English Electric Lightning F52 Aircraft Data

Lightning F.52 was the designation for five former RAF F.2 aircraft transferred to the Royal Saudi Air Force. Towards the end of 1965 the RSAF officially announced that it would place an order for 40 Lightning aircraft as part of a larger defence sales deal between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. The Lightning part of the huge Al Yamamah defence contract specified an order for 34 fighter aircraft, designated Lightning F.53 and six dual-seat trainers, Lightning T.55. As an interim measure to expedite the introduction of the Lightning into the RSAF, the RAF released four F.2s from storage at 33 MU and two T.4 trainers which had recently been replaced by the T.5. The Saudi Support Unit set up at Warton to train RSAF-personnel received a Lightning F.2, but this aircraft, XN734, was only used as a ground instructional airframe. This aircraft was later acquired by Aces High and registered G-BNCA in 1987 only to be scrapped in 1994.
The F.2s were fully refurbished at Warton with subtle modifications made, mainly centered around an improvement in the cooling system.
Under code name 'Magic Carpet', the Lightnings were flown to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, via Cyprus, in June and July 1966. The first aircraft to be delivered were the T.54s. The two aircraft left Warton on 6 June and by 28 July all aircraft had arrived. The Lightnings entered service with 6 Squadron, RSAF, first at Riyadh Air Base and from 6 August 1967 from King Khalid Air Base, at Khamis Mushayt.

Lightning F.52 serials and construction numbers
Four Lightning F.2s were modified to F.52 standard for the Royal Saudi Air Force:
XN767 (c/n 95115) to RSAF 52-655 and later 609.
XN770 (c/n 95123) to RSAF 52-656, later 610.
XN796 (c/n 95149) to RSAF 52-657.
XN797 (c/n 95150) to RSAF 52-658, later 611).
In January 1967 another F.2 was modified to F.52. This was XN729 and delivered to the RSAF in May of that year to compensate for the loss of 52-657 which had crashed on take-off on 20 September 1966. XN729 had previously been used by A Squadron of the Aeroplane&Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down for in-flight refuelling trials and after modifications at Warton embarked on a series of tropical trials, including tests with a water-cooled pilot's suit. On completion the F.2 was sold to BAC for modification to F.52. The Lightning, as G27-1, left Wattisham on 8 May 1967 and delivered to Riyadh were she became 52-659 in RSAF-service. The Lightning was later re-serialled 612 with 6 Squadron, RSAF.

Preserved Lightning F.52
Lightning 53-610 is on display at the Saqr Al Jazira Museum in Riyadh in her 6 Squadron, SFAF colours.