If I had to compare the Frightening to any US jet, I'd compare it to the F-104. They both flew in '54 and rolled out within a year of each other. Both were interceptors through and through, both had short legs and both were essentially a rocket with wings.
While the Lightning might have been able to out-pace the F-104 in most races, and keep up with it on the deck, the F-104 wins out because it can actually shoot at the enemy with its Sidewinders...whereas our Firestreaks and Red Tops just sort of go 'over there' and probably would wind up in a tree somewhere in East Germany.
Of course, this all took place in the late 1940s, early 1950s where the British government really wasn't quite sure whether it actually
wanted an airforce or not...
Aaah, the things we could have done, the Miles M52, TSR-2, Black Prince...
We don't need an enemy, us Brits, we defeat ourselves!
