English Electric P1A
Serial Number:
WG760
Period:
Post-WWII
Collection Ref: 1987/0014/A
Location: RAF Museum Cosford, Research & Development
The first flight of P1 WG760 was on 4 August 1954, just
10 years after the RAF's first jet aircraft, the Meteor, entered squadron
service. It was experimental and was the basis for the RAF's front line
fighter, the English Electric (later BAC) Lightning. It was the first
and only truly supersonic aircraft developed by Britain on her own.
In 1947 the proverbial back of an envelope design was so novel that the
Ministry of Supply and the Royal Aircraft Establishment were deeply concerned
as to whether it could succeed. Nevertheless, they placed an order for
an experimental study. Two years later they placed a contract for two
prototypes and an airframe for static testing.
Primary concern was the 60 degree sweepback of the wing and the low position
of the tail plane. To have the concept independently tested they contracted
Short Bros. to build the SB5, an aircraft whose wing sweepback could be
changed and tail plane raised or lowered. In the event both the P1 and
SB5 confirmed the concept.
WG760, the first of the two prototypes, exceeded the speed of sound in
level flight, achieving Mach 1.22. The second prototype P1A WG763 reached
a maximum of Mach 1.53.
Further developments of the fuselage and the fitting of more powerful
engines meant that later aircraft exceeded Mach 2.0. The Lightning stayed
in service for nearly three decades.
