With the current F-35 “Lightning” being delivered across the North Atlantic it has made me think.
Did the RAF ever fly the EE Lightning across the Atlantic to USA or Canada ?
The notorious short range, even with over wing tanks and in flight refuelling, there must have been an “in flight ” endurance.
74 Sqn deployed 13 x F6 Lightning from UK to Singapore in June 1967 with the help of 17 Victor tankers, but they had over night stops in Cyprus, Oman and Gan
By: cdmurray - 6th August 2018 at 15:43
23 Squadron – Ex ‘Maple Ranger’ from 26/8/1968 – 3/9/1968, these were the first transatlantic Lightning flights.
XS936 ‘B’ and XR725 ‘A’ participating in the Canadian International Airshow, Toronto-Pearson, Malton, Canada.
6:40 duration return flight from Toronto to Leuchars AAR
5 Squadron – Ex ‘Canus Ranger’ 12/8/1969 – 4/9/1969
XS902 ‘J’ & XS922 ‘H’ displaying at Andrews AFB, Dulles International Airport, Tyndall AFB and Toronto International Airport
AAR all legs
By: Binbrook 01 - 4th August 2018 at 12:34
The RAF only started participating in Red Flag around the 1976 or 77 timeframe with Vulcans first and then Buccaneers.
By: Firebird - 4th August 2018 at 11:38
Did the RAF participate in Red Flag with Lightnings?
No.
As far as I know, the trip to the Toronto Airshow in 1968, was the only occasion the RAF ever took any Lightnings over the Atlantic to North America.
By: olly_s - 4th August 2018 at 11:06
Did the RAF participate in Red Flag with Lightnings? I know Vulcans did not sure about lightnings though
By: Robert Whitton - 3rd August 2018 at 21:07
Toronto Air Show participant in 1968. Non stop to Goose Bay 7hrs 20mins. (photographed at Leuchars)
By: Firebird - 3rd August 2018 at 20:40
Did the RAF ever fly the EE Lightning across the Atlantic to USA or Canada ?
Yes, 23 Sqn (I think) took some F.6’s over to Canada for an airshow in the late 60’s IIRC.
By: Robert Whitton - 3rd August 2018 at 19:41
I think the F3 had a poor endurance when supersonic but it looked (to me) a better aircraft. Ooops its an F3A
By: Robert Whitton - 3rd August 2018 at 19:34
F.6 had a 2 hour (subsonic) endurance 850 miles. I dont know if this included the ferry tanks. Ventral tank held 600Gals and the overwing tanks held 260Gals each.
I saw some of the 74 Squadron aicraft at Leuchars with the ferry tanks in March 1967.
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August 3, 2018 at 7:13 pm