Tag: English Electric Lightning for sale

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English Electric Lightning F.53 For Sale: “Full Exterior Refurbishment in 2022”

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

English Electric Lightning F.53 ZF580 has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

English Electric Lightning ZF580 is an ex-Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force Lightning F53. The aircraft saw active service with the RSAF before being retired in the late 1980s. ZF580 is currently finished in a high-gloss colour-scheme and markings representing Lightning F.6 XS935 ‘AK’ of 5 Sqn – this livery was applied during a full exterior refurbishment at the start of 2022 to provide durable weather protection for external display… The Rolls-Royce Avon engines have been removed, reducing the overall weight by 2.6 tons, but the jet-pipes and afterburner assemblies are installed, preserving the correct appearance of the aircraft. 1 each inert examples of Firestreak and Red Top missiles, the principle interception armament for the Lightning are included and are correctly mounted on the aircraft. Protective engine intake and jet-pipe cover-blanks are included. The cockpit has not been restored and needs to be refurbished. The correct Martin Baker Mk.4 ejection seat is installed, the side consols are mostly complete and more than half of the original cockpit instruments are installed or included for installation. The control stick is installed, but the stick top/grip is absent. The cockpit canopy is correctly mounted and articulates for opening.

The aircraft is located in Newquay, United Kingdom and is currently being offered for £25,000, although bids are also being aceepted. Click here to check out the complete listing on eBay.

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Three Airworthy English Electric Lightnings Offered For Sale

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

Three examples of the English Electric Lightning described as “airworthy” are currently available for sale.

ZU-BBD (Service Registration: XS452, pictured above) is a two-seat T. Mk5 which was reportedly built in 1965. In 1988 it was delivered to Cranfield and subsequently bought by Tony Hulls and restored. The Aircraft was fast taxied at Cranfield Airshow. It was later bought by Mike Beacheyhead in South Africa and registered as ZU-BBD. The service history is listed as follows:

Service: “452” 226 OCU, “T” 11 Sqd, “X” 111 Sqd, “X” 56 Sqd, Akrotiri Station Flight (Flamingo on PINK fin, pink-blue nose markings), used APC-detached UK Lightning squadrons, “Y” 11 Sqd (‘C’ Flt). First flight in dark green experimental camouflage. LTF, lent 5 Sqd, “T” 11 Sqd, “Z” LTF, “DZ” LTF, “BT” 11 Sqd.

Also available is Lightning F. Mk6 ZU-BEY (Service Registration: XP693) and ZU-BEW (Service Registration: XR773). Pricing for each machine is available upon application. Click here (ZU-BBD), here (ZU-BEY) and here (ZU-BEW) to check out respective listings.

(Photo (Cropped): Bob Adams from Amanzimtoti, South Africa / CC BY-SA via Wikimedia Commons)