English Electric Lightning - Survivor XN782
F.2A XN782 - Flugausstellung P. Junior Museum, Hermeskeil, Germany
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Lightning F.2A XN782 at Hermeskeil, 8th August 2025; Jake Wallace
First flown on 20th December 1962, in common with many F.2s she served with 19 Squadron RAFG, and was returned to Warton in 1963 for conversion to F.2A before heading back to service with 19 Squadron until 1977, when she was flown to Wildenrath on 5th April for retirement as an airfield decoy, sporting the maintenance number 8539M.
In April 1986, XN782 was sold to the Flugausstellung P. Junior Museum at Hermeskeil, which is also home to several other ex-RAF Germany aircraft. During XN782's time at the museum, they previously removed the belly tank in order to prevent corrosion and seal the area before putting it back in place, which you might notice is an F.6 belly tank complete with cannons - not a fit the F.2A carried in service. It also appears she had a repaint around 2006 and again in 2024, which has begun to fade already - sadly, not a surprise when you're constantly battling with the elements. But overall, the airframe appears to be in a very sound condition, besides the canopy perspex clouding over.
In April 1986, XN782 was sold to the Flugausstellung P. Junior Museum at Hermeskeil, which is also home to several other ex-RAF Germany aircraft. During XN782's time at the museum, they previously removed the belly tank in order to prevent corrosion and seal the area before putting it back in place, which you might notice is an F.6 belly tank complete with cannons - not a fit the F.2A carried in service. It also appears she had a repaint around 2006 and again in 2024, which has begun to fade already - sadly, not a surprise when you're constantly battling with the elements. But overall, the airframe appears to be in a very sound condition, besides the canopy perspex clouding over.
Information on this page current as of 18/08/2025, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of XN782 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net