Lightning F.2/F.2A - XN726
Service & Preservation History
29.9.61 - First Flight as F.Mk.2 by JK Isherwood from Samlesbury to Warton; 10 flights prior to delivery.
7.1.63 - 1st production test flight RP Beamont (0.55 min).
81.63 - 2nd production test flight RP Beamont (0.55 min).
14.2.63 - Delivered to Air Fighting Development Squadron (AFDS), RAF Binbrook, coded ‘K’
10.6.64 - To 33 Maintenance Unit (MU), RAF Lyneham.
19.10.66 - Returned to BAC Warton for conversion to F.Mk.2A on flight 330, 277.12 flying hours.
28.3.68 - First flight after conversion to F.2A, by Jimmy Dell. First F.2A with RR Avon 211s rather than 210s.
07.6.68 - Delivered to RAF Gütersloh by Flt Lt Ross Payne on flight 346, 288.19 hours. Allocated to 19 Squadron and coded ‘D’.
25.3.69 - 60 MU Leconfield for fire integrity modifications (‘D’ but no Sqn markings?)
13.5.69 - Returned to 19 Sqn at RAF Gütersloh, coded ‘D’
1.6-2.9.70 - 19 Sqn deployed to Bruggen
2.9-17.9.70 - 19 Sqn deployed to Wildenrath
11.12.70 - To BAC Warton for fire integrity modifications on flight 1037
18.1.71 - Returned to 19 Sqn at RAF Gütersloh, coded ‘D’
27.3.72 - Ventral tank struck by lightning, damage assessed as Category 3 (repairable on site by contractor’s working party).
24.4.72 - Damage reassessed as Category 4 (not repairable on site).
26.5.72 - Transported by road to BAC Warton, Lancashire, for repair.
12.3.74 - First flight after repair.
10.5.74 - Returned to RAF Gütersloh by Dim Jones, allocated to 92 Sqn coded ‘N’.
10-17.5.74 - Upper surfaces painted dark green overall.
1.8-5.9.74 - Armament Practice Camp detachment, Decimomannu, flown by 19 & 92 Sqns.
14.10.74 - To 60 MU Leconfield for major servicing; last F.2A major performed by the unit.
24.3.75 - Returned to 92 Sqn at RAF Gütersloh, coded ‘N’.
14.4.75 - ASF Check 2.
15.5.75 - Returned to Unit.
13.4.76 - ASF Check 2.
14.6.76 - Returned to Unit.
01.4.77 - Struck off Charge with disbandment of 92 (Lightning) Squadron; Cat. 5C.
04.4.77 - Final flight to RAE Farnborough by Flt Lt (later Sqn Ldr) Jim Wild, 2222 hours.
Maintenance serial 8545M allocated.
1978 - Wings outboard of undercarriage and fin cut off.
23.11.78 - Transported by road to P&EE (Proof & Experimental Establishment) Shoeburyness for weapons testing
mid 1993. Nose section recovered from fuselage and mounted on frame by Nigel Towler.
2.96 - Rear fuselage, etc., removed from DERA Shoeburyness and scrapped.
1.4.00 - Nose section acquired by Hugh Trevor and placed on loan to the Boscombe Down Museum Project, later the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection (BDAC).
6.7.12 - Nose section joined other BDAC airframes and cockpits in Hangar 1, Old Sarum Airfield, nr Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 6DZ
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7.1.63 - 1st production test flight RP Beamont (0.55 min).
81.63 - 2nd production test flight RP Beamont (0.55 min).
14.2.63 - Delivered to Air Fighting Development Squadron (AFDS), RAF Binbrook, coded ‘K’
10.6.64 - To 33 Maintenance Unit (MU), RAF Lyneham.
19.10.66 - Returned to BAC Warton for conversion to F.Mk.2A on flight 330, 277.12 flying hours.
28.3.68 - First flight after conversion to F.2A, by Jimmy Dell. First F.2A with RR Avon 211s rather than 210s.
07.6.68 - Delivered to RAF Gütersloh by Flt Lt Ross Payne on flight 346, 288.19 hours. Allocated to 19 Squadron and coded ‘D’.
25.3.69 - 60 MU Leconfield for fire integrity modifications (‘D’ but no Sqn markings?)
13.5.69 - Returned to 19 Sqn at RAF Gütersloh, coded ‘D’
1.6-2.9.70 - 19 Sqn deployed to Bruggen
2.9-17.9.70 - 19 Sqn deployed to Wildenrath
11.12.70 - To BAC Warton for fire integrity modifications on flight 1037
18.1.71 - Returned to 19 Sqn at RAF Gütersloh, coded ‘D’
27.3.72 - Ventral tank struck by lightning, damage assessed as Category 3 (repairable on site by contractor’s working party).
24.4.72 - Damage reassessed as Category 4 (not repairable on site).
26.5.72 - Transported by road to BAC Warton, Lancashire, for repair.
12.3.74 - First flight after repair.
10.5.74 - Returned to RAF Gütersloh by Dim Jones, allocated to 92 Sqn coded ‘N’.
10-17.5.74 - Upper surfaces painted dark green overall.
1.8-5.9.74 - Armament Practice Camp detachment, Decimomannu, flown by 19 & 92 Sqns.
14.10.74 - To 60 MU Leconfield for major servicing; last F.2A major performed by the unit.
24.3.75 - Returned to 92 Sqn at RAF Gütersloh, coded ‘N’.
14.4.75 - ASF Check 2.
15.5.75 - Returned to Unit.
13.4.76 - ASF Check 2.
14.6.76 - Returned to Unit.
01.4.77 - Struck off Charge with disbandment of 92 (Lightning) Squadron; Cat. 5C.
04.4.77 - Final flight to RAE Farnborough by Flt Lt (later Sqn Ldr) Jim Wild, 2222 hours.
Maintenance serial 8545M allocated.
1978 - Wings outboard of undercarriage and fin cut off.
23.11.78 - Transported by road to P&EE (Proof & Experimental Establishment) Shoeburyness for weapons testing
mid 1993. Nose section recovered from fuselage and mounted on frame by Nigel Towler.
2.96 - Rear fuselage, etc., removed from DERA Shoeburyness and scrapped.
1.4.00 - Nose section acquired by Hugh Trevor and placed on loan to the Boscombe Down Museum Project, later the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection (BDAC).
6.7.12 - Nose section joined other BDAC airframes and cockpits in Hangar 1, Old Sarum Airfield, nr Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 6DZ
Return To XN726 Home Page