RAF Canberra's?
Discussion
Been to Cosford today for a day out, a great day out for all everyone
Thought I knew quite a bit about operational aircraft in the RAF/Navy etc.. But was very surprised to read that the Canberra's in the RAF were still in service till 2006.
Is this the longest serving aircraft ever? Or does the B52 trump it?
Thought I knew quite a bit about operational aircraft in the RAF/Navy etc.. But was very surprised to read that the Canberra's in the RAF were still in service till 2006.
Is this the longest serving aircraft ever? Or does the B52 trump it?
Last of the Canberra's were the PR9's.
Rather sprighlty aircraft aswell, put on very impressive displays aswell.
Waddington air show departure day 2006. This one still wearing part of its temporary grey scheme from when it was out in the Middle East.
Display aircraft 2006.
Rather sprighlty aircraft aswell, put on very impressive displays aswell.
Waddington air show departure day 2006. This one still wearing part of its temporary grey scheme from when it was out in the Middle East.
Display aircraft 2006.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 7th April 21:47
They are still "operational" in the USA 
For High Altitude Mapping Missions inc - http://hamminc.com/
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For High Altitude Mapping Missions inc - http://hamminc.com/
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Shar2 said:
Weren't they on special request by the US forces as they didn't have recon assets that were as capable as the PR-9 during the Gulf wars?
Not sure about gulf wars, but they were used in Iraq and Afghanistan.Even rumours that some may have been used in the Falklands conflict, operating from Chile.
Rumours were that RAF Canberra's and a Nimrod R1 may have operated, although it has never been officially confirmed.
The UK did do a special deal with Chile for a number of Hunters after the war as a thank you for their help in the conflict.
http://www.spyflight.co.uk/chile.htm
The UK did do a special deal with Chile for a number of Hunters after the war as a thank you for their help in the conflict.
http://www.spyflight.co.uk/chile.htm
Took this shot of the Canberra at Cosford. Always better to be the pilot than the nav. He gets a view out.
I'd heard a story about a Canberra overflying a US city in the 1950s and asking for flight clearance from the local ATC. He was asked to confirm his flight level and replied:
"...classified..."
I really hope that's a true story.
I'd heard a story about a Canberra overflying a US city in the 1950s and asking for flight clearance from the local ATC. He was asked to confirm his flight level and replied:
"...classified..."
I really hope that's a true story.
I luckily enough got a flight in a Canberra when I was in the Air Cadets. Would have been 1990 I think. We had a summer camp at RAF Wyton in Cambridgshire. If I remember rightly, Rory Underwood the England Rugby player was also based there at the same time.
Anyway, I got to sit in the lower back behind the pilot next to the Navigator. We took off, flew out over the Wash and proceeded to act as target aircraft for 2 Tornado's to take turns in pincer movements. We mostly flew straight and level at 22,000 feet with a few sharp turns thrown in.
What surprised me was how quick it went down the runway and then upto 22,000 feet. I guess it's still way faster than a modern airliner.
Nice old plane!
Anyway, I got to sit in the lower back behind the pilot next to the Navigator. We took off, flew out over the Wash and proceeded to act as target aircraft for 2 Tornado's to take turns in pincer movements. We mostly flew straight and level at 22,000 feet with a few sharp turns thrown in.
What surprised me was how quick it went down the runway and then upto 22,000 feet. I guess it's still way faster than a modern airliner.
Nice old plane!
Rory Underwood was on the Canberra at Wyton, at that time it would have been the only Canberra base.
Sounds like you went up in a B2/TT18/T17/E15 or trainer T4.
They had the Nav position behind the pilot.
IIRC those marks had Avons that produced around 7,500 pounds of thrust each.
The PR9 was something else and from memory had something like 12,000 pounds of thrust each. It was in a completely different league. I read (or heard) somewhere that pilots only used 80-90% thrust for take off except in very hot or high conditions. The reason being that if they lost and engine just after take off, the asymmetric thrust at full power would be too quick to correct.
Sounds like you went up in a B2/TT18/T17/E15 or trainer T4.
They had the Nav position behind the pilot.
IIRC those marks had Avons that produced around 7,500 pounds of thrust each.
The PR9 was something else and from memory had something like 12,000 pounds of thrust each. It was in a completely different league. I read (or heard) somewhere that pilots only used 80-90% thrust for take off except in very hot or high conditions. The reason being that if they lost and engine just after take off, the asymmetric thrust at full power would be too quick to correct.
When I was a young boy sometime in the 1970s I witnesses a Canberra crash on take off at Coningsby. It seemed to get a few feet off the ground and then belly flopped back onto the runway, lots of sparks as it slid to a halt 
Luckily the crew were unharmed, they jumped out and ran like the clappers!
I've searched for infomation on the net about this but haven't had any luck so far.
Luckily the crew were unharmed, they jumped out and ran like the clappers!
I've searched for infomation on the net about this but haven't had any luck so far.
sorrento205 said:
so what was the reasoning behind the offset cockpit?
Better visibility over the nose for the pilot. It was used originally in the B(I)8 variant and also used on the PR9. The difference betwreen the B(I)8 and the PR9 canopy was that the B(I)8 canopy was fixed in the shut position. The pilot exited through a hatch in the side.
Cheeky Jim said:
I luckily enough got a flight in a Canberra when I was in the Air Cadets. Would have been 1990 I think. We had a summer camp at RAF Wyton in Cambridgshire.
Snap. I got lucky and had a flight in a T4 from Wyton in about '91 or thereabouts, through my school CCF. I'm surprised you went up to 22,000ft as I seem to remember that a more thorough medical was required to go above a 15,000ft ceiling. As my flight was in a T4 I got to take the controls for about five minutes as well :-) We did touch and go's around various bases including Cranwell.Also went home with one of the brass starter cartridge casings as a memento.
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