The English Electric Lightning is a British single-seat supersonic interceptor built around two engines mounted one above the other in a slim fuselage, entering Royal Air Force service in 1960 as the United Kingdom's primary home-defense fighter during the Cold War. Capable of exceptionally rapid climbs to intercept high-flying bombers and of sustained flight beyond Mach 2, it was designed and built almost entirely in Britain at a time when many allied air forces were adopting American designs, and it remained in RAF service into the late 1980s as one of the most distinctive interceptors of its generation.
Facts
SignificanceSupersonic interceptor capable of a top speed above Mach 2, designed to defend the airfields of the British V bomber force. 1 Manufacturer or Builder In the Other Atlases
Manufactured By
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Sources
1. Wikipedia, English Electric Lightning
Lead, manufacturer sentence
The Lightning was designed, developed, and manufactured by English Electric.
Lead, service span
served as an interceptor from 1960 to 1988
Lead, performance sentence
It is capable of a top speed above Mach 2.
In Group: Jet Fighters and Interceptors, Lead sentence
The English Electric Lightning is a British fighter aircraft that served as an interceptor from 1960 to 1988.
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