Can English Electric Lightning supercruise?

1 prototype of the English Electric Lightning, exceeded Mach 1 on 11 August 1954. Since it could not sustain supersonic speed for 20 minutes, as specified in the original definition of “supercruise”, inclusion of the EE Lightning in the category has remained controversial.

Are there any airworthy English Electric Lightnings?

Three examples of the English Electric Lightning described as “airworthy” are currently available for sale. ZU-BBD (Service Registration: XS452, pictured above) is a two-seat T. Mk5 which was reportedly built in 1965. In 1988 it was delivered to Cranfield and subsequently bought by Tony Hulls and restored.

Can the f16 supercruise?

Supercruise is sustained supersonic flight of a supersonic aircraft with a useful cargo, passenger, or weapons load performed efficiently, which typically precludes the use of highly inefficient afterburners or “reheat”. A fully loaded F-16 cannot supercruise.

Can lightning supercruise?

Since the EE Lightning can barely meet the range requirement at most economical cruise speed, it does not have super cruise ability. It has to have that speed over the combat range to be able to do “Super Cruise” instead of a marketing trick like most of the other fourth gen jets.

Can the f35 supercruise?

The F-35 can use the afterburner to reach Mach speeds, and then cruise at supersonic speeds without afterburner. Hence if you are just defining supercruise as flying at supersonic speeds, the F-35 can do supercruise (as it is today).

When did the English Electric Lightning enter service?

1960
The Lightning was the first supersonic jet fighter in the Royal Air Force. The Lightning entered service in 1960.

How many lightnings did the RAF have?

English Electric Lightning

What plane has the fastest rate of climb?

Fedotov reached 35,230 m (115,600 feet) in a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 with 1,000 kg payload, and 36,240 m (118,900 feet) with no load (an absolute world record). In the thin air, the engines flamed out and the aircraft coasted in a ballistic trajectory by inertia alone.

Can f15 ex super cruise?

The F-15E can supercruise & further than any other fighter around. It was 1 of the 1st fighters to supercruise, in fact when it 1st supercruised no one paid much attention to it & thought it was just a matter of trivia that the F-15 could go supersonic without afterburners.

Does the F 35 have supercruise?

Which was the first aircraft capable of supercruise?

The English Electric Lightning was the first aircraft capable of supercruise. Supercruise is sustained supersonic flight of an aircraft with a useful cargo, passenger, or weapons load performed efficiently and without the use of afterburners (“reheat”).

Should the EE lightning be considered a supercruise?

Since it could not sustain supersonic speed for 20 minutes, as specified in the original definition of “supercruise”, inclusion of the EE Lightning in the category has remained controversial.

What is the English Electric Lightning?

One of the most high-performance fighters of the Cold War, the English Electric Lightning went on to find a special place in the hearts of those who flew her and in the admirers of the type all over the world.

Is the Lightning the only UK fighter capable of Mach 2?

It remains the only UK-designed-and-built fighter capable of Mach 2. The Lightning was designed, developed, and manufactured by English Electric, which was later absorbed by the newly-formed British Aircraft Corporation.