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English Electric Canberra

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English Electric Canberra

English Electric Canberra B.2

Type Bomber

Manufacturer English Electric

Designed by Teddy Petter

Maiden flight 1949-05-13

Introduced May 1951

Retired 23/06/2006 RAF

Status Retired

Primary users Royal Air Force and Royal Navy

Argentina, Australia, India

Number built 1,352

Variants B-57 Canberra

 

The English Electric Canberra was a first-generation jet bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The type remained in service until June 23, 2006.

Contents

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* 1 Origins

* 2 Other manufacturers

* 3 Aircraft description

* 4 Service

* 5 Flight records

* 6 Variants

* 7 Specifications (Canberra B.Mk.6)

* 8 References

* 9 Operators

* 10 External links

* 11 Related content

 

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Origins

 

The Canberra had its origins in 1944 as a replacement was considered for the unarmed high speed, high altitude de Havilland Mosquito bomber. Several British aircraft manufacturers submitted proposals. Among the companies shortlisted to proceed with development studies was English Electric, a well-established industrial manufacturer with very little aircraft experience. A desperate need for bombers arose during the early years of World War II, when English Electric began to build the Halifax under licence.

 

The new English Electric design team was headed by former Westland chief designer W. E. W. Petter. The aircraft was named Canberra after the capital of Australia by Robert Menzies, the Australian Prime Minister at the time [citation needed]. In May 1945 a contract was signed, but with the post-war military reductions the prototype did not fly until May 1949. It was a simple design, looking like a scaled-up Gloster Meteor with a shoulder wing. The fuselage was circular in cross section, tapered at both ends and, cockpit aside, entirely without protrusions; the line of the large, low aspect ratio wings was broken only by the tubular engine nacelles.

Canberra PR.9 taking off.

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Canberra PR.9 taking off.

 

Although jet powered and of all-metal construction, the Canberra design philosophy was very much in the Mosquito mould ie provide room for a substantial bomb load, fit two of the most powerful engines available, and wrap it in the smallest, most aerodynamic package possible. Rather than devote space and weight to defensive armament — which historically could not overcome purpose-designed fighter aircraft — the Canberra was designed to fly fast and high enough to avoid air-to-air combat entirely.

 

The Canberra was designed for a crew of two under a fighter-style canopy, but delays in the development of the intended automatic radar bombsight resulted in the addition of a bomb aimer's position in the nose. Wingspan and length were almost identical at just under 20 metres, maximum takeoff weight a little under 25 tonnes. Thrust was provided by a pair of 30 kN axial flow Rolls-Royce Avon turbojets.

RAF photo-reconnaissance Canberra PR.9, the pilot is standing by the plane's nose below the offset "fighter" style canopy.

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RAF photo-reconnaissance Canberra PR.9, the pilot is standing by the plane's nose below the offset "fighter" style canopy.

 

In the autumn of 1945, Air Ministry specification B.3/45 requested production of 4 prototypes. Although construction began in early 1946, the first aircraft flew only on 13 May 1949. In the interim, the Air Ministry had already ordered 132 production aircraft in bomber, reconnaissance, and training variants. The prototype proved vice-free and required only a few modifications. A new glazed nose had to be fitted to accommodate a bombardier because the advanced bombing avionics were not ready for production, the engines were upgraded to more powerful Avon R.A.3s, and the distinctive teardrop-shaped fuel tanks were fitted under the wingtips.

 

The resultant Canberra B2 first flew on 21 April 1950, and entered squadron service with RAF 101 Sqn in May 1951. In a testament to the aircraft's benign handling characteristics, the transition program consisted of only 20 hours in the Gloster Meteor and 3 hours in the dual-control Canberra trainer. With a maximum speed of 470 kt (871 km/h), a standard service ceiling of 48,000 ft (14,600 m), and the ability to carry a 3.6 tonne payload, the Canberra was an instant success. It was built in 27 versions which equipped 35 RAF squadrons, and were exported to Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Rhodesia, South Africa, Sweden, Venezuela and West Germany.

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Other manufacturers

 

In the United States where the USAF needed to replace the B-26 Invader, 406 Canberras were manufactured under licence as the Martin B-57 in several versions, initially almost exactly the same as the English Electric pattern aircraft, later with a series of substantial modifications. See B-57 Canberra for a detailed account of these aircraft. In Australia, the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF) built 48 for the RAAF, broadly similar to the British B.2 but with a modified leading edge and increased fuel capacity. In the United Kingdom, the demand for Canberras exceeded English Electric's ability to supply, and Handley Page also manufactured them under licence. Total worldwide Canberra production was 1,352.

One of two Canberras in service with the Luftwaffe at the museum at Gatow Airport.

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One of two Canberras in service with the Luftwaffe at the museum at Gatow Airport.

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Aircraft description

 

The Canberra is an all-metal aircraft. The fuselage is of semi-monocoque construction with a pressurized nose compartment. The pilot sits on a Martin-Baker ejection seat while the bomb aimer-navigator has to rely on a conventional escape hatch and parachute. The fuselage contains two bomb bays with conventional clamshell doors (a rotating door was implemented on the Martin-built B-57 Canberra). The wing is of single-spar construction with the spar passing through the fuselage. Outside of the engine nacelles, the wing has a leading edge sweep of 4° and trailing edge sweep of -14°. Controls are conventional with ailerons, four-section flaps, and airbrakes on top and bottom surfaces of the wings.

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Service

 

Canberras remained in front-line service with major air forces throughout the 1950s, '60s and '70s, and continued to serve as bombers and reconnaissance aircraft with minor air forces through the '80s and '90s. In the UK, the PR9 variant remained in service with 39 (1PRU) Squadron until July 2006 for tactical reconnaissance and photographic mapping, seeing service in the 2003 Iraq war and, as recently as June 2006, in Afghanistan. The only Canberras remaining in active service are two American-built B-57s operated by NASA in the USA for high alititude research.

SAAF Canberra B12 with inertial navigation and special sensors package over Transvaal.

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SAAF Canberra B12 with inertial navigation and special sensors package over Transvaal.

 

The Canberra played a part in many conflicts, being employed as a bomber by Britain during the Suez Crisis, by Britain, New Zealand and Australia in Malaya, the United States and Australia in Vietnam, by Ethiopia against Eritrea and then Somalia during the 1970s, by both Rhodesia and South Africa in their respective Bush Wars and by Argentina in the Falklands War.

 

During the Indo-Pakistani Wars of the 1960s and '70s, the Canberra was used by both sides. On 21 May 1999, prior to the commencement of the Kargil conflict, the Air HQ of the Indian Air Force assigned a Canberra PR57 aircraft a photo mission task near the LoC (Line of Control), where it took a severe blow from a FIM-92 Stinger infrared homing missile on the starboard engine and with only one operational engine left it still managed to return to base.

 

During the Vietnam conflict Australian Canberras were particularly valued as due to their older, accurate, optical bombsights they could use level bombing from safe altitudes over South Vietnam, often with total surprise, whilst more modern jets and attack aircraft either used less accurate electronic bombing methods or dive bombing tactics which required braving Viet Minh and North Vietnamese anti-aircraft fire.

 

But perhaps the best remembered role was in the Cold War, where modified very high-altitude Canberras overflew the Soviet Union and China many times before the advent of the Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. In 1955 the USAF ordered 20 RB-57Ds from Martin, with modified Pratt & Whitney J57 engines and an extended 33 metre wingspan. These, and a later version with longer 37 metre wings, were used for both photographic and electronic reconnaissance. On 24 December 1957, a USAF RB-57 was shot down by Soviet fighters over the Black Sea, and in February 1958 and October 1959 RB-57Ds operated by the Chinese Nationalists were shot down over mainland China. After President Eisenhower's 1960 ban on overflying the USSR, they continued to monitor Eastern Bloc nations, often flying just outside territorial limits at about 60,000 ft (18,300 m) to look deep into the forbidden territory, until 14 December 1965 (1968 according to other accounts) when an RB-57F was shot down by a surface-to-air missile over the Black Sea near Odessa.

 

The Argentine Air Force received 10 B.62 and 2 T.64 trainers at the beginning of the 1970s. During the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas War, eight of them were deployed to Trelew, (a distance of 670 mi (1,080 km) from the islands) to avoid congestion on the closer southern airfields. From May 1 to June 14, they made 35 sorties, 25 of them at night against ground troops. Two aircraft were lost to missiles - the ship launched Sea Dart.

 

NASA retains (July 2005) NASA 926 and NASA 928 for high altitude research. These aircraft observed the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-114, on 26 July 2005. The aircraft perform other scientific observation roles on weather, pollution and ozone layer depletion studies. These aircraft entered USAF service in 1964 as WB-57Fs with 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron prior to joining NASA in the early 1970s. NASA operated 925 from 1972-82 when it was retired.

An English Electric Canberra photographed at Avalon (near Melbourne) in early 2003.

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An English Electric Canberra photographed at Avalon (near Melbourne) in early 2003.

 

The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber right through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft (21,430 m) in 1957. (The Lockheed U-2 may have flown higher, but was secret at that time. That said, the service ceiling of the Canberra PR9 still in service today remains classified.)

 

The RAF's 3 seat trainer Canberras flew their last flights at RAF Marham in September 2005 because of the retirement of the photo-reconnaissance Canberras on June 23rd 2006.

 

A ceremony to mark the closure of the last Canberra Squadron in the Royal Air Force - No. 39(PRU) Sqn took take place at Royal Air Force Marham in Norfolk on Friday 28 July 2006. The ceremony included a flypast by a Canberra PR9 on its last ever sortie.

 

About 10 airworthy Canberras are in private hands today, and are a popular feature at flying displays.

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Flight records

 

* 1951 - first non-stop transatlantic crossing by a jet.

* 1952 - first double transatlantic crossing by a jet.

* 1953 - height record - 63,668 ft

* 1955 - height record - 65,890 ft

* 1957 - height record - 70,310 ft

 

Canberra B.2 (WK163) with a Napier "Double Scorpion" rocket motor in August.

 

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Variants

 

See B-57 Canberra for the US-built variants.

 

English Electric A.1

The first Canberra prototype.

B.Mk.1

Pre-production prototype, 4 built.

B.Mk.2

First production version, crew increased to 3, Avon R.A.3 engines with 6,500 lbf (28.91 kN) of thrust, wingtip fuel tanks

B.Mk.5

Prototype of second-generation Canberra with fuel tanks in the wings and Avon R.A.7 engines with 7,490 lbf (33.32 kN) of thrust

B.Mk.6

Production version based on B.Mk.5. 1 ft (0.3 m) fuselage stretch, could be fitted with a belly pack with 4x 20 mm cannons for strafing.

B.Mk.6RC

RC= Radio Countermeasures - Specialist ELINT version only 4 produced. Extended nose.

B(I).Mk.6

Interim bomber version for the RAF.

B(I).Mk.8

Third-generation Canberra dervied from B.Mk.6. Teardrop canopy on the port site of the fuselage, crew reduced to 2 (pilot and navigator-bombardier), provision for a belly pack with 4x 20 mm British-Hispano cannons, one external hardpoint under each wing for up to 1,000 lb (454 kg) of bombs or unguided rockets, LABS (Low-Altitude Bombing System) for delivery of nuclear bombs. First flight 23 July 1954, 73 built.

B(I).Mk.12

B(I).Mk.8 bomber built for New Zealand and South Africa.

B.Mk.15

Upgraded B.Mk.6 with underwing hardpoints for 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs or rockets.

B.Mk.16

Similar to B.Mk.15.

B.Mk.20

B.Mk.2 with additional fuel tanks in the wings license-built in Australia, 48 built.

B(I).Mk.58

Tropicalized B(I).Mk.8 built by Boulton-Paul for India.

PR.Mk.3

Photo-reconnaissance version of B.Mk.2

PR.Mk.7

Photo-reconnaissance version based on B.Mk.6

PR.Mk.9

Photo-reconnaissance version based on B(I).Mk.8 with fuselage stretched to 68 ft (27.72 m), wingspan increased by 4 ft (1.22 m), and Avon R.A.27 engines with 10,030 lbf (44.6 kN) of thrust. 22 built.

PR.Mk.57

Tropicalized PR.Mk.7 built by Boulton-Paul for India.

T.Mk.4

First trainer variant with dual controls.

T.Mk.11

Radar trainer for weapon systems operators of all-weather interceptors.

T.Mk.13

Training version of the T.Mk.4 for the RNZAF, 1 built.

T.Mk.17

Trainer for electronic warfare officers.

TT.Mk.18

Target tug.

T.Mk.19

T.Mk.11 with radar removed as silent target.

T.Mk.21

Trainers converted from B.Mk.2 and B.Mk.20

T.Mk.22

Conversion of the PR.Mk.7 for Royal Navy's Fleet and Air Direction Unit. Used for training Buccaneer navigators.

U.Mk.10

Remote-controlled target drones converted from B.Mk.2, later redesignated D.Mk.10.

U.Mk.14

Remote-controlled target drones converted from the U.Mk.10, later designated D.Mk.14.

Canberra Mk.52

4 refurbished B.Mk.2 bombers sold to Ethiopia.

Canberra Mk.56

10 refurbished B(I).Mk.6 bombers sold to Peru.

Canberra Mk.62

10 refurbished B.Mk.2 bombers sold to Argentina.

Canberra Mk.64

2 refurbished T.Mk.4 trainers sold to Argentina.

Canberra Mk.66

10 refurbished B(I).Mk.6 bombers sold to India.

Canberra Mk.67

2 refurbised PR.Mk.7s sold to India.

Canberra Mk.68

1 refurbised B(I).Mk.8 bomber sold to Peru.

Shorts SC.9

One Canberra PR.Mk.9 fitted with an AI.23 radar, plus IR installation in the nose for Red Top air-to-air missile trials.

 

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Specifications (Canberra B.Mk.6)

Orthographically projected diagram of the Canberra PR9.

 

Data from Combat Aircraft Recognition[1]

General characteristics

 

* Crew: 3

* Length: 65 ft 6 in (19.96 m)

* Wingspan: 64 ft 0 in (19.51 m)

* Height: 15 ft 8 in (4.77 m)

* Wing area: 960 ft² (89.19 m²)

* Empty weight: 21,650 lb (9,820 kg)

* Loaded weight: 46,000 lb (20,865 kg)

* Max takeoff weight: 55,000 lb (24,950 kg)

* Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Avon R.A.7 Mk.109 turbojets, 7,400 lbf (32.92 kN) each

 

Performance

 

* Maximum speed: Mach 0.88 (580 mph, 933 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m)

* Range: 810 mi (1,300 km) combat; 3,380 mi (5,440 km) ferry

* Service ceiling: 48,000 ft (14,630 m)

* Rate of climb: 3,400 ft/min (1,000 m/min)

* Wing loading: 48 lb/ft² (234 kg/m²)

* Thrust/weight: 0.32

 

Armament

 

* Up to 6,000 lb (2,720 kg) of bombs internally, including either 6x 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs, or 1x 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) bomb, or 2x 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs, or 9x 500 lb (227 kg) bombs.

* Up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) of externally (on upgraded aircraft), including 2x 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs, or 4x 500 lb (227 kg) bombs, or 2x AS.30 air-to-ground missiles, or 2x 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun pods, or 2x unguided rocket pods with 37x 2 in (51 mm) rockets.

* Belly gun pack in the rear bomb bay with 4×20 mm cannons with 500 rounds/gun

 

For an explanation of the units and abbreviations in this list, please see aviation-related units.

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References

 

1. ^ March, PR (1988). Combat aircraft recognition. Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-1730-1.

 

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Operators

 

* (Martin B-57 Canberra): Pakistan, South Vietnam, Taiwan, United States Air Force,

* (English Electric Canberra): Argentina, Australia, Ethiopia, Germany, India, New Zealand, Peru, Rhodesia, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom (Royal Air Force, Royal Navy), Venezuela,

 

External links

 

* RAF Canberra Page

* No 39 (1PRU) Sqn

* NASA Feature on B-57 at 59

* NASA/JSC WB-57 High Altitude Research Program

* The English Electric Canberra Records

* BBC News - "Vintage jet is flying into sunset"

* Argentine Canberras in spanish

* Kapustin Yar - spyflight over the USSR

* Operation Robin - other spyflights over the USSR

 

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