Description
The English Electric Lightning was a British twin-engine supersonic fighter plane. The flight of the F.1 version took place in 1960, and the F.2 four years later. The Lightning is characterized by an unusual arrangement of engines – vertically one above the other. The very unusual wing contour and the lack of wing flaps are also unique. It was powered by two 7,260 daN Rolls-Royce Avon 302 engines with afterburners. The prototype of the Lightning was designated P.1B. From 1960, i.e. shortly after the final version was flown, the Lightning commenced delivery to RAF squadrons. In total, 338 machines of this type were created in six different versions (interceptor-F.1 and F.1A, fighter-bomber-F.53 and training-combat-T.4, T.5, T.55). The plane did not manage to interest any of the European recipients, but it was exported to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The RAF Lightning units were released in the 1980s. These planes were equipped with the Ferranti AI Mk 23 Aispass radar, and the main armament was Firestreak or Red Top air-to-air missiles with the IR system and two 30mm cannons.
