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History
of the BAC Lightning jet fighter of the Royal
Air Force shown in aviation art prints by Keith Woodcock of Lightning's of
56 squadron 111 squadron and 5 squadron. The last pure British jet
fighter, the Lightning is shown in these wonderful aviation art prints,
available from aviationprints.co.uk.
Portrait of Power by Keith Woodcock Lightning F6's of 5 squadron taking off from Binbrook in the 1970's.
This squadron first flew the Lightning (an earlier mark) in October 1965.
It was the first truly supersonic fighter to see service with the RAF and
was the mainstay of Britain's air defence during the cold war. Finally
replaced by the Tornado F3 in 1988.
Century of Aviation Series No3 by Keith
Woodcock BAC Lightning The last purely British fighter aircraft to be used by the Royal Air
Force, the Lightning offered a truly massive performance advantage over
existing equipment when it was introduced into squadron service in 1960,
achieving level flight speed of around, 1400mph. The prototype known as
the P1 had flown in 1954 but production aircraft were not available until
1959, a long gestation period but perhaps understandable with such an
advanced machine with many untried, new features. The painting shows an
F1A of 111 squadron taking off from its base at Wattisham. The remarque
drawing shows an aircraft of 56 squadron 'Firebirds' in 1963 when they
were the official RAF aerobatics team for that year. 337 Lightning's were
produced, serving with nine squadrons of the Royal Air Force before being
supersede by the Phantom and Tornado.
Cold War Intercept by Keith Aspinall Lightnings of 11 squadron intercept a Soviet TU-95 Bear.
over the north sea
Cruising
by
Robert Tomlin After a practice scramble, a Lightning F1A of 56
Squadron RAF The Firebirds, makes a gentle turn over the
famous Langdale Pikes in the Lake District in preparation for a steady
cruise back to base. |
| Lightning Tribute by Stephen Brown. Lightning F. Mk 1As of 56 Squadron on a pilot training sortie during 1963. During the early 1960s 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. Signed limited edition of 350 prints, signed by Flt Lt PV Boothroyd, Flt Lt George Fenton, Sqd Ldr Chris Taylor and Sqd Ldr Grant Taylor. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm). Price £80.00
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs, additionally signed by Wing Commander James L Dell OBE. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm)
. Price £100.00
Limited edition of 25 Remarques, additionally signed by Wing Commander James L Dell OBE. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm)
. Price £250.00 ITEM CODE DHM2314 |
| Portrait of Power by Keith Woodcock.
Signed limited edition of 850 prints. Image size 24 inches x 16 inches (61cm x 41cm). Price £95.00
Signed limited edition of 850 prints. Image size 24 inches x 16 inches (61cm x 41cm). Price £95.00 ITEM CODE DHM2410 |
| BAC Lightning by Keith Woodcock.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Paper size 12 inches x 10 inches (31cm x 25cm). Price £30.00 ITEM CODE DHM2427 |
| Cruising by Robert Tomlin. After a practice scramble, a Lightning F1A of 56 Squadron RAF The Firebirds, makes a gentle turn over the famous Langdale Pikes in the Lake District in preparation for a steady cruise back to base. Signed edition. Paper size 15.5 inches x 19.5 inches (40cm x 50cm). Price £50.00 ITEM CODE DHM2519 |
| Thunder & Lightnings by Gerald Coulson. A pair of English Electric Lightning F3s of 111 squadron depart. Reheat selected, they accelerate rapidly to blast off, cascading spray from a rain-soaked runway. This is the classic interceptor, with superb handling qualities and unmatched climb-to-height performance. The Lightning is the only British-designed and built fighter capable of achieving twice the speed of sound. The RAF took delivery in 1960 and they remained in front-line service until phased out in 1988. The last of the classic single-seat fighters, the Lightning enters the hall of fame alongside the Camel, Fury, Hurricane and Spitfire. The artist was once able to fly a two-seat version- Lightning T5- at just over 1000mph- which he describes as an unforgettable experience. Signed limited edition of 850 prints. Image size 26 inches x 21 inches (66cm x 53cm). Price £150.00 ITEM CODE GC0165 |
| Lightning Refuel by Michael Turner. A Lightning interceptor takes on fuel from a Victor tanker. Open edition print. Paper size 24 inches x 17 inches (61cm x 43cm). Price £28.00 ITEM CODE GT0078 |
| Lightnings by Iain Wyllie.
Open edition print. Image size 16.5 inches x 11.5 inches (42cm x 29cm). Price £14.00 ITEM CODE IW0007 |
| Cold War Intercept by Keith Aspinall.
Open edition print. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £16.00 ITEM CODE KA0002 |
| Supersonic Legend by Keith Woodcock. 74 Sqn. received these English Electric Lightning F1s in 1960, the first RAF aircraft capable of breaking the sound barrier in level flight. Signed limited edition of 395 prints on high quality giclee art paper. Paper size 15 inches x 11 inches (38cm x 28cm). Price £70.00 ITEM CODE KEIG0005 |
| Lightning Legend by Michael Rondot. 226 OCU / 145 Sqn RAF Coltishall EE Lightning T5 XS420 226 OCU / 145 Sqn RAF Coltishall, taking off in full reheat for a max performance rotation and climb. No other jet fighter has been sorely missed since the Lightning retired from RAF service and the Counter Aviation Authority (CAA) set about keeping surviving examples grounded. However, not all fighters die, and some Lightnings did not fade away either. They lived on because there were people willing to spend time and fortunes lavishing TLC on them until 1999, against all odds and officialdom, Lightnings are back in the sky. The return of the Lightning is celebrated in Michael Rondots brilliant portrayal of a Lightning T5 in the markings of 226 OCU/145 Squadron taking off in full re-heat for a maximum rotation climbout. This outrageous, extravagant display of scorching performance is just one of the heady delights of the gloriously overpowered Lightning. It is an aircraft of which legends are made. Stories abound this special aircraft and the pilots who flew it but none were more deserving of legendary status than the test pilots who first flew the Lighting. Signed limited edition of 650 prints. Paper size 27 inches x 20 inches (69cm x 51cm). Price £75.00 Signed by Wing Commander Roland Bee Beamont CBE DSO DFC DL, Jimmy Dell OBE and Flight Lieutenant John Squier.
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Paper size 27 inches x 20 inches (69cm x 51cm). Price £95.00 Signed by Wing Commander Roland Bee Beamont CBE DSO DFC DL, Jimmy Dell OBE and Flight Lieutenant John Squier. ITEM CODE MR0031 |
| Lightning by Michael Rondot. This classic portrayal of 92 squadrons flagship Lightning F2A XN778 King Cobra taking off from a rain-swept RAF Gutersloh in 1977 pays tribute to the legendary fighter,
its pilots and the engineers who enjoyed a love/hate relationship with the difficult and technically challenging Lightning. SOLD OUT . Price £
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Paper size 27 inches x 20 inches (69cm x 51cm). Price £120.00 Signed by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Keith Williamson GCB AFC, Air Vice-Marshal John Howe CB CBE AFC, Air Vice-Marshal Peter Collins CB AFC, Air Commodore Roger Topp AFC 2 bars, Group Captain Dave Seward AFC, Group Captain Ed Durham, Group Captain Bruce Hopkins AFC, Group Captain Graham Clarke, Group Captain Dick Cloke AFC, Wing Commander Alex Reed OBE, John Spencer CBE AFC and Dick Carrey.
Limited edition of 25 remarques. Paper size 27 inches x 20 inches (69cm x 51cm). Price £260.00 Signed by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Keith Williamson GCB AFC, Air Vice-Marshal John Howe CB CBE AFC, Air Vice-Marshal Peter Collins CB AFC, Air Commodore Roger Topp AFC 2 bars, Group Captain Dave Seward AFC, Group Captain Ed Durham, Group Captain Bruce Hopkins AFC, Group Captain Graham Clarke, Group Captain Dick Cloke AFC, Wing Commander Alex Reed OBE, John Spencer CBE AFC and Dick Carrey. ITEM CODE MR0060 |
| Lightnings F6 by Barry Price. XR789 and XR724, 11 Squadron RAF. Open edition print. Image size 12 inches x 16 inches (31cm x 41cm). Price £13.00
Original Painting by Barry Price. Massive Saving! Was £1800. Size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £1100.00 ITEM CODE NTR0065 |
| Thunder & Lightnings by Gerald Coulson
A pair of English Electric Lightning F3s of 111 squadron depart. Reheat
selected, they accelerate rapidly to blast off, cascading spray from a
rain-soaked runway. This is the classic interceptor, with superb handling
qualities and unmatched climb-to-height performance. The Lightning is the
only British-designed and built fighter capable of achieving twice the
speed of sound. The RAF took delivery in 1960 and they remained in
front-line service until phased out in 1988. The last of the classic
single-seat fighters, the Lightning enters the hall of fame alongside the
Camel, Fury, Hurricane and Spitfire. The artist was once able to fly a
two-seat version- Lightning T5- at just over 1000mph- which he describes
as an unforgettable experience.
Lightning Thunder by Michael Rondot A No. 19 Squadron Lightning F2A on take-off.
Of all the classic fighters to have served with the RAF since the
1950s, no other aircraft had the raw power and breathtaking performance of
the Lightning, and of all the variants the F2A was considered to be the
best.
Lightning Legend by Michael Rondot No other jet fighter has been more sorely missed since the Lightning
retired from RAF service and the Counter Aviation Authority (CAA) set
about keeping surviving examples grounded. However, not all old fighters
die, and some Lightning's did not fade away either. They lived on because
there were people willing to spend time and fortunes lavishing TLC on them
until 1999, against all odds and officialdom, Lightning's are back in the
sky. The return of the lightning is celebrated in Michael Rondots
portrayal of a Lightning T5 in the markings of No.226 OCU/145 Squadron
taking off in full reheat for a maximum performance rotation climbout.
This outrageous display of scorching performance is just one of the heady
delights of the overpowered Lightning. It is an aircraft of which legends
are made. Stories abound about this special aircraft and the pilots who
flew it but none were more deserving of legendary status than the test
pilots who first flew the Lightning. |
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