(Image: Lockheed Martin via Flickr)
In 2006 the U.S. Air Force announced that the much anticipated F-35, a product of the Joint Strike Fighter programme, would be named Lightning II in honour of both the Lockheed-built P-38 Lightning of World War Two and Britain’s post-war English Electric Lightning. It seems fitting, therefore, that the serial numbers of the first British F-35B jets delivered should pay homage to their iconic Cold War forebears.
(Image: Lockheed Martin via Flickr)
To date, three British F-35Bs – BK-01, BK-02 and BK-03 – have been delivered for operational evaluation and training in the USA. A fourth jet, BK-04, is under contruction. The serial numbers of these aircraft are ZM135, ZM136, ZM137 and ZM138 respectively, mirroring the original batch of 20 early production Lightning F.1 aircraft which first flew in 1959 and 1960.
Though the first production Lightning F.1 (XM134, which was delivered to the RAF in 1963 and crashed the following year) is not represented, it is understood that F-35B ZM135 (above) was deliberately numbered after the second English Electric Lightning (below). Now preserved at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, this aircraft has a unique and hair-raising tale to tell.
Lightning XM135
(Image: Moshi Anahory, all rights reserved)
XM135 is famous – or notorious – for being the Lightning which accidentally took to the skies during ground tests with an engineering officer at the controls. On July 22, 1966, Wing Commander Walter “Taff” Holden sought to fix a persistent electrical fault that only presented while the aircraft was accelerating. With canopy off, undercarriage ground locks on and ejector seat safety pins in place, Taff tried in vain to locate the fault while taxiing slowly on RAF Lyneham’s ‘lazy runway’. It was then that he inadvertently advanced the throttles into the reheat position.
The Lightning, known for its raw, unharnessed power, was an unforgiving beast. Before Taff realised what was happening, the aircraft was accelerating, burners blazing, down the short strip. Narrowly missing a fuel bowser and another plane taking off on the active runway, the Lightning lurched into the air over the Wiltshire countryside.
Fortunately Taff had some experience on light propeller planes, which barely enabled him to explore the flying characteristics of this awesome, twin-engine machine. After two aborted approaches to Lyneham’s main runway, third time lucky saw Taff land successfully, albeit scraping the jet’s tail on the concrete and severing the brake chute cable. With the chute unserviceable, Taff relied on the wheelbrakes to stop the Lightning with 100 yards to spare.
This remarkable story concluded with the survival of both man and machine. XM135 was preserved for the nation in 1974. Taff Holden recovered fully despite suffering some post-traumatic stress. (Full account here.)
Future British F-35Bs
(Image: Lockheed Martin via Flickr)
Time will tell whether future British F-35B serial numbers continue to echo the remainder of the original F.1 batch as well as later Lightning marks. According to F-16.net, aircraft ZM139 – ZM144 are currently on order. That leaves 145 – 147 and 163 – 167. XM168 was a structural test airframe, which never flew, while XM148 and 149 were never completed. Perhaps in time, ZM134 will grace UK skies as a newly delivered Lightning II.
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