Thunder & Lightnings

English Electric Lightning - Survivor XM169

F.1A XM169 - Ken Ward, Morayvia, Kinloss, Scotland

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Lightning F.1A XM169 at Moryavia, 18th July 2021; Adam Poultney

XM169 came from Leuchars where she had ended her life as a decoy airframe. While her exterior is looking in great nick, the cockpit interior is absolutely immaculate - and entirely complete. The previous owner, Ken Ward, had rigged up a small hand operated hydraulic pump which raises and lowers the canopy, after a brush with death in the past when the canopy closed on him, cutting off his air supply while he was working in the cockpit. Thankfully he managed to move himself around and use his legs to push the (very heavy) canopy open slightly to allow some airflow until he was rescued! Ken sold off much of his collection in 2004 and XM169 moved on to the Highlands Aviation Museum in June of that year.

After being on display at the Highlands Aviation Museum for several years, Ken moved XM169 and put it on loan to Morayvia in December 2017, sadly the Highlands Aviation Museum has since closed with many of the other displays moving to Morayvia two years later.

Today, XM169 is awaiting a repaint and some TLC before being placed on display at the museum.

Information on this page current as of 19/07/2021, last updated by Jake

Find other photos of XM169 on the following sites:

Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net