The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, noted for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor; RAF pilots described it as "being saddled to a skyrocket". English Electric was later incorporated into the British Aircraft Corporation, later marks being developed and produced as the BAC Lightning.
Lightning F.6General characteristics
* Crew: 1
* Length: 55 ft 3 in[10] (16.8 m)
* Wingspan: 34 ft 10 in[10] (10.6 m)
* Height: 19 ft 7 in[10] (5.97 m)
* Wing area: 474.5 ft²[35] (44.08 m²)
* Empty weight: 31,068 lb[5][nb 13] (14,092 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 45,750 lb[7][nb 14] (20,752 kg)
* Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Avon 301R afterburning turbojets
o Dry thrust: 12,530 lbf[6] (55.74 kN) each
o Thrust with afterburner: 16,000 lbf[6] (71.17 kN) each
Performance
* Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 (1,300 mph, 2,100 km/h) at 36,000 ft. 700 KIAS at lower altitude[5][nb 15]
* Range: 850 mi[5][nb 16] (1,370 km) Supersonic intercept radius: 155 mi[5][nb 17] (250 km)
* Ferry range: 920 mi (800 NM,[5] 1,660 km) 1,270 mi (1,100 NM,[5] 2,040 km) with ferry tanks
* Service ceiling: 54,000 ft[5] (16,000 m) zoom ceiling >70,000 ft[3][5]
* Rate of climb: 20,000 ft/min[5][nb 18] (100 m/s)
* Wing loading: 76 lb/ft²[nb 19] (370 kg/m²)
* Thrust/weight: 0.78[nb 20]
Armament
* Guns: 2× 30 mm (1.18 in) ADEN cannons
* Hardpoints: 2× under-fuselage for mounting air-to-air missiles, 2x overwing pylon stations for 260 gal ferry tanks and provisions to carry combinations of:
o Missiles: 2 De Havilland Firestreak or 2× Hawker Siddeley Red Top
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Topic: English Electric Lightning (Read 12534 times)
