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| English Electric Lightning |
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| Country:
UK |
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Type: Fighter |
| Manufacturer:
English Electric |
| Service:
1959 - 1988 |
| First
Flight: 4 August 1954 |
| Production:
337 |
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The English Electric Lightning was a British supersonic fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, remembered for its great speed and natural metal exterior. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. English Electric was later incorporated into the British Aircraft Corporation, later marks being developed and produced as the BAC Lightning.
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 regular performer at airshows and was the first aircraft capable of supersonic cruise. The Lightning was also one of the highest performance planes ever used in formation aerobatics.
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| TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS ( Lightning F6) |
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General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 55 ft 3 in (16.84 m)
- Wingspan: 34 ft 10 in (10.62 m)
- Height: 19 ft 7 in (5.97 m)
- Wing area: 474.5 ft (44.1 m)
- Empty weight: 28,040 lb (12,720 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 41,700 lb (18,900 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 x Rolls-Royce Avon 301R afterburning turbojets
- Dry thrust: 13,220 lbf (58.86 kN) each
- Thrust with afterburner: 16,360 lbf (72.77 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.27 (1,500 mph, 2,415 km/h) at altitude
- Range: 800 mi (1,300 km) combat
- Ferry range: 1,560 mi (1,360 NM, 2,500 km)
- Service ceiling >60,000 ft (18,000 m) officially (87,300 ft/26,600 m recorded)
- Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (260 m/s)
- Wing loading: 87.9 lb/ft (429 kg/m)
- Thrust/weight: 0.63
Armament
- Guns: 2 x 30 mm (1.18 in) ADEN cannon
- Missiles: 2 x Red Top missiles
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