'Lightning P1B' XA487 Mr Giles Howell

Good to see that XA847 has not been forgotten, and at least is kept under cover, by the looks of a recent photograph on www.demobbed.org.uk

Hi streety,
If you want to come and get a close look at two ‘live’ F6’s XS904 and XR728 and of course our QRA shed 😉 you are more than welcome to visit Bruntingthopre most Saturdys, just drop me a PM and we can do something for you.

There is a 558 forum gathering this coming Sunday 27th, we are opening our two up, all are welcome, and of course if you want your ears and insides shaking come along to our twlight reheat run on Feb 23rd 😀

Have a look here for more details http://www.lightnings.org.uk/

I know our two arent P1B’s but we are closeish 😉

Cheers

Thanks everyone – I have updated the original post to reflect the right reg.

I am gutted she is not in one place – does anyone know if there are any in one piece and where we can go and see them.

Hi Streety,

Closest examples of Lightnings to Brighton are probably those at the Gatwick Aviation Museum (Formerly known as the Vallance Collection), at Charlwood near Gatwick Airport, they are later (Export) marks than the P1B you mention, but show how the Lightning evolved out of the P1A/B project. Not sure about opening hours though, try the website for details. You may find the examples there are under tarpaulins unless they are being actively restored by the volunteers on the day you go there – perhaps a call to the GAM contact number might help avoid disappointment?.

Alternately, next closest is probably the RAF Museum at Hendon, which has an RAF Lightning F6 on display (or it did last time I was there).

Failing those two options, look on the “Thunder and Lightnings” Website, which has excellent details of many British aircraft of the 50/60’s period. It has a section on Lightning, and a sub section detaillign all known survivors. Many UK aviation museums hold examples.

If you want to see Lightnings in action, then ground running happens periodically at Bruntingthorpe in UK, but to see one fly you need to go to South Africa (“Thunder City”). More details can be found on various websites, or by searching this forum.

Glad to see another Lightning fan living nearby!
Paul F

Go to the Thunder-and-Lightnings link in my post above and you will see where the Lightning survivors are.
Good luck.

Thanks everyone – I have updated the original post to reflect the right reg.

I am gutted she is not in one place – does anyone know if there are any in one piece and where we can go and see them.

I could never understand why she left Hendon, where I saw her donkey’s years ago, but this link throws some light on that:
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/survivorspics1.html

you wont get to see her in one piece unfortunately 🙁 . she is still stored in kit form after collection from marine salvage back in 99/2000.

That would be XA847, the first prototype P 1B Lightning, first flown by Roland Beamont on 4 April 1957. It had a plate on the port side recording that it was the first British aircraft to fly at Mach 2, on 25 November 1958. The last I heard it was stored dismantled on a farm, perhaps the property of the Mr Howell, you mention. I am certain that a UK Forum member will be able to help you with this, so I will retire gracefully now!