Specs, individual airframe info and images for the F.1 . . .

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Lightning F.1

XG307; C/N 95007 ff R.P. Beamont 3-4-58 Samlesbury. First aircraft of 20 pre-production aircraft built at Samlesbury; Aerodynamic and equipment development by EE until delivery 24-2-64 to " A " Squadron A&AEE Boscombe Down. Withdrawn fron use 1970, scrapped at RAE Bedford dump 7-71.

XG308; C/N 95008 ff R.P. Beamont 16-5-58 Samlesbury. Handling trials with EE until transfered to " A " Squadron A&AEE by early 1960. Fitted with taller, square-cut F3 type fin at Warton in 1964 for further trials. 29-6-66 to Aero Flt. RAE Bedford 29-6-66. withdrawn form use 1968 and scrapped.

XG309; C/N 95009 ff D. de Villiers 23-6-58 Samlesbury. To " A " sqn A&AEE by early 1960 for gun firing trials To Farnborough 12-7-62; then to RAE Bedford by 1964, returned to Farnborough, 12-6-66; to R.J. Coley for scrap 27-6-67.

XG310; C/N 95010 ff J.W.C. Squier 17-7-58 Samlesbury. Carried out spin-trials programme; Farnborough SBAC show 1963 as a Mk 3. First flight as F 3 16-6-62. Used for taxi testing after being grounded 13-7-64. Long-term storage at Warton until 12-6-68, when stripped by 60 MU. To Shoeburyness 24-6-68 and 30-6-68. Scrapped at AWRE, 1971; nose section to scrapyard in Basildon 28-12-72. This aircraft was first to fly with taller production fin and square top (F 3 Fin). Total flights 374, hours flown 192h 7m. Last flight 25-6-64.

XG311; C/N 95011 ff D. de Villiers 20-10-58 Samlesbury. Retained by EE for handling and equipment trials until transfer to " A " sqn A&AEE by early 1960 Only development-batch aircraft to retain small fin throughout its life. From Shorts, Belfast, to Khormaksar ,Aden for tropical trials 7-61 to 10-61. Crashed in River Ribble near Warton on 31-7-63, when undercarriage failed to lower. Pilot, D.M. Knight, ejected safely. Total flights 238, hours flown 140h 10m. Last flight 31-7-63.

XG312; C/N 95012 ff J.W.C Squier 29-12-58 Samlesbury. Retained by EE for development work until late 1960, the used by Ferranti for A123 radar trials, mostly at Bitteswell. Forward windscreen shattered on 12-10-66 at Mach 0.9, 37,000 ft; J. Cockburn on its return to EE ( by then BAC ) landed aircraft. Aircraft not flown again, taken to Shoeburyness 14-8-68. SOC 4-72. Total flights 429, hours flown 303h 53m. Last flight 12-10-66.

XG313; C/N 95013 ff R.P. Beamont 2-2-59 Samlesbury. To Boscombe Down 28-6-65 for 2-in rocket trials; sold to Airwork Services as instructional airframe; last flight from Boscombe Down to Sydenham 25-4-68. Became G27-115 and shipped to Saudi Arabia for ground instruction airframe with RSAF at Dhahran. Scrapped 1972. Total flights 560, hours flown 351h 17m. Location unknown but believed to in the Dhahran, Saudi Arabia area

XG325; C/N 95014 ff J.W.C. Squier 26-2-59 Samlesbury. Used by De Havilland for Firestreak Trials; SOC at Warton, 3-66; dismantled by 60 MU stored at Shoeburyness 28-10-68. Front fuselage used as demonstration unit by 1476 Squadron ATC. Total flights 282, hours flown 221h 2m. Now privately owned, Thetford, Norfolk

XG326; C/N 95015 ff P. Hillwood 14-3-59 Samlesbury. Retained by EE for red Oxide fuel trials. Stored at Warton from 6-10-67; dismantled by 60 MU and shipped to Shoeburyness 10-6-68. Displayed on Horse guards Parade for BoB Display on 50th Anniversary of RAF in 1968. SOC 1971. Total flights 551, hours flown 416h 2m.

XG327; C/N 95016 ff J.W.C. Squier 10-4-59 Samlesbury. Last of original batch of development aircraft to be used at Warton, mainly on radar trials. Cat 4 damage at Boscombe on 20-2-60. Fitted wit F3 fin by Boulton Paul 1961/62 Modified to F 3 standard. 13-4-66 To Bedford for supersonic noise tests. To BAC Warton late 1968. In use RAE Bedford late 1969 but withdrawn from use early1970. To 5 SoTT at St Athan in 1972 as instructional airframe 8188M. No ventral tank fitted. At Manston, 1981.

XG328; C/N 95017 ff R.P. Beamont 18-6-59 Samlesbury. OR 946 and Auto-attack trials’ aircraft. RAE Bedford, 7-67; AWRE 14-8-68; Farnborough scrap compound 5-72; West Bromwich scrapyard 5-4-73. Total flights 220, hours flown 127h 37m. Last flight 20-1-66.

XG329; C/N 95018 ff R.P. Beamont 30-4-59 Samlesbury. Mainly used on gun-firing programme. Fitted with F3 fin approx 8-64. Seen in overall red paint scheme, Warton before delivery to A&AEE where it was used as a chase plane for the TSR 2. used by de Havilland from 6-4-66 to 21-12-66. Then returned to Boscombe Down. Cranwell Engineering School 1970 as 8050M. Now owned by Ian Hancock. Norfolk and Suffolk Aircraft Museum, Suffolk

XG330; C/N 95019 ff J.W.C. Squier 30-6-59 Samlesbury. OR 946 trials aircraft, used for fire-zone trials. To fire dump at Warton, then to scrap dealer in Chorley in 1970. Hours flown 170h 24m. Last flight 5-1-65.

XG331; C/N 95020 ff J.W.C. Squier 14-5-59 Samlesbury. Damaged at Warton after No 1 engine’s starter exploded. Rebuilt. Used for tropical trials in Khormaksar, Aden, 7-60; to Shoeburyness in parts on 26-6, 8-7 and 16-7-68. In scrap yard in Basildon, 28-12-72. Total flights 290, hours flown 196h 14m. Serviving parts believed to be located at Gloster Aviation Club

XG332; C/N 95021 ff J.W.C. Squier 29-5-59 Samlesbury. Used throughout flying life by the BAC and de Havilland for Firestreak and Red Top trials. Crashed at Hatfield on Red Top programme, 13-9-62. Pilot, G. Arid ejected but injured on landing. This aircraft is featured in the famous photograph of the pilot’s ejection watched by tractor driver. Total flights 214, hours flown 138h 52m. Last flight 13-9-62.

XG333; C/N 95022 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 26-9-59 Samlesbury. First aircraft with Liquid Oxygen system. Shipped to Khormaksar, Aden for trials 7-61 to 10-61. Used for Boeing-type rain-repellent programme. Fitted with F3 fin and re-issued to A&AEE. To BAC Warton by 1965 and withdrawn from use by 7-68. Scrapped 1970.

XG334; C/N 95023 ff J.W.C. Squier 14-7-59 Samlesbury. To the AFDS, Coltishall, 23-12-59, aircraft ‘A’. Crashed, 5-3-60, near Wells-next-the-Sea when undercarriage failed to lower. Pilot, Sqn Leader Harding, ejected safely. Total flights 34, hours flown 23h 35m.

XG335; C/N 95024 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 7-8-59 Samlesbury. Aircraft ‘B’ of the AFDS, Coltishall, 3-60. To Boscombe Down, 12-11-62. 19-2-63 returned to Warton with F3 fin by Boulton Paul. 12-11-63 to A&AEE. Crashed, 11-1-65, in Larkhill Ranges, Wilts (16:18 hrs) after undercarriage malfunction. Pilot, Sqn Ldr J Whittaker, ejected safely. Total flights 286, hours flown 204h 26m.

XG336; C/N 95025 ff J.W.C. Squier 25-8-59 Samlesbury. To the AFDS, Coltishall, as aircraft ‘C’, 12-59. Returned to Warton approx 3.62 fitted with F3 fin. Delivered A&AEE Boscombe Down, for Red Top trials 9-65. To RAF Cosford (?) (sic, in original record card) as instructional airframe 8091M, 5-70; to Halton, 11-72.

XG337; C/N 95026 ff J.K. Isherwood 5-9-59 Samlesbury. Used mainly on Red Top trials at Warton and Boscombe Down. Became 8056M used at Cosford and Halton. Total flights 698. On display at RAF Museum Cosford, Shropshire

XM134; C/N 95030 ff R.P. Beamont 3-11-59 Samlesbury. To Boscombe Down, 31-3-60; to the ADFS, Coltishall, 7-60; to Warton for development flying, 10-11-60; to 74 Squadron, Coltishall, 2-9-63 as aircraft ‘A’; to OCU, 1964. Crashed off the Wash, 11-9-64. Pilot, Flt Lt Bond, ejected safely. Remains at Farnborough, 10-64, and Warton, 5-66. Total hours 229h 15m.

XM135; C/N 95031 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 14-11-59 Samlesbury. To the Central Fighter Establishment, Coltishall, 25-5-60 as aircraft ‘D’; to 74 Squadron as ‘B’; to 226 OCU, 9-63; to Leuchars Target Facilities Flight; to 60 MU, 28-6-71. To IWM collection, Duxford, 20-11-74. Total hours, 1343h. Currently at Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire.

XM136; C/N 95032 ff J.C. Hall 1-12-59 Samlesbury. To the CFE, ‘E’, 21-6-60; to 74 Squadron, ‘C’, 15-11-62; to 226 OCU 9-64; to Wattisham TFF ‘B’, 8-66. Crashed near Coltishall, 13-9-67, after reheat fire followed by loss of tailplane control. Pilot ejected safely.

XM137; C/N 95033 ff J.K. Isherwood 14-12-59 Samlesbury. To the CFE, Coltishall, 28-6-60, ‘F’; to 74 Squadron 2-10-62, ‘D’, later ‘T’; to 226 OCU 9-64; to 33 MU, then to Binbrook TFF, 15-3-66, ‘Y’; to 23 Squadron and Leuchars TFF; to Wattisham TFF, ‘Y’, 1970; to Leuchars TFF 18-1-71; to 60 MU 11-73; at Leconfield 20-7-74; to 60 MU used in storage tests. Total hours 766h 25m.

XM138; CN/ 95034 ff J.K. Isherwood 23-12-59 Samlesbury. To the CFE, Coltishall, 30-6-60, ‘G’; to 74 Squadron 16-12-60, caught fire on landing, pilot Flt Lt Hopkins unhurt, Cat 4 damage, never repaired; to Coltishall fire dump, 10-66. Nose on Farnborough firing range, 11-72. Total hours 714h 35m.

XM139; C/N 95035 ff D. de Villiers 12-1-60 Samlesbury. To 74 Squadron 2-8-60, ‘C’, later ‘F’. To OCU, 9-64; to Leuchars (Marked Royal Scottish Air Force), 8-65; to Wattisham TFF then to 33 MU; to Warton for Cat 4 wing change, 14-11-69, before becoming official RAF Fighter Display Aircraft, returned to Wattisham 19-2-70. Used by Flt Lt R. Pengelly at SBAC Farnborough 70 and 72, Paris Air Show 71. Became 8411M at Wattisham 1981.Scrapped 3/94. DTEO, Pendine Ranges, nr Tenby, Wales.

XM140; C/N 95036 ff D. de Villiers 25-1-60 Samlesbury. To 74 Squadron 2-8-60 ‘M’; to OCU, 9-63; to 111 Squadron, 1-65, reduced to spares at 33 MU Lyneham 10-66.

XM141; C/N 95037 ff J.C. Hall 9-2-60 Samlesbury. To 74 Squadron 29-8-60, ‘D’; to OCU, 9-63. Damaged in take-off accident 16-5-61; to 33 MU, Lyneham, and reduced to spares, 8-66. Fuselage returned to Warton but sold for scrap 14-1-72.

XM142; C/N 95038 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 19-2-60 Samlesbury. To 74 Squadron, 30-8-60, ‘B’. Crashed in sea off Cromer 26-4-63, after control failure. Pilot, Flt Lt T.M. Burns, ejected safely.

XM143; C/N 95039 ff J.K. Isherwood 27-2-60 Samlesbury. To 74 Squadron, 15-9-60, ‘A’; to OCU, 9-63, reduced to spares at 33 MU Lyneham, 8-66.

XM144; C/N 95040 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 14-3-60 Samlesbury. To 74 Squadron, 30-9-60, ‘J’ and ‘G’; to OCU, 9-63; Cat 3 accident 29-9-64, repaired; then to Leconfield TFF; to 60 MU, 17-6-65, for storage; to Wattisham TFF ‘B’; then to Leuchars TFF ‘X’; to 23 Squadron 4-72; then to 60 MU as ‘hack’, before becoming 8417M. Gate guardian, Leuchars, 1981.Preserved by Atlantic AirVenture Co Ltd, Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland

XM145; C/N 95041 ff D. de Villiers 18-3-60 Samlesbury. To 74 Squadron, 14-5-62, possibly TFF ‘Q’ and ‘H’. Damaged in Cat 3 landing accident at Coltishall, 19-8-63, repaired; then to 226 OCU and the Leuchars TFF, 9-66. In storage at 60 MU until mid-73.

XM146; C/N 95042 ff J.C. Hall 29-3-60 Samlesbury. To 74 Squadron, ‘L’, 4-9-60; to 226 OCU, 9-63. To 111 Squadron, ‘J’; scrapped at 33 MU Lyneham, 11-66.

XM147; C/N 95043 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 7-4-60 Samlesbury. To the AFDS, Coltishall, ‘G’, 3-9-60; to 74 Squadron, ‘P’ and ‘J’; to 56 Squadron TFF; Cat 3 damage repaired at 33 MU; then stored at 60 MU, 3-4-70; to Binbrook TFF, Cat 3 damage twice at Binbrook, involving replacement of wings on one occasion and fin/rudder after loss in flight, on another. Wattisham TFF, 6-72; Leuchars, 6-73; Wattisham TFF, 6-73; then became instructional airframe 8412M. Scrapped 3/94. DTEO, Pendine Ranges, nr Tenby, Wales. Fin outside the Fire Section & ATC at RAF Wattisham

XM148; Never Completed, Warton.

XM149; Never Completed, Warton.

XM163; C/N 95044 ff D. de Villiers 23-4-60 Samlesbury. To the AFDS, as ‘H’, 4-11-60; to 74 Squadron, ‘Q’, 6-61; to 226 OCU, 9-64; Wattisham TFF, 8-68. 60 MU, 7-69; Wattisham TFF ‘A’, 8-70; to 60 MU for storage, 16-2-72.

XM164; C/N 95045 ff D. de Villiers 13-6-60 Samlesbury. To Boscombe Down, then to 74 Squadron, ‘K’, 8-60; to 226 OCU, 9-64; then to 33 MU and to Fighter Command Trials unit (later renamed Binbrook TFF), 22-2-64; to 60 MU, 3-69, and to Leuchars, 9-71; to 60 MU for storage, 4-72.

XM165; C/N 95046 ff R.P. Beamont 30-5-60 Samlesbury. First aircraft to enter RAF Squadron service as ‘A’ of 74 Squadron, 29-6-60. To 226 OCU, 10-63. Scrapped at 33 MU Lyneham, 10-66.

XM166; C/N 95047 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 1-7-60 Samlesbury. To 74 Squadron, ‘G’ 2-8-60; to 226 OCU, 9-63, scrapped by 33 MU Lyneham, 10-66.

XM167; C/N 95048 ff J.C. Hall 14-7-60 Samlesbury. To 74 Squadron, ‘H’, 26-9-60. Cat 3 damage on unknown date; to 226 OCU, then to 33 MU for storage. SOC 10-66. Total flights 681, hours flown, 525h 55m.

XM168; C/N 95049 Structural test airframe, never flown, used for tests at Warton.

Lightning F.1a

XM169; c/n 95056. Built 16/8/60. A&AEE, Binbrook TFF, 23 Sqd TFF, Last flight 1974, Leuchars Decoy, 1966. Sold as scrap 1989, nose section to Highland Aviation Museum, Inverness 2004. Now resides Morayvia, North Rd, Kinloss

XM170; c/n 95058. XM170 was put into quarantine for many years, before being removed to RAF 9 SoTT Newton on 18/3/1965 for use as Ground Instructional Airframe 7877M. To fire dump at RAF Swinderby in December 1966, finally scrapped 1977.

XM171; Built 20/9/60. A&AEE, 56 Sqn, 171/226 OCU, scrapped 1974

XM172; c/n 95059. Built 10/10/60. 56 Sqd, 172/226 OCU. Gate Guardian Coiltishall, Parkhouse Aviation Farnborough project. 2006 to Lakes Lightnings at Spark Bridge.

XM173; 31/12/1973 to Binbrook 28/05/1974 for decoy duties as 8414M, then to Bentley Priory during 1981 for display, sold during 2007 to MSS Holdings Ltd and transported by road on 26/01/2008 to Newton with Scales, Lancashire, then to Dodington, South Gloucestershire 08/2012, currently at Dyson HQ Malmesbury 11/02/2013

XM174; c/n 95055. Leuchars Target Facilities Flight. Crashed into Ballmullo Quarry near Leuchars, Fife. The pilot ejected due to a fire warning soon after take off from RAF Leuchars

XM175; c/n  95062. Built 23/11/60. 56 Sqn, withdrawn from active use 1965, used as a static test rig at Warton, scrapped 1974

XM176; c/n 95063. Built 15/11/60. 56 Squadron, withdrawn from active use 1965, scrapped 1974

XM177; c/n 95064. built 20/12/60. 56 Squadron, 177/226 OCU, Leuchars TFF, Wattisham TFF, 23 Squadron, scrapped 8/1974

XM178; c/n 95065. Built 30/12/60. 56 Sqd, 178/226 OCU, Leuchars TFF, 23 Sqd, Leuchars as decoy. Now located at Aviation Museum, Rue Charles de Gaulle, 21420 Savigny-les-Beaune, Bourgogne, France

XM179; c/n 95066. Built 4/1/61. 56 Sqd, destroyed in mid-air collision.

XM180; c/n 95067. Built 4/1/61. 56 Sqd, 180/226 OCU, to Gütersloh decoy

XM181; c/n 95068. built 25/1/61. 56 Sqd, 111 Sqd, 5 Sqd, Binbrook TFF, Binbrook decoy camouflage

XM182; c/n 95069. Built 6/2/61. 56 Sqd, 182/226 OCU, Binbrook TFF, 23 Sqd TFF, to Gütersloh decoy camouflaged

XM183; c/n 95070. Built 9/2/61. 56 Sqd, 183/226 OCU, 5 Sqd TFF, 183 Binbrook TFF, to Binbrook as decoy

XM184; c/n 95082. Built 27/2/61. 111 Sqn, crashed on landing Coltishall 1967, written off and stripped for spares, then to fire dump.

XM185; c/n 95083.  111 Squadron, crashed after main undercarriage and air brakes failed, due to hydraulic failure on approach to RAF Wattisham. Written off.

XM186; c/n 95084. 111 Sqn RAF Wittering. Written off (damaged beyond repair), Spun into the ground after a high speed stall just after taking off from RAF Wittering to give an aerobatic display, pilot killed.

XM187; c/n 95085. 111 Sqn RAF Wattisham, written off 19/11/1963 when it landed heavily at Wattisham, Suffolk. Struck off charge 4/1/1964 as Cat.5(G/I) and allocated to 9 SoTT RAF Newton, 28/2/1964. to RAF Coningsby for fire-fighting/crash rescue training in 1978, scrapped 1981.

XM188; c/n 95086. Built 27/3/61. 111 Sqd, 188/266 OCU, written-off after ran off runway and struck a hangar in 1968.

XM189; c/n 95087. Built 27/3/61. 111 Sqd, 189/266 OCU, Gütersloh decoy

XM190; c/n 95088. Built 1/5/61. 111 Sqn, 190/266 OCU, Crashed North Sea

XM191; c/n 95089 written off 09/06/1964 following an engine fire on landing at Wattisham, Suffolk, transported to No.71 MU Abingdon for ground instructional use , reduced to nose section for the RAF Exhibition Flt, Abingdon then based at Bottesford, sold 2006 to North Scarle, Lincolnshire, to Thorpe Wood, Selby, N Yorks by Oct 2013. Sold by Jet Art Aviation in 2022 current location unknown

XM192; c/n 95090. Built 25/5/61. 111 Sqd, 192/266 OCU, Binbrook TFF, Wattisham TFF, Wattisham Gate Guard, Bomber County Aviation Museum, Hemswell. Bought by Charles Ross and relocated to Thorpe Camp, Tattershall Thorpe, Lincolnshire

XM213; c/n 95091. Built 3/6/61. 111 Sqn, 213/226 OCU. Written off 6/5/66 after abortive take off and crash at RAF Coltishall

XM214; c/n 95092. 29/06/1961, 5/06/1974 delivered to Gutersloh, Germany for decoy duties as 8420M, scrapped during 11/1977

XM215; c/n 95093. Built 25/5/61. 111 Sqd, 469/266 OCU (145 Sqd), 215/226 OCU (65 Sqd), Gütersloh as decoy.

XM216; c/n 95095. Built 25/5/61. 111 Sqd, 216/266 OCU (145 Sqd), Gütersloh decoy

XM217; Not completed and utilised as spares source

XM218; Not completed and utilised as spares source