Airfix - English Electric Lightning F.6 - 1:48

• English Electric Lightning F.6, No.5 Squadron, (As deployed to Royal Air Force Luqa, Malta) Royal Air Force Binbrook, Lincolnshire, England, April 1977. (A)
• English Electric Lightning F.6, No.56 Squadron, British Aerospace Woodford, Cheshire, England, 1992. (B)
• English Electric Lightning F.6, No.11 Squadron, as displayed at Royal Air Force Museum, London. (C)

Among the notable British aircraft developed after the Second World War, the English Electric Lightning stands out for its significant impact. Initially deployed to defend Britain's V-Bomber bases from Soviet bomber threats, this supersonic marvel was epitomised by the Lightning F.6, which surpassed its predecessors with enhanced speed, range, and handling.

This extraordinary aircraft served the Royal Air Force for an impressive 28 years, navigating some of the most turbulent periods in global history. The F.6 model marked the reintroduction of guns, which had been omitted in the preceding F.3, complementing its pair of Red Top air-to-air missiles, much to the satisfaction of RAF pilots.

While the Lightning was renowned for its incredible speed, pilots believed it was capable of more than just defending points, demonstrating proficiency in dogfighting, provided its cannon armament was retained.