The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, remembered for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. Renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor, RAF pilots described it as "being saddled to a skyrocket". 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 supercruise. The Lightning was also one of the highest performance planes ever used in formation aerobatics. The Lightning aircraft is now largely retired to museums, but three examples still fly at "Thunder City" in Cape Town, South Africa.

This particular 1:48 scale replica of a RAF English Electric F.6 Lightning jet fighter was attached to No.11 Squadron, then deployed to Binbrook, England, during August 1987. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 14-inches
Wingspan: 9-inches

Release Date: May 2021

Historical Account: "The Last Lightning Show" - For an aircraft which instilled immense national pride in so many people over such a long period, it is no wonder that the English Electric Lightning still commands a significant position in the hearts of the UK aviation enthusiast, with two very special airplanes being singled out for special attention. Until recently, two of the aircraft lovingly maintained by the Lightning Preservation Group regularly blasted down the runway at Bruntingthorpe airfield, in scenes reminiscent of a Cold War RAF fighter station and always drawing large crowds for these events. Lightning F.6 XS904 has been in the care of the LPG since she was delivered to the airfield on January 21st, 1993, a historic occasion which witnessed the final military flight of an English Electric Lightning fighter.

Flying from the British Aerospace factory airfield site at Warton in formation with a Panavia Tornado F.3 fighter, the pair made a spirited high speed pass along the length of the runway at Bruntingthorpe on their arrival, before the Deputy Chief Test Pilot at BAe Warton, Peter Orme, brought this magnificent supersonic aircraft in for her final landing at her new home. During a 20 year RAF career, XS904 served with Nos.5 and 11 Squadrons and also has the distinction of being one of the nine Lightnings which took part in a spectacular nine ship formation during the "Last Lightning show" at RAF Binbrook on August 22nd, 1987.