The Sonic Spear – Philip West Limited Edition Print

THE SONIC SPEAR

Limited to just 50 prints, signed by 16 former Lightning pilots.

A remarkable piece of Lightning history, The Sonic Spear by renowned aviation artist Philip West captures the aircraft at the very beginning of its story.

Set over southern England in late 1958, the painting depicts P1B prototype XA847 powering through the skies alongside her two sister prototypes during the early trials of what would become one of Britain's most iconic fighter aircraft.

XA847 occupies a particularly important place in that history. Flown by English Electric Chief Test Pilot Roland Beamont, she became the aircraft in which a British pilot first exceeded Mach 2 on 25 November 1957, and was later used for the official Lightning naming ceremony in 1958.

Today, XA847 is at the heart of Project P1B, undergoing restoration more than 65 years after those pioneering flights.

A VERY SPECIAL EDITION

We've produced just 50 prints of The Sonic Spear, each carrying the signatures of 16 former Lightning pilots.

Together, the painting, the aircraft it depicts and the men who flew the Lightning make this a highly collectible tribute to one of the most extraordinary aircraft ever to serve with the Royal Air Force.

Only 50 will be available. Once they're gone, they're gone.