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EspañolENGLISH ELECTRIC LIGHTNING
The 'English Electric Lightning' (later the 'BAC Lightning') was a supersonic fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, particularly remembered for its great speed and natural metal exterior. It was the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. Greatly renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor, RAF pilots described it as "being saddled to a skyrocket" Winchester 2006, p. 82..
The Lightning was used throughout much of its service life by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force. The aircraft was a stunning performer at airshows; it broke the world air-speed record and was the first aircraft capable of supercruise. The Lightning was also one of the highest performance planes ever used in formation aerobatics.
In July 2006, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was officially named "Lightning II" to distinguish it from English Electric Lightning and the Lockheed P-38 Lightning.
Design and development
The first two Lightning prototypes
The prototype, known as the English Electric 'P1', was built to satisfy the British Air Ministry's 1947 specification F23/49 and flew for the first time from RAF Boscombe Down on 4 August 1954. This specification followed the cancellation of the Air Ministry's 1942 E.24/43 supersonic research aircraft specification which had resulted in the Miles M.52. The Lightning shared a number of innovations first planned for the Miles M.52 including the shock cone and all-flying tailplane, the latter described by Chuck Yeager as the single most significant contribution to the final success of supersonic flight.
The P1's designer was W.E.W. Petter, formerly chief designer at Westland Aircraft. The design was controversial and the Short SB5 was built to test wing sweep and tailplane combinations. The original combination was proved correct. The forerunner of the Lightning series was the P1A and PIB flying "proof-of-concept" aircraft. Looking very much like the production series, the prototypes were distinguished by the rounded-triangular intakes, short fins and lack of radar or operational equipment Winchester 2006, p. 82..
On 25 November 1958, the P1B became the first British aircraft to fly at Mach 2 Winchester 2006, p. 82..
The Lightning was specifically designed as a point defence interceptor - essentially a guided missile-armed, air superiority fighter optimised to defend mainland Britain against bomber attacks. In order to reduce cross sectional area of the fuselage and improve performance, the fuel capacity was highly restricted. It was armed with two 30 mm ADEN cannons and two air-to-air missiles, at first the de Havilland Firestreak and later the Hawker Siddeley Red Top.
A unique way of minimising the drag of the twin engine installation was put forward by Petter. This involved stacking the engines vertically (staggered to avoid too much weight aft, with the lower engine forward of the upper), effectively tucking them behind the cockpit, fed from the nose and achieving minimum frontal area. This effectively gave twice the thrust of its contemporaries for an increase in frontal area of only 50%. The Ferranti AI23 AIRPASS: Airborne Interception Radar and Pilot Attack Sight System was mounted in the shock cone.
Limitations of fuel capacity dominated this aircraft's design as its fuselage was nearly all engines and ducting, and thus could not hold much fuel. Hence all available room was adapted to the purpose of holding fuel. The flaps were even used as fuel tanks, and the landing gear had very narrow tyres that retracted outward so that there could be greater tankage inboard. This also meant that when the addition of drop tanks for greater range was considered, they could not be placed beneath the wing and were mounted on top instead. When the aerodynamic principle of the area rule became standard practice, a ventral tank was added to the fuselage so the aircraft could carry more fuel while being more aerodynamic.
Operational history
.JPG)
English Electric Lightning of the Saudi Air Force
During the 1960s, as strategic awareness increased and a multitude of alternative fighter designs were developed by Warsaw Pact and NATO members, the Lightning's shortcomings in terms of range and firepower became increasingly apparent. The withdrawal of McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms from Royal Navy service enabled these slower but much longer-ranged aircraft to be added to the RAFs interceptor force alongside those withdrawn from Germany which were being replaced by SEPECAT Jaguars in the ground attack role. Later the Tornado F3s also arrived to defend UK airspace. While slower and less agile than the Lightning, the Tornado carries a much larger armament load and much more advanced avionics. Lightnings were slowly phased out of service between 1974 and 1988, although much testing and modification was needed to keep them in air-worthy condition due to the high number of flight hours accumulated.
The English Electric Lightning is credited with a single kill, ironically a British aircraft- a Harrier pilot ejected, but the pilotless aircraft continued to fly. The order was given to shoot down the aircraft and the Lightning achieved this successfully.[1]
In their final years of UK service, all RAF Lightnings were based at RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire and many were camouflaged to make them less conspicuous when flying at low level. They tended to defend the Flamborough Head Sector of airspace above the North Sea. These later aircraft were the single-seater F3 and F6 and the twin seat trainer variant T5, all constructed by British Aircraft Corporation and distinguished from earlier versions by their flat topped fins. In their last year of service their pilots regularly pushed the aircraft to their limits as they used up the remaining hours of fatigue time.
Many Lightnings are conserved in museum collections where they delight visitors with their clean sleek lines, evocative of the high speeds that they once attained. The Short SB5 and a P1A are at the RAF Museum, Cosford. The Civil Aviation Authority refused a licence for the surviving airworthy examples to perform at air shows in the UK but there are a few flying in South Africa (see Operators below).
Performance comparison
Lightning XM215 at Farnborough Air Show, England, in 1964
The Lightning’s speed and climb performance were excellent not just by 1950s or 1960s standards but even compared with modern operational fighters. Its initial rate of climb was 50,000 ft per minute (15 km/min). The Mirage IIIE climbed initially at 30,000 ft/min (9 km/min), the MiG-21 managed 36,090 ft/min (11 km/min), and the Tornado F3 43,000 ft/min (13 km/min).
The official ceiling was a secret to the general public and low security RAF documents simply stated 60,000+ ft (18 000+ m), although it was well known within the RAF to be capable of much greater heights; the official maximum altitude mainly being determined by cockpit pressurisation reliability and safety. Recently the actual performance ceiling has been made public by the late Brian Carroll, a former RAF Lightning pilot and ex-Lightning Chief Examiner, who reports taking a Lightning F53 up to 87,300 feet (26 600 m) at which level "Earth curvature was visible and the sky was quite dark".
In 1984, during a major NATO exercise, Flt Lt Mike Hale intercepted an American U-2 at a height which they had previously considered safe from interception. Records show that Hale climbed to 88,000 ft (26,800 m) in his Lightning F3. Hale also participated in time-to-height and acceleration trials against F-104 Starfighters from Aalborg. He reports that the Lightnings won all races easily with the exception of the low level supersonic acceleration, which was a "dead heat".[2]
Carroll reports in a side-by-side comparison of the Lightning and the F-15C Eagle (which he also flew) that "acceleration in both was impressive, you have all seen the Lightning leap away once brakes are released, the Eagle was almost as good, and climb speed was rapidly achieved. Takeoff roll is between 2,000 & 3,000 feet [600 to 900m], depending upon military or maximum afterburner-powered takeoff. The Lightning was quicker off the ground, reaching 50 feet [15m] height in a horizontal distance of 1,630 feet [500m]".
In British Airways trials in April 1985, Concorde was offered as a target to NATO fighters including F-15s, F-16s, F-14s, Mirages, F-104s - but only Lightning ''XR749'', flown by Mike Hale and described by him as "a very hot ship, even for a Lightning", managed to overtake Concorde on a stern conversion intercept.[3]
Despite its remarkable acceleration, altitude and top speed, the Lightning inevitably found itself outclassed by newer fighters in terms of range, radar, avionics, weapons load and air-to-air capability. The short range of the Lightning - just 900 miles - was a significant disadvantage.
Variants
Lightning landing, 1964
Lightning XM974 at Farnborough Airshow, England, in 1964
Lightning F Mk6
;P1A
★ Single-seat supersonic research aircraft.
★ Two prototypes built and one static test airframe
;P1B
★ Single-seat operational prototypes.
★ Three prototypes built
★ 20 pre-production aircraft (so-called Development Batch)[4]
;F1
★ Single-seat fighter
★ Delivered in 1960
★ A total of 19 built (and one static test airframe)
★ Two × Rolls-Royce Avon 200R engines
★ VHF Radio
★ Two × 30 mm ADEN cannons in nose
★ Two × Firestreak missiles
★ Ferranti AI-23 "AIRPASS" radar
;F1A
★ Single-seat fighter
★ Delivered in 1961
★ Now the "BAC Lightning"
★ Avon 210R engines
★ Addition of in-flight refuelling probe
★ UHF Radio
★ A total of 28 built
;F2
★ Single-seat fighter (an improved variant of the F1)
★ Delivered in 1962
★ A total of 44 built with 31 later modified to F2A standard
★ Five later modified to F52 for export to Saudia Arabia
;F2A
★ Single-seat fighter (F2s upgraded to near F6 standard)
★ A total of 31 converted from F2
★ Avon 211R engines
★ Retained ADEN cannon and Firestreak of F2 (The Firestreak Pack could be replaced with an Aden Cannon Pack to give the aircraft four Aden Cannon)
★ Larger Ventral Tank and Arrester Hook
★ About two hours endurance
;F3
★ Single-seat fighter
★ Upgraded radar - AI-23B
★ Avon 301R engines
★ Clipped tailfin
★ Firestreak changed for Red Top missiles
★ ADEN cannon removed
★ A total of 70 built (at least nine were converted to F6 standard)
;F3A
★ Single-seat fighter
★ Extended range, 800 miles with large ventral tank
★ New cambered wings
★ A total of 16 built at the end of F3 production, known also as an F3 Interim version or F6 Interim Version
★ 15 modified later to full F6 standard[4]
;T4
★ Two-seat side-by-side training version, based on the F1A.
★ Two prototypes and 20 production built
★ Two aircraft later converted to T5 prototypes
★ Two aircraft later converted to T54
;T5
★ Two-seat side-by-side training version, based on the F3.
★ 22 production aircraft built
★ One former RAF aircraft later converted to T55 for Saudia Arabia (crashed before delivery)
★ Two former RAF aircraft later civilian operated
;F6
★ Single-seat fighter (an improved longer-range variant of the F3)
★ New wings with better efficiency and subsonic performance, increased fuel storage
★ Overwing fuel tanks and larger ventral fuel tank
★ Change back to 30 mm cannons (initially no cannons but later in the forward part of ventral pack rather than in nose).
★ Two x Red Top missile
★ A total of 39 built (also 9 converted from F3 and 15 from F3A)
;F52
★ Slightly modified ex-RAF F2 single-seat fighters for export to Saudi Arabia (five converted from F2).
;F53
★ Export version of the F6 with pylons for bombs or unguided rocket pods (44 × 2 in (50 mm)
★ A total of 46 built and one converted from F6 (12 'F53K's for the Kuwaiti Air Force, 34 'F53's for the Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force, one aircraft crashed before delivery)
★ Used air-to-ground in dispute near border with South Yemen in 1969 with great success
;T54
★ Ex-RAF T4 two-seat trainers supplied to Saudi Arabia (two converted).
;T55
★ Two-seat side-by-side training aircraft (export version of the T5).
★ Eight built (six 'T55's for the Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force, two 'T.55K's for the Kuwaiti Air Force and one converted from T5 that crashed before delivery)
Total production was 277 single-seat fighters and 52 two-seater trainers, including RAF and export aircraft.
Popular culture
★ British journalist and TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson borrowed a Lightning (serial XM172) which was temporarily placed in his garden and documented on Clarkson's TV show "Speed".
★ Fuselages from scrapped Lightnings were used in the sci-fi movie ''Wing Commander''. These were the basis for a space fighter called the CF-117b Rapier.
Operators
Military operators
Preserved Lightning at East Fortune
;
★ Kuwait Air Force operated both the F53K single-seat fighter and the T55K training version from 1968 to 1977
;
★ Royal Saudi Air Force operated the Lightning from 1967 to 1986
★
★ 'RSAF Squadrons'
★
★
★ 2 Squadron operated the F53 and T55
★
★
★ 6 Squadron operated the F52 and F53
★
★
★ 13 Squadron operated the F52, F53 and T55
★
★
★ RSAF Lightning Conversion Unit
;
★ Royal Air Force operated the Lighting from 1959 to 1988.
★
★ 'RAF Aerial display teams'
★
★
★ ''The Tigers'' of No 74 Squadron. Lead RAF aerial display team from 1962 and first display team with Mach 2 aircraft.
★
★
★ ''The Firebirds'' of No 56 Squadron from 1963 in red and silver.
★
★ 'RAF Squadrons'
★
★
★ 5 Squadron operated the F1A and F6
★
★
★ 11 Squadron operated the F3 and F6
★
★
★ 19 Squadron operated the F2 and F2A
★
★
★ 23 Squadron operated the F3 an F6
★
★
★ 29 Squadron operated the F3
★
★
★ 56 Squadron operated the F1, F1A, F3 and F6
★
★
★ 74 Squadron operated the F1, F3 and F6
★
★
★ 92 Squadron operated the F2 and F2A
★
★
★ 111 Squadron operated the F1A, F3 and F6
★
★
★ 226 Operational Conversion Unit operated the F1A, F3, T4 and T5
★
★
★ Air Fighting Development Squadron
★
★
★ Lightning Conversion Squadron
★
★ 'RAF Flights'
★
★
★ Binrook Target Facilities Flight
★
★
★ Leuchars Target Facilities Flight
★
★
★ Wattisham Target Facilities Flight
★
★
★ Lightning Training Flight
★
★ 'RAF Bases'
★
★
★ RAF Akrotiri
★
★
★ RAF Binbrook
★
★
★ RAF Coltishall
★
★
★ RAF Geilenkirchen
★
★
★ RAF Gütersloh
★
★
★ RAF Leconfield
★
★
★ RAF Middleton St. George
★
★
★ RAF Leuchars
★
★
★ RAF Tengah
★
★
★ RAF Wattisham
Civil operators
;
★ Thunder City, a civilian company based in South Africa operates two Lightning T5 and two single-seat F6 (current September 2006).[6]
Specifications (Lightning F6)
Orthographically projected diagram of the English Electric Lightning Mk 1
References
1. [1]
2. Lightning.org
3. Lightning.org
4. Lightning.org
5. Lightning.org
6. Company website
★ Winchester, Jim, ed. "English Electric Lightning." ''Military Aircraft of the Cold War (The Aviation Factfile)''. Rochester, Kent, UK: The Grange plc., 2006. ISBN 1-84013-929-7.
Further reading
★ Caygill, Peter. ''Lightning from the Cockpit: Flying the Supersonic Legend''. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen & Sword Books Ltd., 2004. ISBN 1-84415-082-8.
Using information from interviews with Lightning pilots as well as extracts from English Electric and RAF documents, a thorough presentation of the strengths and weaknesses of this combat aircraft is given. Many technical aspects of the various models, from the P1A through the F6, are considered as well. The book is approximately 180 pages in length.
External links
★ Video #1
★ Video #2
★ Video #3
★ Video #4
★ Video #5
★ Video #6
★ Video #7
★ Video #8
★ Thunder and Lightnings
★ XS458 preserved running Lightning at Cranfield
★ English Electric / BAC Lightning Information
★ The Lightning Association
★ Warbird Alley: Lightning page
★ Silent Sentinel: The tale of an A1 milestone
★ APH's English Electric (BAC) Lightning - Vertical Reality
★ Picture of four-ship formation by Vivian Watts at Airliners.net
★ Video of the four ThunderCity Lightings at the AAD Airshow (AFB Ysterplaat, South Africa) by Simon Bloomer at YouTube
★ Five-minute RAF Recruiting film "Streaked Lightning" from 1962 at the National Archives Public Information Film library WMP and Quicktime
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