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| The English Electric (BAC) Lightning This page will show the difference in the layouts of the Lightning through from the P1A development aircraft to the export variant T55. If you find any conflicting information on this page PLEASE mail me with corrections and I will update the data. To send amendments please mail me at The Variant Profiles Page This page best viewed 800 x 600 16bit+
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| P1A | Leading Particulars | Example |
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: 34ft 10in Length : 49ft 8in Height : 17ft 3in Engines : Two Armstrong Siddlely Saphire 5 later replaced with Saphire 5R Thrust : 7,500lbs ( 9,200lbs (5R) ) each with reheat Speed : 1,011mph Mach 1.5 at 36,000ft Service Ceiling : Range : Armament : n/a Entered Service : n/a Climb Rate : |
 P1A WG760 at Samlebury. Copyright Derek Wood |
| P1B | Leading Particulars | Example |
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: 34ft 10in Length : 55ft 3in Height : 19ft 5in Engines : Two RR Avon 200R (Later 210R) Turbojets Thrust : 14,430lbs each with reheat Speed : Mach 2.1 at 40,000ft Armament : None Entered Service : n/a Climb Rate : |
 P1B XA847 at RAF Museum Hendon. Copyright Author |
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| F1 | Leading Particulars | Example |
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: 34ft 10in Length : 55ft 3in Height : 19ft 7in Engines : Two RR Avon 200R Turbojets Thrust : 14,430lbs each with reheat Speed : 1,500mph Mach 2.2 aprox Service Ceiling : 60,000 ft Range : 1.25 hrs endurance Armament : 2 30mm Aden Cannons & 2 DH Firestreak IR Missiles Entered Service : June 1960 ( 74 Sqd ) Climb Rate : 30,000ft per min |
 F1 74 Sqd in 1961. Copyright Unknown |
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| F1A | Leading Particulars | Example |
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: 34ft 10in Length : 55ft 3in Height : 19ft 7in Engines : Two RR Avon 210R Turbojets Thrust : 14,430lbs each with reheat Speed : 1,500mph Mach 2.2 aprox Service Ceiling : 60,000 ft Range : 1.25 hrs endurance Armament : 2 30mm Aden Cannons & 2 DH Firestreak IR Missiles Entered Service : March 1961 ( 111 Sqd ) Climb Rate : 30,000ft per min |
F1A XM173 at RAF Bently Priory
in the markings and colour scheme of 56 Sqd The Firebirds. Copyright Author
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| F2 (F52) | Leading Particulars | Example |
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Span : 34ft 10in F52 export variant for RSAF delivered 1966 as interim aircraft before delivery of F53 |
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| F2A | Leading Particulars | Example |
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: 34ft 10in Length : 55ft 3in Height : 19ft 7in Engines : Two RR Avon 211R Turbojets Thrust : 14,430lbs each with reheat Speed : 1,500mph Mach 2.2 aprox Service Ceiling : 60,000 ft Range : 1.25 hrs endurance Armament : 2 30 mm Aden Cannons & 2 DH Firestreak IR Missiles Entered Service : March 1968 (19 Sqd) Climb Rate : 30,000ft per min F2A rebuilt F2 to incorporate some F6 features, Square cut fin, Kink Cambered wing & enlarged ventral fuel tank |
 F2A XN782 in the markings of 92 Sqd at the Luftarhtausstelling Museum in Kiel Germany. Copyright Les Bywaters |
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| F3 | Leading Particulars | Example |
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: 34ft 10in Length : 55ft 3in Height : 19ft 7in Engines : Two RR Avon 301R Turbojets Thrust : 16,360lbs each with reheat Speed : 1,500mph Mach 2.2 aprox Service Ceiling : 60,000 ft Range : 1.25 hrs endurance Armament : 2 DH Firestreak IR Missiles Entered Service : April 1964 ( 74Sqd ) Climb Rate : 50,000ft per min |
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| T4 (T54) | Leading Particulars | Example |
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: 34ft 10in Length : 55ft 3in Height : 19ft 7in Engines : Two RR Avon 200R Turbojets Thrust : 14,430lbs each with reheat Speed : 1,500mph Mach 2.2 aprox Service Ceiling : 60,000 ft Range : 1.25 hrs endurance Armament : 2 30 mm Aden Cannons & 2 DH Firestreak IR Missiles Entered Service : June 1962 ( 226 OCU ) Climb Rate : 30,000ft per min T54 export variant for RSAF delivered 1966 as interim aircraft before delivery of T55 |
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| T5 | Leading Particulars | Example |
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: 34ft 10in Length : 55ft 3in Height : 19ft 7in Engines : Two RR Avon 301R Turbojets Thrust : 16,360lbs each with reheat Speed : 1,500mph Mach 2.2 aprox Service Ceiling : 60,000 ft Range : 1.25 hrs endurance Armament : 2 Red Top or Firestreak IR Missiles Entered Service : April 1965 ( 226 OCU ) Climb Rate : 50,000ft per min |
 T5 XV328 at a USAF Alconbury open day. Copyright Author |
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| F6 (F3A) | Leading Particulars | Example |
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: 34ft 10in Length : 55ft 3in Height : 19ft 7in Engines : Two RR Avon 301R Turbojets Thrust : 16,360lbs each with reheat Speed : 1,500mph Mach 2.27 aprox Service Ceiling : 65,000 ft Range : 600km (+ with refueling) Armament : 2 Firestreak or Red-Top IR Missiles Entered Service : November 1965 ( 5 Sqd) Climb Rate : 50,000ft per min F3A Interim F6 |
 F6 XR754 BC 11 Sqd on display with T5 at USAF Mildenhall open day. Copyright Author |
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| F53 (Export Variant) | Leading Particulars | Example |
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: 34ft 10in Length : 55ft 3in Height : 19ft 7in Engines : Two RR Avon 302C Turbojets Thrust : 16,360lbs each with reheat Speed : 1,500mph Mach 2.27 aprox Service Ceiling : 60,000 ft Range : 1.25 hrs endurance Armament : 2 3Red Top or Firestreak IR Missiles. Wide range of ordnance from over wing or under wing hard points Entered Service : August 1969 (1 Sqd RSAF) Climb Rate : 50,000ft per min |
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| T55 (Export Variant) | Leading Particulars | Example |
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: 34ft 10in Length : 55ft 3in Height : 19ft 7in Engines : Two RR Avon 302C Turbojets Thrust : 16,360lbs each with reheat Speed : 1,500mph Mach 2.27 aprox Service Ceiling : 60,000 ft Range : 1.25 hrs endurance Armament : 2 3Red Top or Firestreak IR Missiles. Wide range of ordnance from over wing or under wing hard points Entered Service : August 1969 (LCU / 6Sqd RSAF) Climb Rate : 50,000ft per min |
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My thanks go to Les Bywaters for allowing me to use his page layout. Please visit his EE Canberra pages
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