The English Electric Lightning Fighter, often simply referred to as the "Lightning," was an aviation marvel of its time. Designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom during the height of the Cold War, it embodied the essence of supersonic speed and unmatched climb rate. What set the Lightning apart from other aircraft was its incredible capability to ascend vertically, leaving a distinctive trail of condensation and creating sonic booms that could be heard for miles. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Avon engines, the Lightning could accelerate to twice the speed of sound in mere minutes, making it one of the fastest interceptors in the world. Its primary mission was to defend British airspace against potential threats from Soviet bombers, and it did so with exceptional efficiency. The Lightning's blistering speed and impressive rate of climb made it a formidable adversary in the tense air defense environment of the Cold War.
On 1 April 1950, English Electric received an official contract for one static and two flying airframes. The English Electric P.1 wing design, combined with two Rolls-Royce Avon engines, configured in a unique stack-staggered arrangement, produced an aircraft with a speed capability of Mach 2. Additionally, it also gave the aircraft an unrivalled rate of climb often described as being "a pilot sitting on two rockets."
Starting in 1953, the first three prototype aircraft were hand-built at the English Electric factory at Salmesbury, Lancashire.
🚀 Military Aircrafts Video Playlist!
CLICK HERE ➡ [ Ссылка ]
==============
⏰ Timestamps
00:00
==============
We know that sometimes we make mistakes, and you let us know about them by leaving a comment. Thank you for that - we appreciate it! As we are self-taught, we are more than excited to keep on learning and improving!
#MilitaryHistoryChannel
