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Arabian Lightnings


Pete in Lincs

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That reminds me of the day, back in 1981, when two of those blighters did a low pass on a bunch of us epats enjoying a day off at the beach.

Edited by chaddy
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Two Lightnings can be found at the RSAF Museum in Riyadh too.

A lovely restaurated single-seater can be seen on one of photos here: http://luftwaffeas.blogspot.co.at/2012/01/air-force-museum-riyadh-saudi-arabia_17.html

...and a two-seater waiting for its turn here: http://luftwaffeas.blogspot.co.at/2012/01/air-force-museum-riyadh-saudi-arabia.html

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There was one on a plinth at Ali Al Salem and it looked rather worse for wear. There were also 2 sitting in a dump at the back of the airbase in 98 and there were in an even sorrier state. Heart breaking....

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Two Lightnings can be found at the RSAF Museum in Riyadh too.

A lovely restaurated single-seater can be seen on one of photos here: http://luftwaffeas.blogspot.co.at/2012/01/air-force-museum-riyadh-saudi-arabia_17.html

...and a two-seater waiting for its turn here: http://luftwaffeas.blogspot.co.at/2012/01/air-force-museum-riyadh-saudi-arabia.html

I've never seen these before, thanks for the links.

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There was one on a plinth at Ali Al Salem and it looked rather worse for wear. There were also 2 sitting in a dump at the back of the airbase in 98 and there were in an even sorrier state. Heart breaking....

The one on the plinth by the front gate was still there in 2003, but still in a sorry state.

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The one with the overwing rocket launcher/tank combo is Kuwait's 53-418 that carried the civil markings G-AXEE for a the flight to the Paris Bourget Air Show in 1969. The picture shows the aircraft in that occasion with the usual plethora of weapons that could be carried.

The launcher was a French Matra JL-100. I wonder if this was really ever used on the Saudi or Kuwait Lightnings ? The only pictures I've seen with this weapon are all taken at exhibitions.

The same weapon canhas been seen under the wings of Mirage IIIs from a number of users

Edited by Giorgio N
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