A Lightning of No.74 'Tiger' Squadron (British Aerospace)

The Hunter and the Javelin were replaced in RAF Fighter Command by the very high performance English Electric Lightning, the RAF's first supersonic fighter. The Lightning was the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in level flight over Britain and entered RAF squadron service in 1960.

The Lightning could climb at a rate of 50,000 ft (15,240 m) per minute and remained in front line use with RAF Strike Command until 1988.