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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 0141.PDF
*$f">'~* FLIGHT, 18 January 1952 Demonstrating the new vizor which is to' take the place of tinted spectacles to subdue glare at high altitudes. The pilot and crew depicted are all wearing pressure waistcoats. Formations of Canberras, like this echelon from Binbrook, will gradually become a familiar sight in British skies. Versions for bombing, target marking and photographic reconnaissance are already in existence. But, whatever may have inspired this somewhat baffling pronouncement, it may be presumed that the Canberra packs —or will be developed to pack—a heavy punch in terms of effectiveness, if not of weight alone. As for its abihty to deliver, we can only state our own opinions. We must, in the first place, dissent from the view that the Canberra is the world's fastest bomber, for the experimental Martin B-51 may be anything up to 100 m.p.h. speedier at low and medium levels; but the British bomber possesses certain unique attributes which permit it to cruise very fast at heights of 45,000-50,0006, as demonstrated in its trans atlantic crossings in face of severe headwinds. At these ex treme heights, where the best fighters are becoming leaden- winged, and their turbojets are gasping for breath, it retains, by virtue of its low wing loading, an altogether exceptional standard of manoeuvrability, which would certainly cause many types of fighters to stall in bringing aim to bear. In this regard, however, it must be remembered that the Mig-15 has demonstrated high-altitude handling qualities superior to those of comparable British and American types. As for accuracy of delivery, it may be remarked that the Left to right, S/L W. H. Thallon, O.C. No. 617 Sqn.; GjC. N.C. Hyde, Station Commander; VV/C. H. P. Connolly, D.F.C., AIM., W/C. Flying; pnd SjL E. Cassidy, D.F.C., O.C. No. 101 Sqn. Canberra B.i was foreseen as an "all-radar" bomber, but that the B.2 appears to have a conventional optical bomb-sight. The Air Ministry, however, has recently disclosed that it can bomb through cloud "by means of radar aids"—presumably a development of Oboe. To summarize, the Canberra probably stands a better chance of reaching its target than any type of bomber now in service, and it will carry a worth-while load, though its ability to deliver this with the desired accuracy is at present open to doubt. As the wind knifed and bludgeoned across the airfield at Binbrook we stood talking with various officers concerned with the introduction of the Canberra into R.A.F. service. There was G/C. N. C. Hvde (Station Commander); W/C. H. P. ("Pat") Connolly, D.F.C., A.F.M. (W/C. Flying); W/C. W. H. Herbert, O.B.E. (W/C. Technical); W/C. H. P. Jenkins, D.F.C. (W/C. Admin.); S/L. E. Cassidy, D.F.C. (O.C., 101 Sqn.); S/L. W. H. Thallon (O.C, 617 Sqn.); and F/L. Morley (O.C., Conversion Unit). From these officers we learned that the most experienced pilots available—some of them ex-instructors—had been selected to fly the Canberras of No. 101 Sqri., but that those for 617 Sqn. were in no sense hand-picked. At present pilots are converted to the Canberra by a small unit on the station. Following a course of ground instruction, they gain experience on the Meteor 7 and then complete 15-20 hr solo flying on the Meteor 4. Their first flights in the Canberra are made with an instructor sitting alongside. (Although a dual-control trainer variant of the Canberra is believed to have been projected, no such machines are in R.A.F. service.) Early this year the first Canberra Operational Con version Unit will be formed at Bassingbourn, in Hertfordshire, and a proportion of National Service pilots will be trained to fly the type. The Canberra B.2 has a crew of three— pilot, navigator-plotter, and observer. The two last-named are to a large extent inter changeable, though it is usually the navi gator-plotter who navigates the machine to the target with radar aids, and the observer who, near the target, takes up his position to aim the bombs. There is no signaller and no W/T.—the only radio is the pilot's V.H.F./R.T. Continued at the foot of page 61)
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