| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | XA847 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | English Electric Lightning |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | English Electric Lightning |
| Aircraft Version: | English Electric P.1B Lightning |
| C/n (msn): | 95004 |
| Operator Titles: | UK - Air Force |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Hendon (closed)Map |
| Region / Country: | England, United Kingdom |
| Airport Codes: | None |
| Collection: | RAF Museum Hendon / London |
| Photo Date: | November 1974 |
| Photo by: | Richard Vandervord |
| Photo ID: | 20643 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
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 This photo is copyright © Richard Vandervord, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 20 November 2017, and has since been viewed 1241 times. |