Specs, individual airframe info and images for the F.2 . . .

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Lightning F.2

XN723; C/N 95096 ff J.L. Dell 11-7-61 Samlesbury. To Boscombe Down for appraisal 6-2-62; to Rolls Royce, 2-4-63. Crashed at Hucknall while with Rolls Royce, due to fire in No 2 engine bay. Mr D. Withnal ejected safely.

XN725; C/N 95097 ff J.L. Dell 31-3-62 Samlesbury. Converted to F3 prototype (Avon 301s). First aircraft with cambered leading edge. Carried a variety of test ventral tanks and used at RAE Bedford for Concorde ‘noise’ and high-speed trials.

XN729; C/N 95106 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 3-11-61 Samlesbury. To the AFDS, CFE Binbrook, 1-3-63. Carried out flight-refuelling trials at Wattisham. Bought by the BAC, 7-3-67, to replace crashed Saudi Arabian Mk 52 (52-657 ex-XN796). To Saudi Arabia, 9-5-67, as 52-659, later 52-612; crashed, 2-5-70, near Khamis Mushayt.

XN734; C/N 95113 ff D. de Villiers 13-7-62 Samlesbury. Aircraft on charge to Rolls Royce for engine development programme F 3 (Avon 301s). To Hucknall, 6-12-65; returned to Warton, 18-9-67; to 60 MU, 5-2-70. Sold to the BAC for Saudi Arabian contract as G27-239. Scrapped at Cranfield 1/12/94

XN767; C/N 95115 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 19-2-62 Samlesbury. To 33 MU, Lyneham. Bought by the BAC for Saudi Arabian contract; to Warton, 9-5-66. Dispatched, 22-7-66, as 52-655, later 52-609. Location unknown, believed to have been scrapped

XN768; C/N 95121 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 14-3-62 Samlesbury. To 33 MU, Lyneham, 5-7-63; to 92 Squadron as ‘S’, 5-73. Not converted to F 2A. 8347M on Gutersloh dump, 9-73.

XN769; C/N 95122 ff D. de Villiers 31-3-62 Samlesbury. To 33 MU, Lyneham, 5-9-63; to 92 Squadron as ‘Z’, not converted to F 2A. 8402M at West Drayton. Scrapped 1994, Nose saved by Russell Carpenter, New Eltham. Cockpit of XN769 now resides at the Malta aircraft museum, donated by Russell on a long term loan basis.

XN770; C/N 95123 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 24-4-62 Samlesbury. To 33 MU Lyneham, never allocated to a squadron. Bought by the BAC for Saudi Arabian contract; to Warton, 4-5-66, to Saudi Arabia as 52-656, later 52-610, 11-7-66. Located at Saqr al Jazira (RSAF) Museum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

XN794; C/N 95147 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 16-5-63 Samlesbury. Damaged by fire on second engine run. To 33 MU, 5-9-63; to 19 Squadron, 1966, to 92 Squadron as ‘R’, 2-71. Not converted to F 2A. 8349M.

XN796; C/N 95149 ff D. de Villiers 12-7-63 Samlesbury. To 33 MU, 11-10-63; never allocated to RAF squadron. Bought by the BAC for Saudi Arabian contract; to Warton, 29-4-66; to Saudi as 52-657, 8-7-66. Crashed on take-off, 20-9-66, after excessive rotation at low airspeed. Pilot not injured, but aircraft written off.

XN797; C/N 95150 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 5-9-63 Samlesbury. To 33 MU, 4-10-63; never allocated to RAF squadron. Bought by the BAC for Saudi Arabian contract. To Warton, 28-4-66; to Saudi as 52-658, later 52-611, 22-7-66. Crashed 29-11-68 at Khamis Mushayt - stalled when practising single-engine approaches. Major S. Ghimlas killed.

XN798; cancelled, not built

XN799; cancelled, not built

XN800; cancelled, not built

XN801; cancelled, not built

XN802; cancelled, not built

XN803; cancelled, not built

Lightning F.2a

XN724; C/N 95094 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 11-9-61 Samlesbury. To Boscombe Down, 22-5-62; to 33 MU, 5-9-63; to Warton, 20-10-66, for F 2A conversion. To 19 Squadron as ‘F’; eventually became 8513M.

XN726; C/N 95098 ff J.K. Isherwood 29-9-61 Samlesbury. To the CFE, Binbrook, 14-2-63. Converted to F 2A at Warton; first flight as F 2A, 28-3-68 (J.L. Dell). First F 2A with Avon 211s. To 19 Squadron as ‘D’, 7-6-68. Cat 4 damage by lightning strike, to Samlesbury by road, 2-6-72. At Farnborough in 1977 as 8545M. Front Fuselage located at Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, Old Sarum Airfield

XN727; C/N 95099 ff D. de Villiers 13-10-61 Samlesbury. To 92 Squadron as ‘A’ Leconfield. Converted to F 2A in 1969; at Farnborough as 8547M in 1977.

XN728; C/N 95105 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 26-10-61 Samlesbury. To 92 Squadron as ‘B’, 1-4-63. Under-carriage collapsed, 3-4-68; during repair converted to F 2A, returned to 92 Squadron as ‘F’, 24-6-69. Became 8546M. Owned by A1 Commercial Vehicles, Balderton, Newark. Scrapped 9-9-11,  Cockpit saved and changed ownership 2013, now owned by Darren Swinn, Lincolnshire.

XN730; C/N 95107 ff D. de Villiers 23-11-61 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron as ‘B’, 12-3-63. Converted to F 2A and to 92 Squadron, 30-8-68. Became 8496M. Currently at Museum Flugplatz, Berlin-Gatow

XN731; C/N 95108 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 8-1-62 Samlesbury. To handling squadron, Boscombe Down, 22-4-63; to 92 Squadron, 8-63. Converted to F 2A; first flight 21-3-69; back to 92 Squadron as ‘L’; to 19 Squadron as ‘Z’, 1-73. To 60 MU 19-2-74. Became 8518M.

XN732; C/N 95109 ff J.K. Isherwood 19-1-62 Samlesbury. To 92 Squadron as ‘H’, 30-4-63. Converted to F 2A and returned to 92 as ‘R’, 12-8-69. To 60 MU, 3-74. Became 8519M. Modified as a Mig look-alike at Laarbruch; sadly scraped.

XN733; C/N 95110 ff D. de Villiers 1-2-62 Samlesbury. To 92 Squadron as ‘L’, 6-6-63. Cat 4 damage at Gutersloh after starter explosion, returned to Warton and converted to F 2A, back to 92 as ‘R’, later ‘Y’, 31-12-69. Became 8520M.

XN735; C/N 95114 ff D. de Villiers 23-2-62 Samlesbury. To 92 Squadron as ‘J’, 10-5-63; to Warton for F 2A conversion, 30-8-68. To Gutersloh, 25-4-69, 19 Squadron as ‘A’. Became 8552M.

XN771; C/N 95124 ff R.P. Beamont 29-8-62 Samlesbury. To the AFDS, Binbrook as ‘M’, 14-11-62; to 33 MU; to the CFE; to Warton, 21-9-66, for F 2A conversion; first flight 1-2-68; to 19 Squadron as ‘P’, 21-3-68. Scrapped DTEO Shoeburyness, late 1995.

XN772; C/N 95125 ff D. de Villiers 10-5-62 Samlesbury. To Boscombe Down, 7-11-63; to Warton for F 2A conversion. 4-9-67; to Gutersloh, 92 Squadron as ‘N’, 2-8-68. Crashed, 28-1-71, Flying Officer Hitchcock ejected safely. Hours flown 923h.

XN773; C/N 95126 ff D. de Villiers 13-6-62 Samlesbury. To Rolls Royce at Hucknall, 25-5-64; to 60 MU, 3-65; to Warton for F 2A conversion, 10-7-67, to Gutersloh, 92 Squadron as ‘E’. Became 8521M.

XN774; C/N 95127 ff D. de Villiers 27-9-62 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron as ‘C’, 13-2-63; to Warton for F 2A conversion, 13-8-69. Became 8551M. used as BDR RAF Conningsby until burnt late 1994. A number of cockpit parts survived and are now owned by Darren Swinn

XN775; C/N 95128 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 1-10-62 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron, 17-12-62. First F 2 in RAF service; to Warton for F 2A conversion, 7-6-68; to 92 Squadron as ‘B’, 15-1-69. Became 8448M.

XN776; C/N 95129 ff D. de Villiers 18-10-62 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron as ‘E’; to Warton for F 2A conversion, 14-1-69; to Gutersloh, 19 Squadron as ‘C’, 13-8-69. Currently owned and preserved by Scottish National Museum Of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, Scotland

XN777; C/N 95130 ff D. de Villiers 13-7-62 Samlesbury. To the AFDS, Binbrook. Damaged, 21-12-62, when nose leg broke off. To 33 MU, then to Warton for F 2A conversion, 5-10-66. First flight, 2-3-68, then to 19 Squadron as ‘K’, 26-3-68. Became 8537M.

XN778; C/N 95131 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 9-11-62 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron, 9-1-63; to Warton for F 2A conversion, 10-5-68; back to 92 Squadron as ‘H’, 19-12-68. Became 8537M.

XN779; C/N 95132 ff R.P. Beamont 20-11-62 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron ‘G’, 27-2-63; to Warton 11-3-66, for Cat 4 repair; returned to Germany, 2-2-67; to 60 MU, 10-69. With 19 Squadron as ‘X’, 8-7-71. Gutersloh dump, 9-73. 8348M.

XN780; C/N 95133 ff D. de Villiers 7-12-62 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron, 12-2-63. To Warton for F 2A conversion, 27-2-68; to 19 Squadron as ‘H’; then to 92 Squadron as ‘G’ and ‘K’, 4-10-68.

XN781; C/N 95134 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 12-12-62 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron, Leconfield, as ‘J’, 15-3-63, to 33 MU, then to Warton, 13-9-66, for F 2A conversion. First flight, 29-12-67; to 19 Squadron as ‘B’, 26-2-68. Became 8538M.

XN782; C/N 95135 ff R.P. Beamont 20-12-62 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron as ‘K’, 19-2-63; to Warton for F 2A conversion, 27-3-68; returned to Germany, 25-11-68, as ‘H’, 92 Squadron. Became 8539M. Owned and preserved by Flugausstellung Hermeskeil, Hunsrückhöhenstraße, 54411 Hermeskeil, Germany

XN783; C/N 95136 ff D. de Villiers 26-1-63 Samlesbury. To 92 Squadron as ‘A’. Cat 3 damaged, 16-11-65. To Warton for F 2A conversion, 1-5-69; to 19 Squadron as ‘G’. Became 8526M.

XN784; C/N 95137 ff J.K. Isherwood 26-1-63 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron, 19-3-63; to Warton for F 2A conversion, 30-1-69; returned to 19 Squadron as ‘L’, later ‘R’. Became 8540M. currently at Air Park Zruc u Plzne, 330 08 Zruč-Senec, Czechia

XN785; C/N 95138 ff J.K. Isherwood 30-1-63 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron, 5-4-63, as ‘C’. Crashed near Driffield, 27-4-64 after flight-refuelling exercise, attempted to land at disused airfield, Hutton Cranswick. Flying Officer Davey did not eject and was killed. Hours flown 285h 55m.

XN786; C/N 95139 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 12-2-63 Samlesbury. To 92 Squadron as ‘D’, 9-4-63. Cat 3 damage, 3-8-65. To Warton , 29-10-68, for F 2A conversion, returned to 19 Squadron as ‘M’. First Lightning to carry definitive camouflage scheme in 5-72. Became 8500M.

XN787; C/N 95140 ff T.M.S. Ferguson 15-2-63 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron as ‘M’, 22-3-63; to Warton, 1-7-69, for F 2A conversion; then to 92 Squadron as ‘L’. At 60 MU, 7-73, became 8522M.

XN788; C/N 95141 ff R.P. Beamont 25-2-63 Samlesbury. To 92 Squadron as ‘P’, 23-5-63; on loan to 111 Squadron, 25-5-64. 3-7-64; became ‘R’ on return to 92. To Warton, 12-8-69, for F 2A conversion; to 92 Squadron as ‘P’; to 60 MU, 15-2-73. Port main gear collapsed, 29-5-74, at Gutersloh when brake chute failed. 8543M

XN789; C/N 95142 ff D. de Villiers 11-3-63 Samlesbury. To 92 Squadron as ‘G’, 26-4-63; to 33 MU, 9-66; to Warton, 5-9-66, for F 2A conversion; to 19 Squadron, 15-1-68, as ‘J’. 8527M.

XN790; C/N 95143 ff J.K. Isherwood 20-3-63 Samlesbury. To 92 Squadron, 25-4-63; to Warton, 26-5-68, for F 2A conversion; to 19 Squadron as ‘L’, 30-1-69. 8523M.

XN791; C/N 95144 ff R.P. Beamont 4-4-63 Samlesbury. To 19 Squadron as ‘N’, 15-5-63; to Warton, 21-3-68, for F 2A conversion; to Germany, 92 Squadron 29-10-68, as ‘D’. 8524M.

XN792; C/N 95145 ff R.P. Beamont 19-4-63 Samlesbury. To 92 Squadron as ‘N’, 24-6-63; to Warton, 2-8-68, for F 2A conversion; to Gutersloh, 92 Squadron as ‘M’, 21-3-69; to 60 MU, 17-8-73. 8525M.

XN793; C/N 95146 ff D. de Villiers 1-5-63 Samlesbury. To 92 Squadron as ‘K’, 21-6-63; to Warton, 26-9-68, for F 2A conversion; to 92 Squadron as ‘A’, 1-5-69. Damaged at Gutersloh, 18-9-73. 8544M.

XN795; C/N 95148 ff J. Carrodus 30-5-63 Samlesbury. To 33 MU, 13-7-63; to Warton, 9-7-64, for F 2A conversion. First F 2A conversion - only fin and tank modified, wing as F 2. In storage at Warton; To Boscombe Down, 12-11-68; to Warton in 1972 for MRCA Development Flying (27 mm Mauser gun trials) with the BAC on MoD contract work, 1982. Currently owned by Carl Lamb - RAF Air Defence Radar Museum