"Chad Irby" wrote in message
...
"Keith Willshaw" wrote:

"Mike Marron" wrote:
So...

Howzabout thru mach one straight up?

Who: Roland Beamont
What: English Electric Lightning
When:1959/60

The Lightnings initial climb rate was 50,000 ft per minute
which is slightly less than that of the F-15 and better than
the F-16

I recall seeing one do its party trick at RAF Middleton St George
in the 60's , take off on full reheat, unstick and then climb out at
80 degrees going supersonic while still over the field

Wasn't the Lightning the first plane to do Mach 1 at sea level?


Pass, it was designed as a interceptor to knock down soviet nuclear
bombers, hence the performance, I seem to recall it was less
capable at low level .

Keith