THE pilot would be crushed into his seat by the incredible G-force as the English Electric Lightning thundered through the sound barrier.
The Top Gun flyers of the RAF used to liken it to being "saddled to a skyrocket".
Capable of reaching Mach 2 (more than 1,300mph) at a height of 36,000 ft, the distinctive silver fighter plane was at the forefront of Britain's Cold War defences.
Although the RAF eventually replaced the Lightning with the Phantom and Jaguar fighters, it remained a favourite of Middle East air forces including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Never really tested in action, the Lightning became a favourite performer at air shows around the world.
Today, very few examples remain – but enthusiasts at Newark Air Museum are hoping to raise around �2,000 and put in more than 2,000 man hours in a bid to restore one of these iconic aircraft – the last all-British single seat fighter to be built – to its original glory.
It was in 1988 that the museum was able to add a Lightning to its stable, XS417 arriving in August of that year ... with its wings cut off.
Just getting the Lightning to Newark proved to be a major operation as museum secretary Howard Heeley explained.
"Options including spending thousands of man hours to fully dismantle the aircraft – a difficult job due to the complex wing joints located between the flame tubes deep inside the fuselage.
"We also looked at having it airlifted by helicopter.
"I tried to get the USAF down in Suffolk to complete the lift as a training exercise, but they couldn't get permission.
"I also tried a couple of companies engaged in work on the North Sea oil rigs.
"To minimise costs I tried to synchronise any move with the time they were working down at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone during the summer of 1988 but sadly the timeframe proved too tight and we had to resort to cutting the wings off – one of the few aircraft that we have ever had to do such a thing!"
XS417 was used by the RAF as an all-weather interceptor trainer with a crew of two, capable of firing two Firestreak or Red Top missiles.
Powered by Rolls Royce Avon turbojets, it had top speed of 1,500mph.
XS417 served with several squadrons at bases as far apart as RAF Coltishall in Norfolk and RAF Leuchars in Fife.
It was grounded in 1984 after it burst all tyres on landing at RAF Binbrook and was returned to storage but flew again in 1986-87 before finally being placed in store and stripped for parts.
The restoration at Newark has already commenced.
Rubbing down work has revealed a set of 11 Squadron markings and the decision will be taken in the coming months whether to repaint XS417 in its most recent LTF (Lightning Training Flight) markings or whether to revert to an 11 Squadron colour scheme.
The museum is also keen to hear from any former Lightning air or ground crew that have connections to XS417 as they research the aircraft's long and illustrious service career at air bases across the UK, including many years in the local area at RAF Binbrook in north east Lincolnshire.
Howard Heeley can be contacted at Newark Air Museum Ltd, Drove Lane, Winthorpe, Newark, Notts, NG24 2NY, call 01636 707170 or e-mail howardheeley.dtep@ntlworld.com.
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