Modified English Electric Canberra B.6
Built as an English Electric Canberra B.6, WH953 was ready for collection in January 1955 and was put onto the RAF's charge. However, it was delivered to the Radar Research Establishment's works at Defford the same month and was taken off the RAF's charge a month later.
During 1956-58, WH953 was involved in installations and trials of the AI Mk 20 radar until, in 1959, it was transferred ro RRE Pershore and modified to a "long nose" standard.
Further trials were carried out including experimental insatllations of "single dish" CW AI radar during 1961-63. From 1963 to 1969, WH953, still with the RRE, was involved experimental trials with the FMI CW radar system, a conversion of the CW AI radar, then during the period 1969-71 was used in the research for the JP236 AEW system. This was followed by a spell at Marconi during the development of the Tornado's AI radar until, in 1977 this B.6 ended up at the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment at Bedford. I saw it on static display at the 1981 RAF Finningley Air Show. The nose section is now preserved at Blyth Valley Aviation Collection, Walpole, Suffolk.
The English Electric Canberra was a first-generation British jet-powered medium bomber. It was developed during the mid-to-late 1940s in response to a 1944 Air Ministry requirement for a successor to the wartime de Havilland Mosquito fast bomber.
Among the performance requirements for the type was the demand for an outstanding high-altitude bombing capability and high speed. These were partly accomplished by making use of newly-developed jet propulsion technology. When the Canberra was introduced to service in May 1951 with the RAF, the type's first operator, it became the service's first jet-powered bomber.
Throughout most of the 1950s, the Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other aircraft in the world. In 1957, a Canberra established a world altitude record of 21,430m. In February 1951, another Canberra set another world record when it became the first jet aircraft to make a non-stop trans-Atlantic flight. Due to its ability to evade the early jet interceptor aircraft and its significant performance advancement over contemporary piston-engined bombers, the Canberra became a popular aircraft on the export market, being procured for service in the air forces of many nations both inside and outside of the British Commonwealth. The type was licence-produced in Australia by the Government Aircraft Factories and in the US by Martin as the B-57 Canberra. The latter produced both the slightly modified B-57A Canberra and the significantly updated B-57B.
In addition to being a tactical nuclear strike aircraft, the Canberra proved to be highly-adaptable, serving in varied roles such as tactical bombing and photographic and electronic reconnaissance. Canberras served in the Suez Crisis, Vietnam War, Falklands War, Indo-Pakistani wars and numerous African conflicts. In several wars, each of the opposing sides had Canberras in their air forces.
The Canberra had a lengthy service life, serving for more than 50 years with some operators. In June 2006, the RAF retired the last of its Canberras, 57 years after its first flight.
Scanned from a negative.
Modified English Electric Canberra B.6
Built as an English Electric Canberra B.6, WH953 was ready for collection in January 1955 and was put onto the RAF's charge. However, it was delivered to the Radar Research Establishment's works at Defford the same month and was taken off the RAF's charge a month later.
During 1956-58, WH953 was involved in installations and trials of the AI Mk 20 radar until, in 1959, it was transferred ro RRE Pershore and modified to a "long nose" standard.
Further trials were carried out including experimental insatllations of "single dish" CW AI radar during 1961-63. From 1963 to 1969, WH953, still with the RRE, was involved experimental trials with the FMI CW radar system, a conversion of the CW AI radar, then during the period 1969-71 was used in the research for the JP236 AEW system. This was followed by a spell at Marconi during the development of the Tornado's AI radar until, in 1977 this B.6 ended up at the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment at Bedford. I saw it on static display at the 1981 RAF Finningley Air Show. The nose section is now preserved at Blyth Valley Aviation Collection, Walpole, Suffolk.
The English Electric Canberra was a first-generation British jet-powered medium bomber. It was developed during the mid-to-late 1940s in response to a 1944 Air Ministry requirement for a successor to the wartime de Havilland Mosquito fast bomber.
Among the performance requirements for the type was the demand for an outstanding high-altitude bombing capability and high speed. These were partly accomplished by making use of newly-developed jet propulsion technology. When the Canberra was introduced to service in May 1951 with the RAF, the type's first operator, it became the service's first jet-powered bomber.
Throughout most of the 1950s, the Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other aircraft in the world. In 1957, a Canberra established a world altitude record of 21,430m. In February 1951, another Canberra set another world record when it became the first jet aircraft to make a non-stop trans-Atlantic flight. Due to its ability to evade the early jet interceptor aircraft and its significant performance advancement over contemporary piston-engined bombers, the Canberra became a popular aircraft on the export market, being procured for service in the air forces of many nations both inside and outside of the British Commonwealth. The type was licence-produced in Australia by the Government Aircraft Factories and in the US by Martin as the B-57 Canberra. The latter produced both the slightly modified B-57A Canberra and the significantly updated B-57B.
In addition to being a tactical nuclear strike aircraft, the Canberra proved to be highly-adaptable, serving in varied roles such as tactical bombing and photographic and electronic reconnaissance. Canberras served in the Suez Crisis, Vietnam War, Falklands War, Indo-Pakistani wars and numerous African conflicts. In several wars, each of the opposing sides had Canberras in their air forces.
The Canberra had a lengthy service life, serving for more than 50 years with some operators. In June 2006, the RAF retired the last of its Canberras, 57 years after its first flight.
Scanned from a negative.