The history of XS452

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The English Electric Lightning is a British fighter aircraft that served as an interceptor during the 1960s, the 1970s and into the late 1980s. It is capable of a top speed of above Mach 2. The Lightning was designed, developed, and manufactured by English Electric and was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF), the Kuwaiti Air force (KAF), and the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). There were only 22 mark T.5 Lightnings ever built.

In September 2008, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME) conferred on the Lightning its "Engineering Heritage Award" at a ceremony at BAE Systems.

• XS452 first flew on 30th June 1965 and began her service career with the 226 OCU at RAF Coltishall in September of that year.
• In 1970 transferred to 11 (F) Sqn at RAF Binbrook.
• Transferred to LTF in 1976.
• Transferred back to 11 (F) San in 1978, coded as 'T' and 'BT'.
• On 26th October 1988 sold to Ruanil Investments Ltd, Peter Street, Saint Helier, Jersey with new c/r G-BPFE.
• 21 October 1996, sold to Classic Jets, Cape Town with new c/r ZU-BBD, and later sold to Thunder City, D. F. Malan, Cape Town, Western Cape.
• In 2001 she flew again, under her new serial ZU-BBD.
• Last fight on 6th March 2015.
• In 2020, sold to Hangar 51 PTY Ltd, South Africa.
• In September 2023. bought by Anglo Arabian Lightning Organisation  Ltd UK.