English Electric Canberra
| Canberra | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| English Electric Canberra Mk.20 | |
| Type | Bomber aircraft |
| Manufacturer | English Electric |
| Maiden flight | 13 May 1949 |
| Introduced | May 1951 |
| Retired | 23 June 2006 (RAF) |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force Argentine Air Force Royal Australian Air Force Indian Air Force |
| Number built | 1,352 |
| Variants | B-57 Canberra |
The English Electric Canberra was a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. It proved to be highly adaptable, serving in such varied roles as tactical bomber, reconnaissance and even weather study. The type remained in service with the Royal Air Force until 23 June 2006, 57 years after its first flight.
Design and development
The Canberra had its origins in 1944 as a replacement 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 Hampden 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 Sir George Nelson, chairman of English Electric, because Australia was the first export customer for the aircraft. [1] 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.
Although jet-powered and of all-metal construction, the Canberra design philosophy was very much in the Mosquito mould, i.e. 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.
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 B.2 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,
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 Canberra in several versions, initially almost exactly the same as the English Electric pattern aircraft, later with a series of substantial modifications. 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, increased fuel capacity and room for three starter cartridges (although in practice, all three cartridges would sometimes fire, leading to the triple starter units being loaded singly.[2] In the United Kingdom, the demand for Canberras exceeded English Electric's ability to supply, and Handley Page and Short Brothers also manufactured them under licence. Total worldwide Canberra production was 1,352.
Operational history
Canberras remained in front-line service with major air forces throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and continued to serve as bombers and reconnaissance aircraft with minor air forces through the 1980s and 1990s. 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 invasion of Iraq and, as recently as June 2006, in Afghanistan. The only Canberras remaining in active service are two American-built B-57s operated by NASA for high altitude research.
The Canberra played a part in many conflicts, being employed as a bomber by the RAF during the Suez Crisis; by the UK, New Zealand, and Australia in the Malayan Emergency; by 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.
The Canberra was the backbone of the Indian Air Force for bombing raids and photo reconnaissance. It was first used in 1962 by the IAF as part of the UN campaign against the breakaway Katanga republic in Africa. During the Indo-Pakistani Wars of the 1960s and 1970s, the Canberra was used by both sides. The most audacious use of the bomber was in the "Raid on Badin" during the Second Kashmir War, when the Indian Air Force sent in the Canberra to bomb a vital Pakistani radar post in West Pakistan. The raid was a complete success and crippled the radars in Badin.[3] In the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 they flew a very important sortie hitting the Karachi oil tanks, helping the Indian Navy to carry out their missile boat attacks with impunity.[1] On 21 May 1999, prior to the commencement of the Kargil War, the Air HQ of the Indian Air Force assigned a Canberra PR57 aircraft on a photographic mission 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. The Canberras were finally retired by the IAF after 50 years of service on 11 May 2007.[4]
During the Vietnam War, GAF Canberras from 2 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force were valued, because of their optical bombsights; these meant they could carry out bombing raids from higher altitudes, often with total surprise. More modern bombers and attack aircraft either used less-accurate electronic targeting equipment and/or dive bombing tactics, which risked greater losses to Viet Cong and North Vietnamese anti-aircraft fire.
Perhaps the best remembered role, however, 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
The Argentine Air Force received 10 B.62 and 2 T.64 trainers at the beginning of the 1970s. During the 1982 Falklands 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 the ship-launched Sea Dart missile.
NASA retains (as of 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.
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 remains classified.)
The RAF's three-seat trainer Canberra T4s flew their last flights at RAF Marham in September 2005 because of the retirement of the photo-reconnaissance Canberras on 23 June 2006. In the twilight of their service these had been operational over Afghanistan. Sources indicate that there is no prospective replacement for the Canberra for future reconnaissance work such as that over Afghanistan.
A ceremony to mark the closure of No. 39 (PRU) Sqn took place at RAF Marham on Friday 28 July 2006. The ceremony included a flypast by a Canberra PR9 on its last ever sortie. RAF Canberras made their final flights on 31 July when three were delivered to their new home with Delta Jets at Kemble. They have been purchased by private agencies and will be kept serviceable pending developments which might include contract work.
After the Canberra left RAF service, the other full-time military operator, the Indian Air Force, announced the withdrawal of the Canberra from combat service from March 2007. The last Canberras operated by the Indian Air Force have retired after a 50 year career. Other Canberras are retained by the Air Force of Peru and several ex-RAF machines and RB-57s are flying in the US for research and mapping work.
About ten airworthy Canberras are in private hands today, and are a popular feature at flying displays.
Flight records set by a Canberra
- 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
Technical description
The Canberra is an all-metal aircraft. The fuselage is of semi-monocoque construction with a pressurized nose compartment. Each crew member has a Martin-Baker ejection seat, except for the B(I)8 and export versions of the B(I)8, where the 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.
Variants
- See B-57 Canberra article for the US-built 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. Built by English Electric, Avro, Handley Page and Short Brothers & Harland [5]
- 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 fitted with an AI.23 radar, plus IR installation in the nose for Red Top air-to-air missile trials.
Operators
![Canberra (dark blue) and B-57 (light blue) operators[6]](http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/2/22/400px-Cranberry_operators.png)
E.E. Canberra
- Centre d'Essais en Vol
- Centre du Tir et de Bombardment[6]
New Zealand
- Royal Air Force
- Fleet Air Arm
- Fleet and Air Direction Unit
Martin B-57
Specifications (Canberra B.Mk.6)
Data from Combat Aircraft Recognition[7]
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 (21,000 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 55,000 lb (25,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Avon R.A.7 Mk.109 turbojets, 7,400 lbf (36 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.88 (580 mph, 933 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m)
- Combat radius: 810 mi (700 nm, 1,300 km)
- Ferry range: 3,380 mi (2,940 nm, 5,440 km)
- Service ceiling: 48,000 ft (15,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 3,400 ft/min (17 m/s)
- Wing loading: 48 lb/ft² (234 kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.32
Armament
- Internal: 6,000 lb (2,700 kg)
- Guns: belly gun pack in rear bomb bay with 4×20 mm cannon, 500 rounds/gun
- Bombs:
- 9× 500 lb (230 kg) bombs, or
- 6× 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs, or
- 1× 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) bomb
Note: in addition to conventional ordnance, the Canberra was also type-approved for tactical nuclear weapons delivery eg the Red Beard and B57 bombs. All nuclear weapons were carried internally.
- External: 2,000 lb (900 kg)
- Guns:
- 2× 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun pods, or
- Missiles: 2× AS.30 air-to-ground missiles, or
- Rockets: 2× unguided rocket pods with 37× 2 in (51 mm) rockets, or
- Bombs:
- 4× 500 lb (227 kg) bombs, or
- 2× 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs
- Guns:
References
- ^ Ransom, Stephen & Fairclough, Robert (1987) English Electric Aircraft and their Predecessors Putnam ISBN 0-85177-806-2
- ^ Wilson, Stewart, (1989) Lincoln, Canberra and F-111 in Australian Service. Aerosplace Publications Pty Ltd ISBN 0-9587978-3-8
- ^ The Kashmir War, 1965: Raid on Badin - Air Combat Information Group
- ^ Canberra B-57: IAF's 'Wild Weasel' retires after 50 years of service
- ^ British Aircraft Directory accessed 25 January 2007
- ^ a b Jones, Barry (October 2006). "A Nice Little Earner". Aeroplane 34 (10): pp. 93-97.
- ^ March, PR (1988). Combat aircraft recognition. Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-1730-1.
External links
- 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"
- Times of India - "India's IAF Canberra bomber makes final flight"
- Argentine Canberras in Spanish
- Kapustin Yar - spyflight over the USSR
- Operation Robin - other spyflights over the USSR
- PR.3 - WF922
- English Electric Canberra TT.18 - exhibit at Temora Aviation Museum
Video footage
- Last Flight of the PR9
- Waddington Airshow 2006
- PAF B-57 Bombers (1956)
- The Martin B-57 Canberra
- B-57 Canberra weapons release
- RB-57 Canberra (spy plane)
- Canberra sets new transatlantic crossing record
- Canberra PR9
Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
Kingston - Canberra - Lightning
Related lists
See also
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| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
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