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I saw one at an airshow in the 1970s and the full almost vertical take off is probably the most shattering thing I've seen. Children not prepared for the absolute power where crying and screaming.
Calling this jet Ugly is enough to start a fight calling it brutal looking yes but not ugly... a great jet and much bigger in person than it would seem in pictures and until the F-15's came to Europe the Lightning was the fastest launching interceptor across Europe and could still surprise even in her closing days... and at the time she could outrun just about anything...
Yeah, even this American thinks ‘ugly’ is inappropriate. ‘Brutal’ is a good word for it, for sure. Why that damn white paper had to surface so Duncan Sandys could destroy the fine British aviation industry…that was even worse than former SecDef Gates canceling our promised 750 Raptors.
Yep, him too. Thinking about Gates is bad enough, but the other guy…that’d just ruin my lunch. We had so not have him again for a fourth term if his puppet manages to steal another election.
With Lightnings screaming over the house on the air base I grew up on as a child, and having been fortunate to fly in one, I can assure you the Lightning is one of the most beautiful aircraft ever made. Far more impressive than the F104 too.
Oooooo them’s fightin’ words! :). How did you manage to get a ride? That had to be amazing - I remember reading about it as a kid and having to verify I read it right that the Lightning had a rate of climb of 50,000 feet/min. I was very upset that was a much higher rate than the F-4, and even bested the F-104 by a smidge, but after that I developed a keen respect for British jets. Learning about the TSR.2 helped as well. I grew up wanting to fly Phantoms and Starfighters, but alas, colorblindness. Maybe they’ll start turning up on the warbird scene. I’m glad for you that you got to ride in your baby.
@@ronjon7942 The F104 was very impressive too and of course the F4 was a brilliant all round fighter and was the Lightning’s immediate replacement. I was lucky enough at university to join the University Air Squadron part of the RAF Volunteer Reserve so had basic flying training care of the RAF in the 80s and also got to go up in a variety of aircraft including the Lightning. I remember my RAF flying instructor who had flown Phantoms telling me how amazing the F16 was when they had had mock dog fights against them in West Germany and I must admit I would love to have gone up in one of those too.
@@ronjon7942Nah. they're not fighting words at all. The Lighting had many firsts in climb, stern close rate etc AND it is THE most beautiful jet fighter ever built. The Blackburn Buccaneer is THE most beautiful low-level bomber and the Canberra is THE most beautiful multi-role bomber. No, you gotta agree that all that is pure truth, doncha?
@@DaveSherry-z1w The Buccaneer was a beauty too. And as you say so was the Canberra which we also had out in Germany and as I am sure you know along with the Harrier and Hawk is one of the few jet aircraft “exports” the UK has made to the land of the free.
It was a wonderful video about British electric lightening aircraft ( ugly as hell and heavenly charming) shared by an amazing ( weapon detective 🕵️♂️) channel. Video clearly explained all characteristics of that aircraft's and historical designs of several prototypes
One thing you didn't mention in your video was the disastrous Duncan Sandys Defence Review of 1957 which cancelled virtually all manned fighter and combat aircraft development. The P1 later the Lightning was going to be the last manned fighter developed by Great Britain before Missiles took over.
I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beerholder. But having had the privilege to actually walk around one of these (at Thundercity), I think they are gorgeous! Weird…. But gorgeous.
The official and speed and height numbers are just that; what was officially announced. The speed may have been in excess of Mach 2.3, but this was achieved at heights above the supposed maximum ceiling so neither was admitted to. However, F.6's did practice intercept attempts against SR71 Blackbirds, who flew a lot faster and higher than the Lightning's published figures. Strange that... and the fact that MiG25 reconnaissance aircraft did not appear to have challenged British airspace in the 1970's and '80's.
It's a fighter plane developed in the UK after WW2, and honestly it's the coolest! The engine has an unconventional vertical arrangement, with additional tanks above the wing surface. What a great idea!!!!!!!!!!!! Ps. Is it true that at one time, it took one aircraft to fly in an anti-aircraft intrusion mission (scramble) when normally two aircraft would fly? I want to know the truth (I heard that it was done to save on fuel costs). WW2後にUKで開発された戦闘機で、正直一番カッコいいよ！掟破りの縦型配置のエンジン、翼面上部の増槽。発想が素晴らしい!!!!!!!!!! Ps.一時期、対領空侵犯任務（スクランブル）で通常なら２機で上げるところ、１機で上がっていたのは本当ですか？真実が知りたい（噂では燃料代節約の為と聞いていましたが）。
It was a fast and powerful interceptor, with good manoeuvrability too. What crippled it against the competition was Range (worse then an F104), high service costs and the Redtop/Radar combo. It could marginally faster as an interceptor then the F104, but what can you do if you cannot shoot down the target due to horrible missiles performances and no guns (added, but too late)?
Right? Double-take. Reminds me when I first saw a grainy picture of the Jaguar with its overwing Sidewinders, as a kid. I was studying that pic like an analyst trying to figure out how the airplane above it got edited out!
I'd argue it was the trident missile subs that made the lightning obsolete not another aircraft. High speed arial interception becomes less vital when it's not protecting your nuclear deterrent.
A beautifully ugly monster like as only Brits have the secret . Impressive as hell ! Fast, agile, climb like a rocket and fuel hungry as a rocket too .
And don't forget, the Lightning could break the sound barrier vertically. So rotating from the end od the runway, to 90deg it kept accelerating past Mach1. It had to, there'd be little warning of incoming soviet bombers & it had to get high & fast in a real hurry, all the while being so close it'd happen under UK ground radar direction, so no need to carry a heavy radar.
Brits depend too much aviation industry to the US n european allies.. Only france keep their aviation industry with pride n dignity.. Brits got so many talented engineer but goverment doest not have will to support it..
You are so wrong on the British Lightening fighter being ugly. So so wrong on that. And it was one beautifully designed fighter of the 1960s. The Lightening was a sleek and innovative fighter jet that was up there with the best of US fighters. Of course you have your opinion as do I. But if it were put to a vote you would definitely lose. 😂😂👍
A friend of mine took one up to 74,000 feet, and said someone else on his squadron had taken one to 83,000, and had a photo of the altimeter to prove it.
Looks are subjective. I think it is better looking than the F-104, but F-104 fans will understandably disagree. The Lightning's performance was amazing, but its poor range and poor weapons fit seriously damages its reputation
It's true that it's still a shame to have sacrificed its aeronautical industry when Great Britain was at the forefront of world aeronautics in the 40s and 50s. From an outside point of view it is even incomprehensible. On the other hand, with a combat radius of only 250 km, I wonder what its effectiveness could have been in the event of a real engagement? Thanks for the video.
British lightening shows an different way of thinking in the western company however Britain is not producing planes anymore there might be more for Britain, but the chance is lose
When new the armament was the best in the world. The missiles on the Lightning were better than anything the US had at the time. The fact the UK was still using them up to the late 1980s tells you how good they were.
@martinbayliss3868 On the contrary, when introduced the Lighting had missiles that literally never worked. After a complete redesign they got missiles which might occasionally work. They also had a pitiful range, especially in the context of their service in Saudi Arabia.
Disagree the Lightning wasn't as sexy as the 104. The F-104, in my humble opinion, is one for the most hideous machines, let alone aircraft, ever made.
The British Short Sperrin, it was the 4th bomber after the Valiant, Victor and Vulcan, it was never put into production but had stacked engines on both wings.
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The FRIGHTNING !! The problem with Britain is that politicians kept moving the goalposts .....it is a wonder we got any planes at all !
I saw one at an airshow in the 1970s and the full almost vertical take off is probably the most shattering thing I've seen. Children not prepared for the absolute power where crying and screaming.
... children were* crying ...
Calling this jet Ugly is enough to start a fight calling it brutal looking yes but not ugly... a great jet and much bigger in person than it would seem in pictures and until the F-15's came to Europe the Lightning was the fastest launching interceptor across Europe and could still surprise even in her closing days... and at the time she could outrun just about anything...
The Lightning was ugly? Madness! The Lightning was beast on a wing!
Yeah, even this American thinks ‘ugly’ is inappropriate. ‘Brutal’ is a good word for it, for sure. Why that damn white paper had to surface so Duncan Sandys could destroy the fine British aviation industry…that was even worse than former SecDef Gates canceling our promised 750 Raptors.
@@ronjon7942 WELL, At the behest of our diversity hire president for the time, you know, free cell phones and shit!
Yep, him too. Thinking about Gates is bad enough, but the other guy…that’d just ruin my lunch. We had so not have him again for a fourth term if his puppet manages to steal another election.
But…it is ugly, and got uglier when they put that bulge under fuselage, then external tanks on top of the wings.
As Han Solo would say "she might not look like much,kid,but she has got it were it counts"
... like much,* kids,* but she has got it where* it counts.
The only aircraft to catch and pass Concorde, others tried and failed.
With Lightnings screaming over the house on the air base I grew up on as a child, and having been fortunate to fly in one, I can assure you the Lightning is one of the most beautiful aircraft ever made. Far more impressive than the F104 too.
Oooooo them’s fightin’ words! :). How did you manage to get a ride? That had to be amazing - I remember reading about it as a kid and having to verify I read it right that the Lightning had a rate of climb of 50,000 feet/min. I was very upset that was a much higher rate than the F-4, and even bested the F-104 by a smidge, but after that I developed a keen respect for British jets. Learning about the TSR.2 helped as well.
I grew up wanting to fly Phantoms and Starfighters, but alas, colorblindness. Maybe they’ll start turning up on the warbird scene. I’m glad for you that you got to ride in your baby.
@@ronjon7942 The F104 was very impressive too and of course the F4 was a brilliant all round fighter and was the Lightning’s immediate replacement. I was lucky enough at university to join the University Air Squadron part of the RAF Volunteer Reserve so had basic flying training care of the RAF in the 80s and also got to go up in a variety of aircraft including the Lightning. I remember my RAF flying instructor who had flown Phantoms telling me how amazing the F16 was when they had had mock dog fights against them in West Germany and I must admit I would love to have gone up in one of those too.
That is great - thanks for sharing.
@@ronjon7942Nah. they're not fighting words at all. The Lighting had many firsts in climb, stern close rate etc AND it is THE most beautiful jet fighter ever built. The Blackburn Buccaneer is THE most beautiful low-level bomber and the Canberra is THE most beautiful multi-role bomber. No, you gotta agree that all that is pure truth, doncha?
@@DaveSherry-z1w The Buccaneer was a beauty too. And as you say so was the Canberra which we also had out in Germany and as I am sure you know along with the Harrier and Hawk is one of the few jet aircraft “exports” the UK has made to the land of the free.
The First Cold War title still takes some getting used to
I was lucky enough to see 4 of them fly side by side in South Africa a couple of years ago.
Excellent video with unique footage as always. However, I think the Lightning is weird not ugly, and absolutely charming.
Cool video man
Best fighter of the time alongside with the F-8 Crusader, my 2 favs of this epoch
Cold War classic! Great video!
It was a wonderful video about British electric lightening aircraft ( ugly as hell and heavenly charming) shared by an amazing ( weapon detective 🕵️♂️) channel. Video clearly explained all characteristics of that aircraft's and historical designs of several prototypes
* English electric lightening...not British
One thing you didn't mention in your video was the disastrous Duncan Sandys Defence Review of 1957 which cancelled virtually all manned fighter and combat aircraft development.
The P1 later the Lightning was going to be the last manned fighter developed by Great Britain before Missiles took over.
Built for speed, this beauty was.
It's not beautiful, it's handsome. It's masculinity in jet form. It's power over nature.
I didn't know the Lightning was so far ahead of its time!
I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beerholder. But having had the privilege to actually walk around one of these (at Thundercity), I think they are gorgeous! Weird…. But gorgeous.
The official and speed and height numbers are just that; what was officially announced. The speed may have been in excess of Mach 2.3, but this was achieved at heights above the supposed maximum ceiling so neither was admitted to. However, F.6's did practice intercept attempts against SR71 Blackbirds, who flew a lot faster and higher than the Lightning's published figures. Strange that... and the fact that MiG25 reconnaissance aircraft did not appear to have challenged British airspace in the 1970's and '80's.
It's a fighter plane developed in the UK after WW2, and honestly it's the coolest! The engine has an unconventional vertical arrangement, with additional tanks above the wing surface. What a great idea!!!!!!!!!!!! Ps. Is it true that at one time, it took one aircraft to fly in an anti-aircraft intrusion mission (scramble) when normally two aircraft would fly? I want to know the truth (I heard that it was done to save on fuel costs).
WW2後にUKで開発された戦闘機で、正直一番カッコいいよ！掟破りの縦型配置のエンジン、翼面上部の増槽。発想が素晴らしい!!!!!!!!!! Ps.一時期、対領空侵犯任務（スクランブル）で通常なら２機で上げるところ、１機で上がっていたのは本当ですか？真実が知りたい（噂では燃料代節約の為と聞いていましたが）。
Another great video on an unique aircraft!
Just curious, what kind of accent are you speaking?
Our narrator is a Turkish-American
@@WeaponDetective Thank you for the answer! I am always curious about culture and language stuff.
It was a fast and powerful interceptor, with good manoeuvrability too. What crippled it against the competition was Range (worse then an F104), high service costs and the Redtop/Radar combo.
It could marginally faster as an interceptor then the F104, but what can you do if you cannot shoot down the target due to horrible missiles performances and no guns (added, but too late)?
... worse than*
"Heavenly charming"? Interesting concept of heaven.
The thumbnail photo is extremely beautiful. Unusual fuel tanks but i think it works on rhe Lightning.
Right? Double-take. Reminds me when I first saw a grainy picture of the Jaguar with its overwing Sidewinders, as a kid. I was studying that pic like an analyst trying to figure out how the airplane above it got edited out!
We've got about 11 mins of fuel, let's make every second count, I mean it, we're down to seconds of fuel
When Britabia used to imagine, create and build...
I'd argue it was the trident missile subs that made the lightning obsolete not another aircraft. High speed arial interception becomes less vital when it's not protecting your nuclear deterrent.
A beautifully ugly monster like as only Brits have the secret . Impressive as hell ! Fast, agile, climb like a rocket and fuel hungry as a rocket too .
And don't forget, the Lightning could break the sound barrier vertically. So rotating from the end od the runway, to 90deg it kept accelerating past Mach1. It had to, there'd be little warning of incoming soviet bombers & it had to get high & fast in a real hurry, all the while being so close it'd happen under UK ground radar direction, so no need to carry a heavy radar.
Guess I didn’t realize this competed with the Fairey Delta. I thought the Delta was a proof of concept example.
Brits depend too much aviation industry to the US n european allies.. Only france keep their aviation industry with pride n dignity.. Brits got so many talented engineer but goverment doest not have will to support it..
'Ugly as hell' is a term reserved for US (second generation) aircraft designers.
Only scored 2 kills.... A USAF C130 Hercules. Shot down by an American pilot. And another Lightning that had been abandoned by ejection...
Homely, perhaps, but not ugly.
This is the aircraft that did the Kessel Run in 12 Parsecs
Remember when that tech accidently took off in one
You are so wrong on the British Lightening fighter being ugly. So so wrong on that. And it was one beautifully designed fighter of the 1960s. The Lightening was a sleek and innovative fighter jet that was up there with the best of US fighters. Of course you have your opinion as do I. But if it were put to a vote you would definitely lose. 😂😂👍
A friend of mine took one up to 74,000 feet, and said someone else on his squadron had taken one to 83,000, and had a photo of the altimeter to prove it.
The wheel turns..
Ugly ? i think its the best looking jet ever to grace the skies .
And the records it broke speak for itself .
What records? Name one.
Held the record for fastest acsent ,from take off for years.
Do you need to fly upside down to drop those fuel tanks?
I'd love to see who'd win in a dogfight between a Lightning and a Draken.
Dogfight, draken
Looks are subjective. I think it is better looking than the F-104, but F-104 fans will understandably disagree. The Lightning's performance was amazing, but its poor range and poor weapons fit seriously damages its reputation
The lightning is not ugly
No, no. The Lightnings are bautiful. They look fast almost in a sci-fi way. It became a bit off only when they tried to store fuel in it.
7:48 blatant, blatant mistake. Who else can spot it 🤔
It was ugly as hell😂
Here to give some love to the Victor Tankers!
It's true that it's still a shame to have sacrificed its aeronautical industry when Great Britain was at the forefront of world aeronautics in the 40s and 50s.
From an outside point of view it is even incomprehensible.
On the other hand, with a combat radius of only 250 km, I wonder what its effectiveness could have been in the event of a real engagement?
Thanks for the video.
British lightening shows an different way of thinking in the western company
however Britain is not producing planes anymore
there might be more for Britain, but the chance is lose
Definitely NOT an ugly plane. The only thing ugly are the above-wing tanks.
A unique combination of an incredibly capable aircraft, whose main armament totally didn't work.
When new the armament was the best in the world. The missiles on the Lightning were better than anything the US had at the time. The fact the UK was still using them up to the late 1980s tells you how good they were.
@martinbayliss3868 On the contrary, when introduced the Lighting had missiles that literally never worked. After a complete redesign they got missiles which might occasionally work. They also had a pitiful range, especially in the context of their service in Saudi Arabia.
Speed has a meaning
Disagree the Lightning wasn't as sexy as the 104. The F-104, in my humble opinion, is one for the most hideous machines, let alone aircraft, ever made.
F104 fast in a straight line and thats about it killed its pilots in droves
@@chitlika… Germany had the high accident rate. Other air forces flying the Starfighter didn’t have that
@@chitlika "Droves"? What a load of crap.
Really interesting plane with rather untypical engines layout. And fule tank located over the wing :)
The overwing tanks were only for ferrying. Definitely never intended for use in combat.
@@petegarnett7731 I know. But they look really intersting
Can the Lightning do a dogfight against, say, MiG-17?
What other production aircraft had an over-under engine layout?
The British Short Sperrin, it was the 4th bomber after the Valiant, Victor and Vulcan, it was never put into production but had stacked engines on both wings.
I wonder why it never reappeared on anything else in operation.
such a compromised design even the russians would blush