On 25th November 1957 XA847 became the first British aircraft to exceed Mach 2 and went on to have a career at Boscombe Down testing various Lightning upgrades. Displayed at the RAF Museum from 1972, this significant airframe, having been replaced in the museum by a Lightning F.6, was unbelievably put up for tender in 1988 and came close to being scrapped. Rescued by a private individual and put into storage, it was re-assembled for display at Farnborough 1994 and also appeared at RIAT the following year. It has since gone back into storage with an owner in Kettleburgh Suffolk.

The first of three P.1Bs. A founder member of the RAF Museum when it opened in September 1972 and seen here just over a year later. Replaced by Lightning F.6 XS925 in 1988. Narrowly avoided scrapping, passed into private hands and remained dismantled in Kettleburgh, Suffolk in 2018.

XA847 was the first of three P.1Bs which followed two P.1As and was much closer in shape to the production Lightning design. Maiden flight 4.4.57 at Warton piloted by Roly Beamont; on 25.11.57 became the UK's first aircraft to exceed Mach 2. After a long career at Boscombe Down and Farnborough trialling various Lightning upgrades, retired to Henlow in 6.69 after 468 flights/205 hrs and placed on display at the RAF Museum in 1972 but ousted by a Lightning F.6 in 1988. Narrowly avoiding scrapping, passed into private hands and remains dismantled in Suffolk

The first P1B test aircraft with the initial short fin with curved top. This type was not named "Lightning" until 1958. Demonstrating at the 1957 Farnborough Air Show equipped with long probes.