EE Lightning

[Mossie]

The P.8 development had a short undercarriage, but up into the mid fuselage:

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[Pellson]

Quick question:
Did the 1/72 Airfix Lighting F.2A (A55305) kit also contain parts for an F.6? 

[Dizzyfugu]

IIRC: no. It is just an F,2A, it also only comes with Firestreaks.

[PR19_Kit]

IIRC the F6 doesn't come with F2A bits either, you have to get the exact model.

Beware of the F2A Starter Kit too, a) it has a smaller decal sheet, and b) they're almost always come with squashed parts as the box isn't strong enough.   

[The Wooksta!]

Always get the F6, even if you want to do an F2A, as you get parts for both variants and spares are always welcome.  The Firestreaks and Red Tops are rubbish and fit only for the bin. Best replaced with Freightdog resin items.

[McColm]

Did the Lightning ever carry sidewinder missiles?

[PR19_Kit]

Not in the RW....................but...................

[Pellson]

Always get the F6, even if you want to do an F2A, as you get parts for both variants and spares are always welcome.  The Firestreaks and Red Tops are rubbish and fit only for the bin. Best replaced with Freightdog resin items.

Thanks Lee (and Kit).

[McColm]

Not in the RW....................but...................

So PR19_Kits' ninth rule anything is possible in Whiffworld.

[AeroplaneDriver]

Did the Lightning ever carry sidewinder missiles?

New Radar and Sidewinders were looked at in the 80s but nothing came of it.  At least, as Kit points out, not in the RW...

[McColm]

Did the Lightning ever carry sidewinder missiles?

New Radar and Sidewinders were looked at in the 80s but nothing came of it.  At least, as Kit points out, not in the RW...

I was wondering about the exported versions maybe they had Sidewinders.

[Martin H]

Did the Lightning ever carry sidewinder missiles?

New Radar and Sidewinders were looked at in the 80s but nothing came of it.  At least, as Kit points out, not in the RW...

From recently declassified documents seen by one of our own..........who promtly told me about it.
 XP706 was test fitted with a pair of Aim 9's in 1982. Apparently as one of the many Falklands "emergency" fit schemes that bounced around the RAF.
Ive seen rather grainy photographic proof of this taken inside a hanger at St Athan that was with the documents in question.
I dont think 706 Flew with the winders fitted and Ive been unable to find out much if anything else about the trial.

[rickshaw]

Did the Lightning ever carry sidewinder missiles?

New Radar and Sidewinders were looked at in the 80s but nothing came of it.  At least, as Kit points out, not in the RW...

From recently declassified documents seen by one of our own..........who promtly told me about it.
 XP706 was test fitted with a pair of Aim 9's in 1982. Apparently as one of the many Falklands "emergency" fit schemes that bounced around the RAF.
Ive seen rather grainy photographic proof of this taken inside a hanger at St Athan that was with the documents in question.
I dont think 706 Flew with the winders fitted and Ive been unable to find out much if anything else about the trial.

Their is mention of them fitting a Lightning with Sidewinders with pictures in one of the books on the Lightning.  They mention they had problems with the missiles because of drag (or I would assume loss of it ) and would have had to fit a larger fin if they had mounted them for real.... 

[McColm]

Thanks for the information 

[AeroplaneDriver]

In Tony Wilson's book "Lightning Genesis & Projects", Chapter 9 on fighter developments mentions four missiles were considered as an alternative to an improved Firestreak (Blue Vespa); Sidewinder, Falcon, Sparrow, and Genie.  It states Sidewinder was rejected (at this point still in the 50s) as being no improvement over the Firestreak development. The book has a lot of drawings of Genie carriage options that were studied including a single belly mounted one for air-to-ground use as well as the existing stub pylons, 3 different underwing points, overwing, and even wingtip. It's a great book for Lightning Whiffery.