Single crystal X-ray analysis shows the main (C(2)) isomer of C(70)F(38) to contain three planar delocalised aromatic hexagons (two equivalent and one centred on the C(2) axis), together with seven C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bonds (three pairs and one straddling the C(2) axis); C(70)F(38) is the first high addition level [70]fullerene derivative to be fully characterised, is the first to have equatorial addends, and is calculated to have high stability.