AALO Media Centre

Welcome to the Anglo American Lightning Organisation (AALO) website and thank you for your media interest in our project. We are very happy to provide information about this exciting restoration.

Below you will find our latest press release plus a downloadable pdf. The thumbnail images are also available to download as jpegs and may be used with our blessing in any articles about the project. The downloadable images are captioned and also carry info on who to credit.

If you require further information about any aspects of the project then please contact either of the following representatives;
Andrew Brodie by email or by phone on +44 (0)208 349 2260 in the UK Andrew.brodie@btinternet.com
Nic Holman by email or by phone on (1) 228 383 1610 in the USA. Please note this phone number is good for the duration of AirVenture 2010 @ Oshkosh only (25th July to 2nd August 2010)

Press Release 21st June 2010

AALO Oshkosh Press Release

For Immediate Release
Anglo American Lightning Organisation at Oshkosh 2010
Bringing English Lightning to American Skies
Win a chance to Ride the Lightning!

American fans of the supersonic English Electric Lightning will have a unique opportunity at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2010, the chance to win a taxi ride on full afterburners aboard Britain’s premier Cold War jet interceptor. To highlight their ongoing restoration to flight of N422XS, soon to be America’s only flying example of the Mach 2 pioneer, the Anglo American Lightning Organisation will invite all visitors to their display on Stand 3088 in Hanger C to enter a drawing for the exciting offer.

Members of the restoration team will be on hand for questions and technical information during the event, and a keynote presentation will be given on the project’s background and goals and the challenges of historic jet aircraft preservation, time and day to be announced on the AALO stand.

The Lightning was a groundbreaking design, and in many ways. Introduced by English Electric Aviation Limited in prototype form in 1954, it became the first air-breathing aircraft in the world to achieve “supercruise”; sustained supersonic flight without resort to afterburners. With a maximum speed of Mach 2.2 and a better than 1:1 thrust-to-weight ratio from its twin, vertically-stacked Rolls-Royce Avon turbojets, it was the only fighter actually proven capable of overtaking and intercepting the Concorde, and the only all-British Mach 2 aircraft to thus far see service. In terms of sheer performance, it still ranks among the best ever flown, regardless of age.

Lightnings were on active duty with the RAF from 1959 to 1988, providing the backbone of Great Britain’s air defence. A mere three survivors are currently in regular use, however, and upon completion, XS422 will be the sole English Electric Lightning flying anywhere in the northern hemisphere, including the British Isles.

Comprised entirely of non-paid British and American volunteers, the Anglo American Lightning Organisation was formed in 1999 exclusively to put XS422 back in the sky. Work on the plane, based at Stennis International Airport near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, is in the final phases, and with the right funding, according to Chief Executive Officer Andrew Brodie, XS422 could be made airworthy within the year. For further information about the English Electric Lightning, the restoration effort, joining the AALO Supporters Group, or the advantages of becoming a valued corporate sponsor, please visit the AALO website at www.lightning422supporters.co.uk

ENDS

Note to editors - For additional information or images, contact:

Andrew Brodie Andrew.brodie@btinternet.com (Phone +44 (0)208 349 2260, United Kingdom)

Nic Holman nholman@globalnet.co.uk (Phone 1-228-383-1610, USA during Oshkosh AirVenture 2010 only)

With regards to the downloadable images on the left please do the following;
Click on an image you'd like to view or use - it will open in a new window
Right click on the image in it's new window and select "save picture as" ... you can now save it to your own computer at full resolution
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