LAST OF THE LIGHTNING PILOTS | A talk with Ian Black
About
Join us as we welcome Captain Ian Black to the gallery for an engaging talk and Q&A on his time flying the iconic English Electric Lightning. We’ll also be launching a new Limited Edition print by Philip West, with a panel of RAF Lightning pilots and aircrew joining us for the signing!This will be an incredible opportunity to meet a number of English Electric Lightning RAF pilots and listen first-hand to Flight Lieutenant Ian Black reminisce on his time serving with 11(F) Squadron and racking up 400 hours on this iconic Single Seat fighter aircraft.
Ian will give a short presentation highlighting his career and experiences, with an opportunity to answer any audience questions afterwards.
🖼️ PRINT LAUNCH: New Limited Edition by Philip West
More details TBA very soon, but this special edition is being released in support of the fantastic English Electric Lightning P1B restoration project of the original prototype XA847, spearheaded by Ian Black himself. Updates for this project can be found via the Callsign Collective pages.
GUEST SIGNERS (more names TBA)
✍️ Captain IAN BLACK - is a former Royal Air Force fighter pilot who began his career flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom in RAF Germany during the Cold War. After serving as a navigator, he completed pilot training in 1986, earning awards for flying, aerobatics and navigation.
He was then selected to fly the English Electric Lightning with 11(F) Squadron, becoming part of the final generation of pilots on the aircraft — following in the footsteps of his father, who had been among the first. He later transitioned to the Tornado F3, flying with 23(F), 25(F) and 11(F) Squadrons, and saw operational service during the First Gulf War, in the Falkland Islands, and on Exercise Red Flag in the United States.
Following nearly 1,200 hours on the Tornado ADV, Ian was selected as an exchange pilot with the French Air Force, flying the Dassault Mirage 2000. Based in France, he took part in operations over Bosnia and Iraq, including combat missions on Operation Southern Watch.
After leaving the RAF in 1997, he joined Virgin Atlantic Airways and is now a Captain on the Boeing 787, having also flown the Airbus A340 and A330. Alongside his flying career, he is an accomplished photographer, with work featured in major international publications and commercial commissions.
⌚SCHEDULE:
8:30 - 10.30am - Vintage aircraft fly-ins
9am - Gallery Opens inside
11am - Ian Black's Talk & Q&A
12.30pm - Signing event with panel of Lightning Veterans
4pm - Gallery Closes
🥂 Complimentary snacks and refreshments served throughout the day!
✅ This is a FREE-to-attend event, but you must please book your tickets here for entry, so we can comfortably manage numbers!
📍Aces High Gallery, Steventon, Oxfordshire, OX13 6SN
Date
Sunday 19 July 2026 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (UTC+01)Location
Aces High Aviation Gallery
Skyfall, Church Lane, Steventon, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX13 6SN
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LAST OF THE LIGHTNING PILOTS | A talk with Ian Black
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