The English Electric Lightning was the RAF's Cold War supersonic interceptor fighter, built by English Electric. It was the only British fighter capable of reaching speeds above Mach 2 and the British counterpart to the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. There were usually two places on the aircraft where markings were applied: on the nose just below the cockpit and on the tail. The nose marking consisted of a colourful rectangular bar on either side of the RAF identification mark and the tail marking consisted of the squadron badge emblem. Although the Lightning was used numerous times during the Cold War period in interception operations against high-flying Russian aircraft coming to test NATO air defences, the aircraft never actually participated in combat operations.
Kris Christiaens is a professional aviation photographer who always tries to portray the power, manoeuvrability and history of aircraft and helicopters in the most original and impressive way possible... Read more…