The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, remembered for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. Renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor, RAF pilots described it as "being saddled to a skyrocket". English Electric was later incorporated into the British Aircraft Corporation, later marks being developed and produced as the BAC Lightning.

The Lightning was used throughout much of its service life by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force. The aircraft was a regular performer at airshows and was the first aircraft capable of supercruise. The Lightning was also one of the highest performance planes ever used in formation aerobatics. The Lightning aircraft is now largely retired to museums, but three examples still fly at "Thunder City" in Cape Town, South Africa.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale diecast replica of a RAF English Electric (BAC) F.6 Lightning fighter that was operated by 5 Squadron, then deployed to Binbrook, England, during 1984. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 9-1/4-inches
Wingspan: 5-3/4-inches

Release Date: November 2012

Historical Account: "'F' is for Further Improvements" - The F6 was an improved, longer range version of the F3 interceptor fighter and was one of the final variants of the excellent and iconic BAC Lightning. Noted for its exceptional speed, endurance and weapons carrying capability, the Lightning will always be remembered as a spectacular and potent interceptor; defending the RAFs airspace against Soviet intrusions throughout the height of the Cold War.

Able to climb faster than anything else in the skies, the Lightning was a fearsome machine and not for the faint hearted to fly. Gaining the Lightning with its move to RAF Binbrook in 1965, 5 Squadron would keep its Lightnings until their replacement with Tornado F3s in 1987. This particular machine still exists, though preserved in a different colour scheme. The sharks mouth was painted on during gunnery exercises and later removed.