Built in 1968 for the Royal Saudi AF, this Lightning first flew as G-AWON and was displayed at the 1968 Farnborough Airshow. Delivered to Saudi in 1969, it served as 53-686, then 201, 1305 and finally as 223 before being returned to BAe in 1986 as part of a Tornado deal. After storage and a failed resale. It went on display in Norwich in 2002 in the correct RSAF markings. Around 2020 the right side was repainted in 74 Sqdn colours to represent one of their Lightning F.6s

The identity of this aircraft is complex. It is a composite airframe consisting of the fuselage of Ex Saudi F53 53-686 with the wings of 53-700. The port side is in Saudi Air Force markings with the "correct" serial number 53-686. The starboard side is in RAF 74 Squadron markings as XR768 / A. However these same markings had also been applied to a totally different F53 (53-672). The aircraft pictured had also previously had the genuine UK military serial ZF592 and the UK civil registration G-AWON, which it wore prior to original delivery to Saudi Arabia.

ZF580 in the static display area at the Cosford Air Show, wearing the false markings XR768

Seen at a Finningley Airshow. Note also the USAF F4 Phantom.

'XR768' RAF English Electric Lightning F53 belonging to the Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre. The original aircraft was written off in 1974 after crashing into the North Sea following a reheat fire in No 2 engine. This former Saudi one has been painted to represent XR768 and has been recently restored after a joint 'lightning' photo shoot at RAF Cosford and at Bruntingthorpe.

Allocated British serial ZF580, this Ligthning served in the Saudi air force as 53-672. For the RAF's centenary celebrations it was repainted as the RAF's XR768, an F.Mk.6. The real XR768 (c/n 95233) crashed into the North Sea off Lincolnshire on 29 October 197.