English Electric Lightning F.3 XP764 DC and T.5 XS456 DX at the Last Lightning Show 22 August 1987 - Image Richard Hall
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On Saturday 22 August 1987 a very special event took place at the Lincolnshire airfield of RAF Binbrook. This was to be the Last Lightning Show before the iconic aircraft was retired from RAF service.
On the day the weather was truly awful, it rained the entire time, but this did not dampen the Lightning Boys spirit of 5 and 11 Squadrons for putting on a show. In the cold low overcast the crowd witnessed a mass take off, high speed passes, and even a Diamond Nine formation. |
In some ways the weather was rather appropriate as it was often in such conditions that the QRA Lightnings scrambled to protect UK Airspace.
The Last Lightning Show August 1987 - Images
With the retirement of the Lightning in April 1988 many aircraft found their way into preservation, one of them being T.5 XS420. The purpose of this website is to document the history and subsequent preservation of XS420 and many other aspects of the Lightning in general.
It is also hoped that the memories of those who flew and worked upon the Lightning in RAF service, can be gathered and included within the site. If you or anyone you know worked on or flew Lightnings, please e-mail via the contact page.
Today XS420, resides within the grounds of Farnborough Air Sciences Trust - www.airsciences.org.uk
Sources, Bibliography and thanks
With the retirement of the Lightning in April 1988 many aircraft found their way into preservation, one of them being T.5 XS420. The purpose of this website is to document the history and subsequent preservation of XS420 and many other aspects of the Lightning in general.
It is also hoped that the memories of those who flew and worked upon the Lightning in RAF service, can be gathered and included within the site. If you or anyone you know worked on or flew Lightnings, please e-mail via the contact page.
Today XS420, resides within the grounds of Farnborough Air Sciences Trust - www.airsciences.org.uk
Sources, Bibliography and thanks
Related Websites -
This website is dedicated to the memory of my Dad, Edward (Eddie), my Mum, Vera and my Brother Chris.
English Electric Lightning T.5 XS420
Copyright Richard Hall
No part of this website or images may be
reproduced without prior written permission
Copyright Richard Hall
No part of this website or images may be
reproduced without prior written permission