English Electric Lightning: Books - History and Deployment
A book on English Electric Lightning jet fighters? Explore here illustrated books on the history, construction and deployment of English Electric jet fighters.
Lightning from the Cockpit - Flying the Supersonic Legend
The English Electric Lightning was the only single-seat supersonic interceptor fighter designed and manufactured in the UK. It saw service with the RAF in the sixties and seventies and gained a worthy reputation for its speed (in excess of Mach 2) and phenomenal rate of climb. It was, however, a not entirely reliable aeroplane and over fifty were lost during its operational career.
In this book, the author has gathered together 16 personal accounts of what it was like to fly the Lightning, thrilling stories that convey the immense brute power of the machine and also its many pitfalls. To see a Lightning take off and climb vertically until it vanishes into the sky was one of the most spectacular sights in aviation. The lengthy Appendices include original offical pilot notes, cockpit layout and operational interception routines.
Author:
Peter Caygill
Specs:
192 pages, 23.5 x 17.5 x 1.6 cm / 9.25 x 6.9 x 0.63 in, paperback
Illustrations:
40 b&w photos
Publisher:
Pen & Sword Books Ltd (GB, 2006)
ISBN:
9781844153558
Lightning from the Cockpit - Flying the Supersonic Legend
The English Electric Lightning - Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War)
The early 1950s were a boom time for British aviation. The lessons of six years of war had been learned and much of the research into jet engines, radar and aerodynamics had begun to reach fruition. In Britain, jet engine technology led the world, while wartime developments into swept wing design in Germany and their transonic research programme were used to give western design teams a quantum leap in aircraft technology.
The English Electric Lightning emerged at this time. This supersonic fighter aircraft of the Cold War era is perhaps best remembered for its amazing take-off performance, its exceptional rate of climb and its immense speed. Here, Martin Bowman takes us on a photographic journey, illustrating the various landmarks of the Lightning's impressive operational history.
Author:
Martin Bowman
Specs:
144 pages, 24.5 x 19 x 1 cm / 9.7 x 7.5 x 0.39 in, paperback
Illustrations:
120 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:
Pen & Sword Books Ltd (GB, 2018)
Series:
Images of War
ISBN:
9781526705563
The English Electric Lightning - Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives
From Lysander to Lightning - Teddy Petter, Aircraft Designer
The Lysander, Canberra, Lightning and Folland Gnat are massive names in the world of aviation. Only three aspects bound together these top-class aircraft: they were each radical in design, they were all successful in Britain and overseas, and they were all born of the genius of Teddy Petter.
This book tells the story of Petter's life and family, with his ability to inspire the loyalty of his teams, as well as his tendencies and his eccentricities, right down to his retirement to a religious commune in France. Here Glyn Davies not only explores Petter's life, but also expands on the nature of his remarkable aircraft and why they are so legendary.
Author:
Glyn Davies
Specs:
160 pages, 23.5 x 15.5 x 1 cm / 9.25 x 6.1 x 0.39 in, paperback
Illustrations:
90 b&w photos
Publisher:
The History Press Ltd (GB, 2014)
ISBN:
9780752492117
From Lysander to Lightning - Teddy Petter, Aircraft Designer
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