Buy a book, save a Lightning. 100% of Firestreak Books’ profits help fund the restoration of XA847 — the original English Electric P.1B that became the Lightning.
The aircraft that started it all
Before the Lightning entered RAF service, there was the P.1B — the prototype that proved a British interceptor could climb like nothing before it and take the fight to the edge of space. XA847 is one of those original machines: a piece of British aviation history that spent decades out of sight.
The restoration
Ian Black and the team behind Callsign Collective are bringing XA847 back — recovering it after long years in storage and working to return it to its rightful place as a tribute to the aircraft, the engineers who built it, and the crews who flew it. It is a long, expensive labour of love, funded in large part by the books you buy from Firestreak.
How your purchase helps
Every title in our collection carries the story of Britain’s fast-jet era — and every sale puts money directly toward the restoration. When you buy a book, you’re not just adding to your shelf; you’re helping get a Lightning home.
Follow the journey
The full story, progress updates and behind-the-scenes are shared through Callsign Collective, Ian’s community and newsletter dedicated to the restoration and the wider Lightning story.