Aircraft carries invasion stripes to commemorate D Day

Written off in a non fatal accident 7 May 2017

From the USS Kittyhawk. Part of the first production batch for the US Navy. Sister-ship 156888 (NH-401) was in the flying display.

Used for Battle Damage Repair at Detmold 1992.

2nd Islander, converted to prototype Mk.3, later named Trislander, showing original fin design before the addition of further vertical area above the engine used on production examples. Cancelled as PWFU just two months later on 23 November 1970.

19 Sqdn Lightning loaned to BAC for display at Farnborough as a "representative " F. 53 export model. Note the dummy underwing pylons which were never fitted to the F.2A. Returned to service with 92 Sqdn on 25th September 1970. WFU December 1976 and used as an airfield decoy at Laarbruch, allocated 8520M.

Research aircraft, second of six built. First flew in August 1951. Delivered to Farnborough in September 1951 and spent 3 years with the RAE engaged in cabin pressurisation and temperature control test work before becoming an engine test bed. Broken up in 1962. The fuselage section was subsequently removed from Farnborough passing through Dunsfold, Rhoose and Woodford before finally being put on display at Newark Air Museum.

2nd prototype Comet, built 1950. Dismantled at Hatfield March 1957, relocated to Farnborough for RAE radio test work. To aid this, the fin from Comet 1XB XM829 (msn 06021) was fitted, ex-Stansted Fire School. When the RAE purchased Comet 4 G-APDF as XV814, G-ALZK was used as a mock-up to trial test equipment installation. Since it's own cockpit had been stripped it was fitted with that from C.2 XK669 (06024) ex-Brize Norton. It left Farnborough for Woodford in the early 70s for use in the Nimrod programme and was scrapped there c.1975. Note Provost T.1 fuselage WV577 "22" alongside, ex-ETPS.

Hawk wears this special tail livery celebrating their 50th display season.

Hawk wears this special tail livery celebrating their 50th display season.