Lightning
F.7
No.
92sqn
40th
anniversary BoB
RAF
Telford
1980
Development of the F.7 began in 1967
after the F.6 had entered service with the RAF. Reports of the range/endurance
shortcomings and lack of speed to keep up with the newer generation of
supersonic Soviet bombers moved English Electric to redesign the Lightning to
keep pace. English Electric (later BAC) began by replacing the RR Avon 302
engines with the uprated
Avon
306, which pushed the aircraft to Mach 2.8 while reducing dry thrust fuel
consumption by 5%. The AI-23C radar was replaced by the redesigned AI-23E
system, which introduced a IRTS above the intake lip, the nose mounted cannons
were reintroduced with a new gas purge system (bringing the guns to 4), and 2
underwing pylons were installed for the radar-guided Fireflash ramjet-powered
missile.
23 F.7s were produced, with 40
F.3A/F.6s converted. The Aircraft entered service in late 1969. Combat endurance
was increased to 1hr 50min without external tanks, which could be increased
further with the use of in flight refueling, external tanks and replacing the
ventral gunpack with a fuel cell (which most units regularly practiced). During
long-range patrols 1 engine could be shut down to increase endurance, while the
external tanks limit the aircraft to Mach 2.3. The F.7 saw frontline service
until 1983 when it was slowly replaced by the Tornado F.2 and later the Tomcat
FR.2. The last Lightning F.7 was retired from service in 1989 when 1400 Flt.
based on
Malta
traded theirs for Tornado F.3s