About This File
BAC Lightning F.53H for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a very simple mod of the stock Lightning F.53 to give a fictional Lightning F.53H of the Hungarian Air Force.
BACKSTORY
The revolutions of 1989 generally had a domino effect across Eastern Europe and Hungary soon followed Poland and in March 1989 the government bravely declared the anniversary of the 1848 Revolution a national holiday and this was soon followed by the reburial of former Prime Minister Imre Nagy (executed after the 1956 Revolution) and calls for Soviet forces to leave Hungary. Popular opposition to the Communist regime continued, eventually leading to Mátyás Szurös declaring Hungary a republic on October 23rd, 1989 and the free elections of March 1990. However. with Soviet forces withdrawing fast the Hungarian Air Force (Magyar Légiero) was soon short of equipment and spares and when the Soviet MiG-29's departed from Tokol in 1991 the air defence of Hungary rested with literally a handful of poorly maintained MiG-21's.
During the late 1980's British Aerospace had bought back many of the surviving Saudi Lightning F.53's and had hoped to sell them to Austria (whose air force were hard-pressed to intercept a business jet) but the deal fell through and the Lightnings had continued to lanquish at Warton prompting a tentative offer to sell them to Hungary at a knock-down price. In May 1991 the UK Government bought 26 of the ex-Saudi Lightning F.53's and gifted them to the Hungarian Air Force in a move believed to have orchestrated by President George H. Bush.
Arriving in August 1991 the Lightnings were operated by the 59th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kecskemét AFB and served until 1998 when they were replaced by MiG-29's donated from Germany and Poland.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the LightningF53H folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the LightningF53H folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 2 - 21/05/2020
Version 1 - 20/07/2011
What's New in Version 2
Released
Screenshots added.
Hangar Screen added.
New Loading Screen.
Patch added.
Left/Right versions of Squadron badge now included.