The English Electric Lightning has the unusual claim of being the only completely British supersonic fighter ever to enter service with the RAF. The prototype, known as the P1, was designed by W. E. W. Petter and first flew in 1954. Designed as an interceptor and air superiority fighter, it was armed with two 30 mm ADEN cannons and two air-to-air missiles (the Red Top and Firestreak types were both used). Although the Lightning has long since been taken out of military service, two examples (a T5 and an F6) still fly with Thunder City, a civilian company based in South Africa.

This photo CD contains 119 images, all 3000x2000 (approx) showing details of two Lightnings currently on display at the Midland Air Museum, Coventry. The first is an F6, XR771, and is displayed in 11 Squadron markings, the squadron it last flew with. The second is a two-seat conversion aircraft, a Royal Saudi Air Force T55 55-713, and is the only ex-Saudi example in its original markings on display in the UK. The aircraft are situated outside and there are no interior photographs. Photos include details of:

• Whole airframe - taken from points all around the aircraft (18, 15)
• Vertical fin (4, 2)
• Airframe features - close-ups (11, 8)
• engine intake and exhaust (5, 2)
• cockpit area including entry ladder (7, 8)
• undercarriage and undercarriage doors (15, 18)
• Refuelling probe (4, 0)
• Arrestor hook (0, 2)

Numbers in brackets are for XR771 and 55-713 respectively

The best reference for scale documentation is, in my opinion, "The English Electric Lightning: A Comprehensive Guide for the Modeller" by Richard J. Caruana. You can purchase this at Amazon.co.uk by clicking here