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Lightning F. Mk 1As of 56 Squadron on a pilot training sortie during 1963. During the early 1960’s many Lightning squadrons gave their aircraft colourful paint schemes, none was more striking than 56 Squadron (The Firebirds), who in 1963 doubled as the official RAF display team.
Conceived in a post-war period when speed, acceleration and climb rate were the key measures of a fighter, the English Electric Lightning excelled on all counts. Capable of Mach 2 in level flight, the Lightning provided the backbone of Britain’s front-line Cold War defence until well into the 1970’s.
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