BAC Canberra

1951
BOMBER, RECON Virtual Aircraft Museum / United Kingdom / BAC

Early developments of the turbojet engine, with then very limited power output, restricted some size and type of aircraft able to take advantage of this new power plant. Thus, it was not until A Specification B.3/45 was issued that the English Electric Company was able to design and build first turbojet-powered bomber -the first such aircraft to serve with the RAF. A prototype flew for time on 13 May 1949.

The original intention had been to produce a two-crew aircraft which would rely upon radar for t accurate delivery of its bomb load. But although the four prototypes were built to this configura first production Canberra B.2 carried a crew of three and were configured for visual bombing. O wing monoplane configuration, these aircraft were powered by two 28.91kN Rolls-Royce Avon 1 engines and could carry internally 2,722kg of conventional or nuclear weapons. Canberras enter service with No 101 Squadron at RAF Binbrook in May 1951. These aircraft were unarmed, relyi had the war-time de Havilland Mosquito) on being able to show their opponents a 'clean pair of

Subsequent variants included: the B.6 bomber with 32.92kN Avon 109; the B(I).6 intruder varia B(I).8 two-seat long-range night interdictor or high-altitude bomber, built also as the B(I).58 fo and B(I).12 for New Zealand and South Africa; a conversion of the B.6 with additional underwin hardpoints for weapons, designated B.15; and a generally similar B.16 with more radar equipme Performance was such that it was logical to develop photo-reconnaissance versions. The PR.3 (b the B.2) first flew on 19 March 1950 and was followed by the PR.7 (similar to the B.6) and the h altitude PR.9. Other RAF Canberras included T.4/11/17 and 19 trainers; and the target-towing T

The Canberra has been supplied to many air forces, has been licence-built in Australia, and has distinction of being the only modern aircraft of British design to be licence-built in the USA. Und USAF designation B-57 the Martin Company built 403. At a later date a number of these were co by General Dynamics to serve as ultra high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft. These wer provided with a wing span of 37.19m, two 80kN Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-11 turbofan engines (r the conventional power plant), plus two 14.68kN Pratt & Whitney J60-P-9 turbojets in underwin and many equipment and avionics changes to fit them for their specialised role.

3-View

A three-view drawing (668 x 606)

Specification CREW ENGINE WEIGHTS Take-off weight Empty weight

DIMENSIONS

2 2 x RR "Avon 109", 32.9kN 24925 kg 12680 kg 19.5 m 20.0 m 4.8 m 89.2 m2 54951 lb 27955 lb 64 ft 0 in 66 ft 7 in 16 ft 9 in 960.14 sq ft

Wingspan Length Height Wing area PERFORMANCE Max. speed Ceiling Range w/max.fuel Range w/max.payload ARMAMENT Comments Barry, 30.08.2012

827 km/h 514 mph 14700 m 48250 ft 5800 km 3604 miles 1300 km 808 miles 4 x 20mm machine-guns, bombs, missiles

To Jerry K; don't forget the Hawk built as the T45C Goshawk in the US. John Weston, oldies37=bigpond.com, 28.03.2012

I worked on these aircraft as an aircraft fitter in flight shed at Gov. Aircraft Factory, Avalon, Victori Australia and used to help prepare the aircraft for flight by RAAF in preparation for return to duty. T the most gracious of aircraft and very aerobatic, on one final test the RAAF pilot rolled it and all the worried the wing tip and tip tank would touch the runway but the pilot knew the performance of this marvelous aeroplane, I will never forget crawling in and all over these wonderful machines. There i static one at Avalon and a few others around the country but sadly none flying. jerry k, jerryk=mirageent.com, 23.03.2012 It HAD the distinction of being the only modern aircraft of British design to be license-built in the

USA...until the Harrier came along, of course! Michael, jamesfootloose=hotmail.com, 28.04.2011

I was on the Canberra as an airframe fitter before I went flying.I did several trips at low level in this PR3 and PR7 231OCU AND 31 SQUADRON. My fellow ground crew thought I was crazy as it fle feet and lower and I was on the jump seat and in the nose cone. The experience was magic and well I then went on to get an F/E licence a glider pilots licence and a pilots licence. I am a qualified Fligh Engineer Officer 747 and have 18500 flight hours. I love to fly long may it continue. Kevin Morrow, kevmorrow=hotmail.co.uk, 16.04.2011

Drew Thomas I agree the Canberra was my favourite bomber but some out there remain grounded a wrecked for years....

There's a Canberra at RAF/RNAS Predannack just sitting there with no engines at all and it looks sa PH, philhosey=btinternet.com, 21.01.2011

As regards the question of "nose low", the nose gear as originally installed was the tail gear of the S bomber. EE obviously kept the cost down by doing this. Another point to remember is that bomb lo by trolley from under the rear fuselage. A nose low attitude facilitated this. Jeff Lemon, sierrajeff1=yahoo.com, 26.10.2010

NASA operated at least one highly modified B-57 Canberra as an earth resources observation plafor at Ellington Field near the Johnson Space Center in Texas. I believe this aircraft had approximately wingspan when compared with the standard Canberra. Geoff Thornber, xfield=cruzio.com, 28.09.2010 It used a self contained Doppler type navigation radar to get there and back. Martin W. Roberts, saynowt=cox.net, 30.08.2010

I was on 13 Sqdn at Akrotiri in 1957/8/9 with PR 7's and did quite a bit of time in the T 4 with Neil (who later became seven-time British Aerobatic Champion). The nose gear always was tucked away looked like a semi-retracted position - nice airplane and tough, especially when flying through wate rafman925, rafman925=sky.com, 05.02.2010

A wonderful bomber. I spent my time with 32 Sqdn working on the B2 then later the B15 at RAF A Cyprus 1959 - 1962 any of you out there during this time get back to me. Drew Thomas, MSgt. USAF, (Ret., airstart7000=msn.com, 14.04.2009

I have been searching to find out why the B-57 sits at a 'nose low' attitude. Nose gear is almost halfw into the wheel well. There must be a logical reason, but I have yet to discover it. Would appreciate any comments, and a It is indeed a beautiful airplane. I worked on one when it landed at Kincheloe AFB, Michigan in the

Keep'em flyin' P.Kunhiraman, kunhiraman167=hotmail.com, 21.03.2007 Indian Air Force used this aircraft extensively in different roles