English Electric Lightning - Survivor XN782

First flown on 20th December 1962, in common with many F.2s she served with 19 Squadron RAFG, was returned to Warton in 1963 for conversion to F.2A and then went back to service with 19 Squadron until 1977, when she was flown to Wildenrath on 5th April for retirement as an airfield decoy. When put up for disposal she moved to the Luftfahrtausstellung Museum at Hermeskeil, which is also home to a few other ex-RAF Germany aircraft. XN782 is the subject of an ongoing conservation effort there; for instance, they have previously removed the belly tank in order to stop any corrosion and seal the area before putting it back in place. Unfortunately, the canopy perspex has clouded over and the paint had begun to fade to a brownish hue - with most of the exhibits at Hermeskeil out in the open like this, it's hardly surprising, although has happily had a repaint a few years ago.

Unusually she wears an F.6 belly tank complete with cannons - this was not a fit the F.2A carried in service.

Information on this page current as of 08/06/2023, last updated by Jake

Find other photos of XN782 on the following sites:

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