The English Electric supersonic interceptor (WG760), steered by Roland Beamont, first flew at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire as the P1 on fourth August 1954.
Beginning plans were driven by WEW ‘Teddy’ Petter in spite of the fact that the flying machine is for the most part credited to his successor Freddie Page (later Sir Frederick Page and Chairman of the Aircraft Group of BAC and in the long run, British Aerospace).
The Lightning’s exceptionally cleared wing (60 degrees) joined with 2 x Rolls-Royce Avon motors (starting flights of the P1 used un-warmed Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire motors), designed in a one of a kind stack-stunned game plan inside the fuselage, gave the air ship a speed of Mach 2 and an unrivaled rate of climb which was frequently portrayed as being ‘a pilot sitting on two rockets’.
Just 3 P1 flying machine were finished (2 flying air ship and 1 static test flying machine) and with the presentation of the differently altered successor airplane, they were reflectively assigned as P1A’s.
The later ‘P1B’ variations were formally renamed as the English Electric Lightning in May 1956. The principal generation variation was the F1, of which 19 were constructed. These were then trailed by a further 28 F1A variations.
The main operational Lightning’s considered administration to be an interceptor to guard the V-Force landing strips amid the Cold war in spite of the fact that the scope of early variations ended up being to be prohibitive in different parts. A definitive Lightning in RAF benefit was the F.6 which could convey two 260 gallon ‘ship’ or ‘drop-tanks’ on arches fitted over the wings.
The official roof of the Lightning was a firmly watched mystery in spite of the fact that it is said to be more than 60,000 ft and it is all around reknowned for its extraordinary rate of move at 20,000 ft for each minuteAlthough never credited with an official ‘kill’ the Lightning shot down one flying machine when it was called upon to manage a Harrier which unexpectedly kept on heading for the East German fringe after the pilot had catapulted following obvious motor disappointment.
The English Electric Lightning proceeded in benefit with the RAF until the point that 1988 and around 337 flying machine were worked in its 34 year history. Other military administrators incorporated the Kuwait Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force
Despite the fact that proposed, the Sea Lightning FAW1 was never assembled