English Electric Canberra

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Gordon Bennett Posted: Thu, May 8 2008 6:51 PM

This amazing airplane first flew in 1949 and was in front-line service with the RAF and IAF for 50 years. It has served in a variety of roles including those of tactical bomber, photo-reconnaissance, navigational trainer, maritime strike, electronic countermeasures and target-towing.

Flight records set by Canberras

1951 - first non-stop transatlantic crossing by a jet.
1952 - first double transatlantic crossing by a jet.
1953 - height record - 63,668 ft (19,406 m)
1955 - height record - 65,889 ft (20,083 m)
1957 - height record - 70,310 ft (21,430 m)

Variants

English Electric A.1 The first Canberra prototype. Canberra B.1 Pre-production prototype, 4 built. Canberra B.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. Canberra B.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 Canberra B.6 Production version based on B.5. 1 ft (0.3 m) fuselage stretch, could be fitted with a belly pack with 4x 20 mm Hispano cannons for strafing. Canberra B.6RC RC= Radio Countermeasures - Specialist ELINT version only 4 produced. Extended nose. Canberra B(I).6 Interim bomber version for the RAF. Canberra B(I).8 Third-generation Canberra derived from B.6. Teardrop canopy on the port site of the fuselage, crew reduced to 2 (pilot and navigator-bombardier), provision for a belly pack with 4 x 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. Canberra B(I).12 Canberra B(I).8 bomber built for New Zealand and South Africa. Canberra B.15 Upgraded B.6 with underwing hardpoints for 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs or rockets. Canberra B.16 Similar to B.15. Canberra B.20 B.2 with additional fuel tanks in the wings license-built in Australia, 48 built. Canberra B(I).58 Tropicalized B(I).8 built by Boulton-Paul for India. Canberra PR.3 Photo-reconnaissance version of B.2 Canberra PR.7 Photo-reconnaissance version based on B.6 Canberra PR.9 Photo-reconnaissance version based on B(I).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. 3 transferred to Chile after the Falklands War Canberra PR.57 Tropicalized PR.7 built by Boulton-Paul for India. Canberra T.4 First trainer variant with dual controls. Canberra T.11 Radar trainer for weapon systems operators of all-weather interceptors. Canberra T.13 Training version of the T.4 for the RNZAF, 1 built. Canberra T.17 Electronic warfare training aircraft used to train surface-based radar and missile operators and airborne fighter and Airborne Early Warning crews in handling jamming (including chaff dropping) aircraft. Canberra T.17A Updated version of the T.17 with improved navigation aids, a spectrum analyser in place of the previously-fitted AN/APR 20, and a powerful communications jammer. Canberra TT.18 Target tug. Canberra T.19 T.11 with radar removed as silent target. Canberra T.21 Trainers converted from B.2 and B.20 Canberra T.22 Conversion of the PR.7 for Royal Navy's Fleet and Air Direction Unit. Used for training Buccaneer navigators. Canberra U.10 Remote-controlled target drones converted from B.2, later redesignated D.10. Canberra U.14 Remote-controlled target drones converted from the U.10, later designated D.14. Canberra Mk.52 4 refurbished B.2 bombers sold to Ethiopia. Canberra Mk.56 10 refurbished B(I).6 bombers sold to Peru. Canberra Mk.62 10 refurbished B.2 bombers sold to Argentina. Canberra Mk.64 2 refurbished T.4 trainers sold to Argentina. Canberra Mk.66 10 refurbished B(I).6 bombers sold to India. Canberra Mk.67 2 refurbished PR.7s sold to India. Canberra Mk.68 1 refurbished B(I).8 bomber sold to Peru. Short SC.9 1 Canberra PR.9 rebuilt by Shorts fitted with an AI.23 radar, plus IR installation in the nose for Red Top air-to-air missile trials. Continued in use for radar missile development work.

Operators

Argentina