page_title: English Electric Lightning
section_title: Military operators
hierarchical_section_title: English Electric Lightning / Operators / Military operators
caption_attribution_description: English: English Electric Lightning F3 "XP702" coded "N" of 11 Squadron Royal Air Force landing at RAF Finningley, Yorkshire. (scan from slide)
context_page_description: The English Electric Lightning is a British fighter aircraft that served as an interceptor during the 1960s, the 1970s and into the late 1980s. It remains the only UK-designed-and-built fighter capable of Mach 2. The Lightning was designed, developed, and manufactured by English Electric, which was later absorbed by the newly-formed British Aircraft Corporation. Later the type was marketed as the BAC Lightning. It was operated by the Royal Air Force, the Kuwait Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force.
  A unique feature of the Lightning's design is the vertical, staggered configuration of its two Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engines within the fuselage. The Lightning was initially designed and developed as an interceptor to defend the V bomber airfields from attack by anticipated future nuclear-armed supersonic Soviet bombers such as what emerged as the Tupolev Tu-22, but it was subsequently also required to intercept other bomber aircraft such as the Tupolev Tu-16 and the Tupolev Tu-95.
  The Lightning has exceptional rate of climb, ceiling, and speed; pilots have described flying it as "being saddled to a skyrocket".
context_section_description:  Kuwait
  Kuwait Air Force operated both the F.53K (12) single-seat fighter and the T.55K (2) training version from 1968 to 1977.
   Saudi Arabia
  Royal Saudi Air Force operated the Lightning from 1967 to 1986.
  2 Squadron operated the F.53 and T.55
  6 Squadron operated the F.52 and F.53
  13 Squadron operated the F.52, F.53 and T.55
  RSAF Lightning Conversion Unit
   United Kingdom
  Royal Air Force operated the Lightning from 1959 to 1988.
  RAF Aerial display teams
  The Tigers of No 74 Squadron. Lead RAF aerial display team from 1962 and first display team with Mach 2 aircraft.
  The Firebirds of No 56 Squadron from 1963 in red and silver.
  RAF Squadrons
  5 Squadron formed at RAF Binbrook on 8 October 1965, operating the Lightning F.6 and T.5. A few F.1s, F.1As and F.3s were used as targets (and later for air display use) from 1971. The Squadron remained operational at Binbrook with the Lightning F.6 until 1987, disbanding on 31 December.
  11 Squadron formed at RAF Leuchars in April 1967 with the Lightning F.6. It moved to RAF Binbrook in March 1972, receiving a few F.3s for target duties. It remained operational until 1988, disbanding on 30 April 1988.
  19 Squadron operated the F.2 and the F.2A (1962–1976)
  23 Squadron operated the F.3 and the F.6 (1964–1975)
  29 Squadron operated the F.3 (1967–1974)
  56 Squadron operated the F.1, F.1A, F.3 and the F.6 (1960–1976)
  65 Squadron operated as No. 226 OCU with the F.1, F.1A and the F.3 (1971–1974)
  74 Squadron operated the F.1, F.3 and the F.6 (1960–1971)
  92 Squadron operated the F.2 and the F.2A (1963–1977)
  111 Squadron operated the F.1A, F.3 and the F.6 (1961–1974)
  145 Squadron operated as No. 226 OCU with the F.1, F.1A and the F.3 (1963–1971)
  226 Operational Conversion Unit operated the F.1A, F.3, T.4 and the T.5 (1963–1974)
  Air Fighting Development Squadron
  Lightning Conversion Squadron (1960–1963)
  RAF Flights
  Binbrook Target Facilities Flight (1966–1973)
  Leuchars Target Facilities Flight (1966–1973)
  Wattisham Target Facilities Flight (1966–1973)
  Lightning Training Flight (1975–1987)
  RAF Stations
  RAF Akrotiri
  RAF Binbrook
  RAF Coltishall
  RAF Geilenkirchen
  RAF Gütersloh
  RAF Leconfield
  RAF Middleton St. George
  RAF Leuchars
  RAF Tengah
  RAF Wattisham
caption: Lightning F.3 of 11 Squadron in 1980
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