Lightning F.1A XM177 of No 56 Sqn was one of four examples of the type used during Exercise Trumpet, the Air Fighting Development Squadron’s high-altitude interception trials against Lockheed U-2s in late 1962.

The model with a Boeing 707 model to give an idea of the projected full-scale aircraft’s length;

A head-on view of the model of the world’s longest (and probably slowest) aircraft;

Three of the project’s major players - left to right: Air Cdre A.H. Wheeler, technical adviser; Lewis McCarty Jr; William Slater of Slingsby.