With the red wheel adaptor fitted, changing the tyre can begin.

With the bottle jack in position, Andrew Pearse begins to raise XS458 port undercarriage clear of the ground.

Before removing the wheel the brakes are applied so the individual rotor segments stay in place.

The brake exposed! The little wheel attached to the main brake unit is the anti-skid maxaret.

The thickness of the rotor disks are very thick to absorb the intense heat that can be  generated, especially in a cross wind landing.

Thin wings means thin wheels which in turn means thin brakes, which is evident in this shot.

A picture of the inside of the 250 gallon ventral tank. These tanks were fitted to all marks of Lightning, except the F2A, F6 and export models.

With the ventral trolley fully lowered, Andrew Pearse aligns the centre of the tank with the fuselage's own centre-line.

Precision aligning needed as the clearance between tank and fuselage is almost non-existent at this point.

Russell Carpenter, XS458s owner, ensures that the tanks fuel and air connections align with those on the fuselage.

The slick design of this jetisonable fuel tank is evident in this shot. Colin Ranson checks the fuel coupling before raising.

The ventral trolley is capable of lifting the tank and its entire 250 gallon fuel load if necessary.

With just two lugs at the rear of the tank there is only one bolt that holds the tank in place. Colin Ranson is securing that bolt!