English Electric Lightning - Survivor XP701

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F.3 XP701 - Robertsbridge Aviation Society, Mayfield, East Sussex

Lightning F.3 XP701 at Robertsbridge, 29th September 2013; Richard E Flagg

First flown on 14th September 1963, XP701 spent some time with BAC and the A&AEE on trials work and so did not enter RAF service until 1967, when she joined 29 Squadron. She later served with 111, 29 again, 56 and 11 Squadrons, ending her career with 5 Squadron at Binbrook and then being retired to decoy use. Her history after disposal is a little unclear but apparently she ended up in a scrap yard, and the Robertsbridge Aviation Society was informed that she still existed and so they went along and saved the nose section. When Garry visited in 2007 he was told that she is due to receive a new coat of paint in the near future - alas, more than 6 years later it would appear that precisely nothing has been done and the condition of this nose section continues to deteriorate - there is even vegetation growing inside the cockpit. At least the grass underneath the aircraft has been cut in the intervening years! The Robertsbridge Aviation Society website has a link to an XP701 photo gallery.

Information on this page current as of 13/10/2013, last updated by Damien

Find other photos of XP701 on the following sites:

Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net

David Harvey from East Sussex	Posted at 8:17pm on Tuesday, October 4th, 2011
I would like to put together a simple collection of on-line photos of XP701 along with a history. This is of course on a non-profit making basis on behalf of the Robertsbridge Aviation Society who currently have the nose section. I would welcome any submissions for which full credit would of course be given.
Nick Hagley from Bexhill on Sea	Posted at 2:06pm on Monday, April 12th, 2010
Can any one supply any pictures of her in service or after she was retired, also are there any Pilots out ther who remember flying her,please get in touch Regards NIck.
Frank Barnett-Jones from Nottingham	Posted at 5:09pm on Friday, July 10th, 2009
Lightning F3 XP701. When it was retired from flying it was taken from Binbrook by USA military helicopter to Hawkinge. (I have a photograph of the helicopter lifting the Lightning at Binbrook). To help, it was stripped down of all non-essential equipment before it was delivered to the Kent Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge. In time I believe the museum no longer wanted a modern day fighter amongst the WW II equipment that it had. After a short period it was disposed of to a scrap yard and that is where... read more »read more »

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