE Systems Warton (nose, stored), Lancashire	19/10/2008

Variant P.1A P.1B F.1 F.1A F.2/F.52 F.2A F.3 F.3A T.4/T.54 T.5 F.6 F.53 T.55

First flight 4 Aug 1954 4 Apr 1957 29 Oct 1959 16 Aug 1960 11 Jul 1961 24 Sep 1965 16 June 1962 17 Apr 1964 6 May 1959 29 Mar 1962 16 Jun 1965 1 Nov 1966 3 Nov 1966

Crew One Two One Two

Armament None Two 30mm cannon Two 30mm cannon plus two Firestreak AAMs or two retractable 22 in unguided rocket packs As F.1 less rocket pack Two 30mm cannon plus two Firestreak AAMs or four 30mm cannon As F.2 plus two Red Top AAMs instead of Firestreaks, no cannon As F.2 less cannon As F.3 As F.3 plus two 30mm cannon As F.6 plus bombs, rocket pods and other stores on above- and below-wing pylons As F.53 less cannon

Powerplant Two 7,500 lb Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire SA5 (later two 9,200 lb SA5R with reheat) As F.1, later as F.1A Two 14,430 lb (reheat) Rolls-Royce Avon 200R Two 14,430 lb (reheat) Rolls-Royce Avon 210R As F.1A Two Rolls-Royce Avon 211R Two 12,690 lb (16,360 lb reheat) Rolls-Royce Avon 301R As F.3 As F.2 As F.3 Two Rolls-Royce Avon 302C

Max. speed 1,011 mph (Mach 1.53 at 36,000 ft) 1,390 mph (Mach 2.1 at 40,000 ft) Varies slightly with Mark and load; approx. 1,500 mph (Mach 2.27 at 40,000 ft)

Service ceiling 60,000 ft plus

Range 800 m without overwing tanks

Empty weight 22,221 lb 24,816 lb 25,753 lb 25,737 lb 27,000 lb 26,906 lb 28,041 lb As F.2 As F.3A Similar to F.6

Max. take off weight 27,077 lb 34,140 lb ? 41,700 lb ? As F.3A Similar to F.6

Wing span 34 ft 10 in

Wing area 485.5 sq ft 474.5 sq ft As F.1 As F.3A

Length 49 ft 8 in 55 ft 3 in

Height 17 ft 3 in 19 ft 5 in 19 ft 7 in

Production (total 345) 3 3 42* 29* 44 (6 of which converted to F.52) 31 (all F.2 conversions) 71 (10 F.1 conversions) 17 (1 F.3 conversion) 21 (2 of which converted to T.54) 24 (2 T.4 conversions) 63 (8 F.3 and 5 F.3A conversions) 47 (1 F.3 conversion) 9 (1 T.5 conversion)

* The 42 F.1s included 20 pre-production development batch aircraft plus 3 static test airframes; the 29 F.1As included a single static test airframe.

Externally the various variants are quite easily distinguished; there are a number of points to look for. The tip of the tail had two main styles; rounded and squared off (the latter being a larger fin altogether). The belly tank also came in two flavours, small with a single strake and much larger with two strakes. The cannon ports could be found in the nose (usually on top, but sometimes with additional ones below) or in the forward part of the larger belly tank. Early marks lacked the cable ducts running along the sides of the lower fuselage, these beginning with the F.1A variant and extending further forward on the F.3 onwards. A small dorsal scoop could be found about midway along the upper fuselage spine on the F.2 onwards.

The table below simplifies matters somewhat, but there were several aircraft that differed in detail (e.g. some had cannon ports faired over when used as targets, F.6s were initially lacking cannon and so on). Also, P.1A WG760 trialled the kinked wing at one time and some development batch P1.Bs/F.1s trialled the large squared fin.

Feature	Radar bullet	Tail	Belly tank	Cannon	Cable ducts	Dorsal scoop	Kinked wing
P.1A	No	Rounded	None/Small	None	None	No	No
P.1B	Yes	Rounded	None/Small	None	None	No	No
F.1	Yes	Rounded	Small	Nose	None	No	No
F.1A	Yes	Rounded	Small	Nose	Short	No	No
F.2	Yes	Rounded	Small	Nose	Short	Yes	No
F.2A	Yes	Squared	Large	Nose	Short	Yes	Yes
F.3	Yes	Squared	Small	None	Long	Yes	No
F.3A	Yes	Squared	Large	None	Long	Yes	Yes
T.4	Yes	Rounded	Small	None	Short	No	No
T.5	Yes	Squared	Small	None	Long	Yes	No
F.6	Yes	Squared	Large	Belly tank	Long	Yes	Yes
F.53	Yes	Squared	Large	Belly tank	Long	Yes	Yes
T.55	Yes	Squared	Large	None	Long	Yes	Yes

Variant	P.1A	P.1B	F.1	F.1A	F.2/F.52	F.2A	F.3	F.3A	T.4/T.54	T.5	F.6	F.53	T.55
First flight	4 Aug 1954	4 Apr 1957	29 Oct 1959	16 Aug 1960	11 Jul 1961	24 Sep 1965	16 June 1962	17 Apr 1964	6 May 1959	29 Mar 1962	16 Jun 1965	1 Nov 1966	3 Nov 1966
Crew	One								Two		One		Two
Armament	None	Two 30mm cannon	Two 30mm cannon plus two Firestreak AAMs or two retractable 22 in unguided rocket packs		As F.1 less rocket pack	Two 30mm cannon plus two Firestreak AAMs or four 30mm cannon	As F.2 plus two Red Top AAMs instead of Firestreaks, no cannon		As F.2 less cannon	As F.3	As F.3 plus two 30mm cannon	As F.6 plus bombs, rocket pods and other stores on above- and below-wing pylons	As F.53 less cannon
Powerplant	Two 7,500 lb Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire SA5 (later two 9,200 lb SA5R with reheat)	As F.1, later as F.1A	Two 14,430 lb (reheat) Rolls-Royce Avon 200R	Two 14,430 lb (reheat) Rolls-Royce Avon 210R	As F.1A	Two Rolls-Royce Avon 211R	Two 12,690 lb (16,360 lb reheat) Rolls-Royce Avon 301R	As F.3	As F.2	As F.3		Two Rolls-Royce Avon 302C
Max. speed	1,011 mph (Mach 1.53 at 36,000 ft)	1,390 mph (Mach 2.1 at 40,000 ft)	Varies slightly with Mark and load; approx. 1,500 mph (Mach 2.27 at 40,000 ft)
Service ceiling	60,000 ft plus
Range	800 m without overwing tanks
Empty weight	22,221 lb	24,816 lb	25,753 lb	25,737 lb	27,000 lb		26,906 lb	28,041 lb	As F.2		As F.3A	Similar to F.6
Max. take off weight	27,077 lb	34,140 lb	?					41,700 lb	?		As F.3A	Similar to F.6
Wing span	34 ft 10 in
Wing area	485.5 sq ft							474.5 sq ft	As F.1		As F.3A
Length	49 ft 8 in	55 ft 3 in
Height	17 ft 3 in	19 ft 5 in	19 ft 7 in
Production (total 345)	3	3	42*	29*	44 (6 of which converted to F.52)	31 (all F.2 conversions)	71 (10 F.1 conversions)	17 (1 F.3 conversion)	21 (2 of which converted to T.54)	24 (2 T.4 conversions)	63 (8 F.3 and 5 F.3A conversions)	47 (1 F.3 conversion)	9 (1 T.5 conversion)