As a young boy at an air show, by chance I stood right opposite the V1 point as a Lightning rotated on take-off. Can still see - and hear - it. The angle of attack seemed impossible. Apparently the fastest climb jet in the world at that time.
Of course, the ejection seat wasn't so great - you apparently checked your kneecaps afterwards.
Look out for two fascinating BBC films called "Cold War, Hot Jets".
Tangent, sorry - check out the Victor and Vulcan aircraft: genuinely futuristic technology born in the 1950s!
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