English Electric Lightning - Survivor 54-608 (ex 54-651, XM992)
T.54 54-608 - Prince Sultan Air Base (gate guard), Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia
Lightning T.54 54-608 at Al Kharj, 25th February 2004; Brian Mouat
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, last updated by Damien |
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