History

The Lightning was a high performance supersonic interceptor designed to defend Britain against nuclear armed bombers. They began entering service in 1960 and were phased out between 1974 and June 1988.

One of the airfields at which the RAF based Lightnings was Leuchars on the east coat of Scotland.

From it they regularly intercepted Russian flight towards British airspace.

In addition, Lightning squadrons visited Leuchars for month long target training provided by the Leuchars Target Facility Flight.

Lightning XS895 also flew from Leuchars in 1974 as a base aeroplane, painted in colours similar to the Target Facilities Flight.

This model represents Lightning F.6 XS895 of Leuchars Station Flight (operated by 23 Squadron), RAF, October 1974.

Trumpeter 1/72 kit with Xtradecal decals completed by Leigh Edmonds in December 2008.

Data

MODEL: BAC Lightning F.6 (XS895, Leuchars Station Flight, RAF, 1974)

ROLE: supersonic all-weather interceptor

TIME PERIOD: 1965-1988

ENGINES: two Rolls Royce Avon RB.136 Mk310 turbojet engines of 56.45kN dry thrust and 72.77kN with afterburner

WING SPAN: 10.61m

LENGTH: 16.84m

MAXIMUM TAKE OFF WEIGHT: 18,915kg

MAXIMUM SPEED: 2415km/h

RANGE: 1287km

CREW: 1

ARMAMENT: two 30mm ADEN cannon and two Firestreak or Red Top missiles

SCALE: 1/72

KIT:

GALLERIES:

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