English Electric Lightning F.Mk 6

RAF No.5 Sqn, XR726, RAF Leconfield, UK

Corgi AA28404

Occupying a prominent position in the history of Britain's aviation industry, for young men hoping to join the Royal Air Force during the 1960s and 70s, the English Electric Lightning must have offered the most exhilarating experience anyone could hope to have.

On joining a Lightning unit, students would usually be given a "taster flight" with their instructor, something which would whet their aviation appetite still further, showing them what was available to them if they knuckled down and did the work. This would be followed by weeks of Ground School and time on the Lightning simulator, where they were brought up to speed on what was required if they were to become Lightning pilots - you had to think fast when travelling at these speeds.

Once posted to an operational squadron, they knew they were considered an elite pilot, flying an aircraft most people could only dream of spending time in, and for them, no other aircraft would ever come close to matching the sheer adrenalin rush of the Lightning.

Lightning XR726 was constructed as an F.6 variant during late 1964, making her first flight in June the following year. Spending much of her RAF career with No.5 Squadron, she wore the majority of the different camouflage finish variations worn by Lightnings during their service lives, including this particularly striking one in natural metal.

English Electric Lightning F.Mk 6

Designed to meet a need for a supersonic research aircraft, the English Electric Lightning was first flown on August 4, 1954. The Lightning was uniquely designed-its delta wing was based on German engineering research captured during WWII-and it was the last RAF fighter to be produced entirely in Britain. Instead of being placed on the wings, the Lightning's twin engines were stacked on top of one another, giving the aircraft an unusual height and an expanded profile. Capable of Mach 2.5, it had a rate-of-climb and maneuverability that could hold its own against any contemporary fighter.

Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:

• Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
• Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
• Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
• Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
• Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
• Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
• Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
• Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
• Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.