F.6 XR724 at Binbrook Airfield, 11th October 1998; John Burtenshaw	F.6 XR725 at Binbrook, 26th June 1999; author

The Lightning Association proudly looks after an active Lightning at Binbrook, the last home of the Lightning in RAF service. Unfortunately they've had problems with access to their own aircraft there, including months of being unable to work on it. So while she's in taxiable condition, taxi runs have been few and far between. With the airfield now being sold in chunks, and very little left of the concrete areas on which runs were performed, XR724 may have to move. She's pictured here being towed out of the hangar for an engine run. Since then, she has unfortunately been stored outside. Information current as of 21/09/2003.

Looked after by Lightning nut Charles Ross in his garden, XR725 is in generally good condition but was accumulating some moss and missing her rudder when I visited. While Charles doesn't mind people taking a look at XR725, please do ask first - unfortunately you do get the odd idiot trespassing on private property just to get a photograph. Since my visit Charles has put in a bed of gravel underneath the aircraft, and she is looking a lot cleaner. Information current as of 03/2005.

F.6 XR728 at Bruntingthorpe, 15th September 2002; author	F.6 XR753 at RAF Coningsby, 29th June 2007; author

Now a bit of a treat - an active Lightning! XR728 is one of the Lightning Preservation Group's aircraft and performs regular fast taxi runs on the long runway at Bruntingthorpe airfield. She's seen here at the Cold War Jets open day, September 15th 2002. Check out the LPG website for details of open day dates when you can see XR728 perform. But remember your ear defenders, a Lightning going past 30 feet away with both burners lit is a noisy beast to say the least.

Preserved by 11 Squadron at RAF Leeming for many years and not generally viewable, XR753 was repainted in an overall grey scheme with 11 Squadron markings to mark the disbandment of the Squadron when they retired as a Tornado F.3 unit. With their reformation as a Typhoon squadron in 2007, XR753 was moved to their new home of Coningsby and is now on display within 11 Squadron's HAS site. It can be seen from several spots outside the base but is only photographable from within the site. Information current as of 29/06/2007.

F.6 XR755 at Callington, 13th February 2006; Nick Semmens	F.6 XR770 at the NATO Aircraft Museum, June 27th 1999; author

XR755 was built as an F.3 and first flew in July 1965. She served with 5 Squadron initially and was converted to an F.6 in 1967, returning to the Squadron in 1968. By 1983 she was with 11 Squadron. XR755 was one of four Lightnings purchased after retirement to be put back in the air at Exeter. When that plan fell through, she moved to Ernie's garden. She's painted in 11 Squadron markings but needs a repaint - the existing colours are badly faded. Her engines are not fitted but otherwise she looks to be in good condition, and is one of a handful of Lightnings displayed with overwing tanks (hers appearing to have come from XS922 judging by the markings on the side). Information current as of 20/02/2006.

Here is XR770, one of the more famous Lightnings because of that paint scheme. She's the subject of the profile on the pictures page (where you can also download a flyable version of her for use with MS Flight Sim). XR770 was at the NATO Aircraft Museum near Grimsby, definitely Lightning country! Unfortunately in summer 2000 she had to move on, and is now at Grainthorpe.

F.6 XR771 at Baginton, 4th January 2003; author	F.6 XR773 at Cape Town, 1st November 2001; Hugh Trevor

XR771 is another F.6, one of the few preserved in the green and grey tactical scheme. Unfortunately in recent years the paintwork had begun to look quite tired and the weather has taken a slow but steady toll. However things are now looking brighter and work has begun on bringing it back to good display condition, with refreshed roundels and fin flash being the first step; a repaint was begun in June 2002 and she's pictured here in January 2003, with the repaint finished and looking a lot better than she used to!

Yessssssssss! The world has a flying Lightning F.6 once more! As you can see, Mike Beachy Head's Thunder City operation has succeeded in returning XR773 to the air. She's seen here on her first post-restoration flight, sweeping low over the Thunder City hangar complex shortly prior to landing. XR773 first flew in February 1966 (with Roly Beamont at the controls) and served with 74, 56, 5 and 11 Squadrons as well as the Lightning Training Flight. Retired from RAF service in 1988, she then became one of British Aerospace's small Lightning fleet, used for various chase and test duties before being sold to Classic Jets in Exeter in 1992. She was ferried to Exeter where she was maintained in good order until it became clear flying her in the UK wasn't going to be allowed. Sold to Mike Beachy Head in 1997, she was shipped to South Africa and work began on getting her airborne again late in 2000. A year later, she has flown once more, and unusually for Mike's aircraft, has retained her in-service colours. Hooray, and well done to all involved!

F.6 XS897 at Doncaster, 10th May 2003; Bob Lawson	F.6 XS903 at Elvington, 4th May 2005; Andrew Steer

Looking rather better than on previous visits, the museum have now completed the reassembly of this aircraft. XS897 first went to 74 Squadron at RAF Tengah in Singapore and then to 56 Squadron at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. It then spent the rest of its service life at RAF Binbrook in use with 5 and 11 Squadrons. When its service life was over, it ended up at Rossington near Doncaster and was rescued by a Museum member at the eleventh hour as its wings were being smashed off. Now restoration will continue with a repaint. Information current as of 10/05/2003.

Above is XS903, an F.6, this one being at the Yorkshire Air Museum. The paint job (an 11 Squadron scheme) is not yet complete (and has been this way for some years now), hence the missing roundel on the nose and lack of any stencils. Come on boys, get it sorted... since my visit in 1999 she's clearly spent a fair bit of time outside of the hangar and the paint finish has dulled considerably. Information current as of 04/05/2005.