The wing of the lightning fighter is a cantilever upper monoplane. The basic airfoil ASN/P 1/3 developed by British Electric Company is adopted. The average sweep angle of the leading edge is 60 degrees, and the sweep angle of the trailing edge is 52 degrees, and the relative thickness is about 5%. In order to improve the flow field, there is a gap in the leading edge of the wing, which acts as a vortex generator. The wing adopts an all-metal five-beam torsion box structure, and its aluminum alloy upper and lower skins are about 5 mm thick. In the main landing gear cabin, the corrugated sandwich panel skin is used, and the left and right wings are butted at the central rib of the fuselage centerline. Inside the wing box is the integral fuel tank, and outside is the main landing gear cabin. The aileron on the wing is rectangular with "angle compensation", which is located at the straight trailing edge of the wing and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage, and is operated by a hydraulic booster. A large single flap moves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage when it is lowered (down), which is also hydraulically driven. In addition, the inside of the flap and the leading edge of the wing are used as fuel tanks.
The cross-sectional shape of the fuselage of Lightning fighter is close to a vertical rectangle, and its longitudinal contour line is almost straight. And the distribution of its cross-sectional area along the longitudinal direction of the fuselage is almost unchanged. There is a conformal pod (belly bag pod) unique to lightning fighters under the belly, which smoothly transitions with the belly of the fuselage and minimizes the resistance. The first 1/3 of the pod is generally used for ordnance, and the second 2/3 is used for fuel, which is really expensive. The fuselage adopts all-metal semi-hard shell structure. Two hydraulic speed brake are installed above the rear fuselage and in front of the vertical tail.
The tail wing of lightning fighter adopts cantilever all-metal structure, and the flat tail tip and rudder adopt honeycomb structure. The installation position of the integral full-motion horizontal tail is very low, which can avoid the wake of the wing. The sweepback angle of the leading edge of the flat tail is 60 degrees, which is similar to the sweepback angle of the wing. Its area is almost equal to the gap behind the wing root. The top of the vertical tail is in the shape of a right angle (only the early models are semi-circular). "Lightning" fighter's tail did not consider using the pull ring. All control surfaces are driven by hydraulic booster.
"Lightning" fighter landing gear adopts retractable front three points, all of which adopt single wheel structure. When the main landing gear retracts outward into the wing, the wheel must turn 60 degrees. However, the nose landing gear can't turn on the ground and retract forward into the nose after taking off. The main landing gear of aircraft adopts multi-action cylinder plate braking and anti-skid device. In addition, there is a deceleration parachute with a diameter of 4.88 meters and a landing hook under the rear fuselage.
"Lightning" fighter has a variety of power devices. F.3, F.6 and F.55 are equipped with two Ewen 300 series afterburner turbojet engines, with single afterburner thrust of 5,750kg, afterburner thrust of 7400-7420kg and thrust-to-weight ratio of 43.2 N/kg. Moreover, the installation position of the last one is later than the next one, and both of them share a common air inlet. Fuel is mainly contained in the wing torsion box, the leading edge of the wing and the flap. The fuel tank volume of F.6 and F.55 pods (belly pods) has increased to 2720 liters, and the endurance has increased by 20%. During the transition, the wing can also carry two 1 182-liter auxiliary fuel tanks.
"Lightning" aircraft cockpit has pressurization and air conditioning devices, and adopts BS4-CMK-2 ejection lifesaving seat produced by Martin Baker Company, which has the ejection lifesaving ability at a height of 0 and a speed above 167 km/h ... The cockpit cover is streamlined and adopts a two-stage rear hinge opening configuration.
The system and equipment of lightning fighter include the following equipment: cabin pressurization and emergency oxygen supply system. Its pressure difference is 0.28kg/cm2. The power supply is a 29KVA alternator, a 28V DC generator and a 28V battery pack. Equipped with autopilot cross-connected with altitude maintenance and instrument landing system. Communication equipment is UHF-VHF transceiver and standby UHF radio. Aircraft navigation equipment includes TACAN navigation system, UHF homing equipment, friend or foe identification device, instrument landing system, wireless beacon and glide indicator of the system, etc. Alternative devices include VHF radios, VHF omni-directional beacons, radio compasses, etc. Airpass A 123S monopulse fire control radar and standard fighter optical sight are installed in the nose cone. The range of radar is over 56 kilometers, and the azimuth of the range is plus or minus 45 degrees.
Lightning fighters have a variety of ordnance, but they are basically used in air combat. Its shooting guns were two 30 mm Ardennes in the modifications of F. 1 and F.2, but they were cancelled in the modifications of F.53, F.6 and F.55 ... However, two Ardennes with 120 rounds of ammunition can be loaded in the front cabin of the belly, and of course only fuel can be loaded. The front part of this pod can be replaced, and other types of front parts can be used as optional ordnance cabins, such as a launching nest that can carry two 50.8 mm uncontrolled rockets (with 44 rockets), or five Vinten 360 70 mm cameras, night cameras and line scanning equipment. Two burning or red-headed air-to-air missiles are usually hung on the horizontal pylons on both sides of the front fuselage. The two pylons under the wing can each be hung with 1 454kg conventional bombs, or two Matra-155 rocket launching nests, or two flash bombs for lighting when taking pictures of the ground. The brackets above the left and right wings can not only "hang" two auxiliary fuel tanks dedicated to transition, but also carry two 454 kg bombs or two Matra-155 rocket launching nests.