I always found the English Electric Lightning to be a noteworthy aircraft. It’s shape felt distinctive, with it’s nose cone and dual exhausts. It was renowned for its climb rate.

But the reason I have an affinity for it is that I remember seeing (and, more to the point, hearing) them flying low over the North Sea just offshore from Mablethorpe when I was a child. Just north of Mablethorpe there is an RAF bombing range at Donna Nook (it’s also famous for it’s seal population) and I expect that these impressive sightings were part of pilot training exercises.

Sometimes there would be F4 Phantoms and, most impressive of all, Avro Vulcans flying over the sea parallel to the shore carrying out similar exercises.

Canon Sure Shot Supreme & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9 mins 30 secs @ 20°

Taken 7 April 2023.