F.2A XN728 at Balderton, 6th February 2006; author	F.2A XN730 at Gatow, 1999; Christoph Westhaus

On the subject of crying shames, the Lightning above is a sorry sight. XN728, one of the few remaining F.2As, and just look at it - abandoned and vandalised. Placed in the A1 Commercial Sales Yard to attract customers back in 1983, since the yard's collapse the Lightning has been left to rot. Presumably the receiver thought it was an asset which is why it wasn't simply bulldozed away. XN728 was used for BDR for a while and carries a few patches to prove it, and for transport to the yard the wings and tail were simply cut off. Reassembly was carried out using large sheets of metal to hold everything together once more, and they have rusted badly and warped under the stress. The landing gear was considered too weak to support the airframe (which is complete with engines) and accordingly the belly was supported with a framework of girders. Unfortunately at some point someone nicked the radome, and the change in the center of gravity tipped XN728 on her tail; the belly tank wasn't up to this and the girders have cut right through and are now firmly embedded in the belly. The rear fuselage is badly holed and as you can see the entire aircraft is liberally spattered with graffiti. It's a sad end for a proud fighter. After years of dereliction the yard was purchased by a new owner in 2005 and it is reported that the owner is thinking of beginning a restoration effort on the airframe. Information current as of 07/02/2006.

RAF Germany's Lightnings patrolled the East/West border and stood guard against those darn Russkies for a good while. It's good to see that a few have been preserved there in memory of those days. The one above is XN730 in 92 squadron markings at the Luftwaffenmuseum (formerly at Uetersen, now at Gatow) and looks to be in good shape - in fact since the last photo displayed here (taken in 1996), she's had a repaint, the pitot probe has been put back on and she's sitting a little higher on her wheels than she used to.

F.2A XN776 at East Fortune, May 1997; author	F.2A XN781 at Hermeskeil, Germany, 12th July 1998; Les Bywaters

Back across the North Sea and up in Scotland is XN776, a 92 Squadron F.2A preserved (nay, pampered) at the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune. Note the two blue diamond shapes on the tail fin - a hint that 92 Squadron once provided the 'Blue Diamonds' display team (in pre-Lightning days when they operated Hunters). I found an access ladder and XN776 is now appropriately adorned with it!

Hopping back across the North Sea briefly, we find a sadly dismantled (in fact, cut up), Lightning marked 'XN781', which is really XN784. Stored at the museum at Hermeskeil, it actually looks in better condition than the museum's display example (XN782, below). Perhaps it will be used to provide parts for the other one - certainly the canopy is in much better shape.

F.2A XN782 at Hermeskeil, Germany, 12th July 1998; Les Bywaters	F.3 XP706 at Doncaster, September 2003; Scott Clayton

Also in Germany we find another 92 Squadron Lightning, this one an F.2A, preserved in Germany. XN782 is preserved at the Luftfahrtausstellung Museum at Hermeskeil, which is also home to a few other ex-RAF Germany aircraft. XN782 is the subject of a ongoing conservation effort there; for instance they have previously removed the belly tank in order to stop any corrosion and seal the area before putting it back in place. Unfortunately the canopy perspex is clouded and the paint has faded to a brownish hue - with most of the exhibits at Hermeskeil out in the open like this, it's hardly surprising.

Looking somewhat forlorn is XP706, which had her wings and tail removed for transport away from Binbrook and spent some years at the Strubby airfield, tucked away in a hangar. Unfortunately little progress was made on restoring the aircraft to complete condition and early in 1999 XP706 moved out of the hangar and up the road to Hemswell. Again she appeared to be stuck in limbo there, and recently she's changed hands again, new owner Scott Clayton having moved her to Aeroventure at Doncaster. Let's hope some progress is made this time round - apparently he plans to ground run her! Information current as of 15/09/2003.

F.3 XR713 at RAF Leuchars, 14th September 2002; Bob Lawson	F.3 XR718 at Darlington, 3rd January 2006; Paul Greig

Now, back to Scotland and an example of how the MoD's much hated 'One base - one gate guard' policy has been avoided; a squadron mascot! 111 Squadron at RAF Leuchars restored XR713, which had been earmarked for BDR duties, and they wheel it out for the static lineup at the Leuchars airshows (though not in 2001 and 2002, when it stayed firmly in a hangar as you can see!). Good to see the Tornado jocks know a real airplane when they see one! Information current as of 14/09/2002.

Saved from the scrapman, which is the fate for many airframes daubed with the 'Blue cross of death', XR718 was sadly cut up for transport, with the tail and outer wings removed. After several years effectively derelict at Walpole, the aircraft was sold in September 2005 to a new owner and moved to his farm near Darlington later that month. She's seen here in January 2006 awaiting reassembly. Information current as of 03/01/2006.

F.3 XR749 at Teesside Airport being dismantled, 24th July 2004; Jon Irwin	T.4 XL629 at Boscombe Down, 1st July 2000; author

Now a rather more quiet example of the breed. XR749 is an F.3 which used to be preserved in excellent condition at Teesside Airport, which used to be RAF Middleton St. George. She used to be positioned on the road next to the main terminal building in tribute to the airfield's past use as an RAF station, but sadly the new management thought an advertising hoarding in this location is more important than the site's heritage, and ordered her removed. Thankfully FRA aviation took her into their care until she was sold to a new owner. In late July 2004 she was dismantled (correctly!) and began her journey to her new home in Scotland. IVGTS are carrying out a full restoration and treating corrosion before putting her back together as a gate guard within the foyer of their main building. The company service Avon engines hence the Lightning link. Information current as of 03/11/2005.

The twin-tubber on show above is the one and only preserved T.4 - XL629 at Boscombe Down. XL629 was used by the Empire Test Pilots School from 1966 to 1975 and retains the colours she wore while in service. Displayed on the gate for many years, in 1999 XL629 was repainted and looks stunning. Unfortunately the station has expanded a little past the former gate position, so XL629 is now slightly within the base which can make getting permission for photography of the aircraft a bit of a hit and miss affair. As you can see I didn't have any problems though!