English Electric Lightning

Lightning F.6 XR725

Built as an F.3 and first flown on 17th March 1965, XR725 was then put into store and converted to an F.6, being delivered to the RAF - 23 Squadron - in August 1967. A bit of a globetrotter, XR725 was damaged while at Sola, Norway, but soon repaired and also turned up at the Toronto air show after a mammoth 7 hour long flight (with air to air refuelling, naturally!). By July 1970 she was with 74 Squadron, and also went on to serve with 56 and 5 Squadrons and the LTF at Binbrook. In late 1982 she joined the LAF (Lightning Augmentation Flight) and from 1985 onwards flew with 11 Squadron. She gained her black spine and fin in the last months of active service. On disposal she was bought by Lightning fanatic Charles Ross, and was transported the short distance to his home in Binbrook village.

Production information

> Manufacturer: English Electric Company Limited > Model: F.6

Dimensions:

> Length: 16.00 meters (Actual: 16.84 meters) > Width: 11.50 meters (Actual: 10.62 meters) > Height: 6 meters (Actual: 5.97 meters)

Armament: > 2x 30mm cannons > 2x Starstreak AAMs

Controls:

Controls [Toolbar 01]: (Manuevering Controls) [1]: Toggle weapons (30mm/AIM-9) for mouse control [2]: Airbrakes [3]: Toggle Landing Gear [4]: [5]: [6]: [7]: [8]: [9]:

Notes:

[1] – Take care with takeoff runs, tailstrikes are very possible [2] - use W/S to control thruster throttle [3] - needs scripts