My WW2 photos/Vids album (2 Viewers)

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Yeah but its only fan art. A lot of these prints are grossly inaccurate, but because of the secretive and limited operational duty of the early Meteor its hard to find genuine photos. I think these prints are done by people who lack any kind of genuine passion/interest that guys like us share. A lot of the old documentaries are the same. One of my pet hates is when they show footage of a Spanish built post war Buchon and call it a Bf 109, even though the engine is clearly not inverted and not a Daimler benz DB series. Its easy to spot mistakes no matter how minute/tiny the detail is for any real aviation lover.
 
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A Japanese Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Allied code name "Tony") of 149th Shimbu Unit at Ashiya airfield in Fukuoka, Japan. 1945
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I know its not a ww2 aircraft or even a piston aircraft, but the English Electric P1 "Lightning" was one of Britains best jet fighter if not the best considering when it was introduced. ...
The English Electric supersonic interceptor (WG760), piloted by Roland Beamont, first flew at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire as the P1 on 4th August 1954. But it was designed for a specification from 1947.
The initial requirement did not actually specify mach 2 performance, but EE had seen that it was possible and the American's F-104 program was also progressing towards mach 2 performance. Roland Beamont later stated that the Lightning's performance at mach 2 was much superior to the F-104, with less noise and vibration and better control all round. A rep from Lockheed also called the Lightning "an amazing aircraft" after being given a ride in one. A
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planned Double Scorpion rocket mounted in the rear of belly tank of the P.1B was cancelled as the aircraft's new Avon engines were found to give enough extra performance to render the rockets pointless. Besides, the space lost to the rocket and its fuel would have meant even less room for jet fuel, and the Lightning was short enough of that as it was.
Initial designs were led by WEW 'Teddy' Petter although the aircraft is mostly credited to his successor Freddie Page (later Sir Frederick Page and Chairman of the Aircraft Group of BAC and eventually, British Aerospace).

The Lightning's highly swept wing (60 degrees) combined with 2 x Rolls-Royce Avon engines (initial flights of the P1 utilized un-reheated Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire engines), configured in a unique stack-staggered arrangement within the fuselage, provided the aircraft with a speed of Mach 2 and an unrivaled rate of climb which was often described as being 'a pilot sitting on two rockets'

The later 'P1B' variants were officially renamed as the English Electric Lightning in May 1956. The first production variant was the F1, of which 19 were built. These were then followed by a further 28 F1A variants.

The first operational Lightning's saw service as an interceptor to defend the V-Force airfields during the Cold war although the range of early variants proved to be restrictive in other roles. The ultimate Lightning in RAF service was the F.6 which could carry two 260 gallon 'ferry' or 'drop-tanks' on pylons fitted above the wings.

The official ceiling of the Lightning was a closely guarded secret although it is said to be in excess of 60,000 ft and it is well renowned for its exceptional rate of climb at 20,000 ft per minute. Infact, it was claimed with a hint of humor that the lightning could break the sound barrier in a vertical climb! The English Electric Lightning continued in service with the RAF until 1988 and some 337 aircraft were built in its 34 year history. Other military operators included the Kuwait Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force
 

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