09/30/2007. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "First of two research aircraft for the Lightning program was first flown by English Electric's Chief Test Pilot Roland 'Roly' P. Beamont at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, on August 4, 1954. A week later it became the first British aircraft exceeding Mach 1.0 when it achieved Mach 1.22 in level flight. On July 2, 1962, after 703 flights in over 268 hours it was grounded and used for instruction and later as gate guard.

(Bob Cowell Collection)

Now it is preserved at the RAF Museum, Cosford, near Wolverhampton. The second aircraft was WG763."