canberra prototype?

Thanks for the info. Looks like I was halfway there which isn’t bad considering that it must be 35 years or so since I last saw the nose section.

If someone does go up there, see if there is any chance you can get in the cockpit – I’m going to be building the B.5 for FS2004 later this year, and it might be the only way to find out what the Mark 5 looks like inside. We know it was a target marker with radar but I’m not sure if there is nose cone access from inside…thing is it has a flat panel, so I’m at a loss where the radar went

I’d be very grateful if any pics can be taken 🙂

Yes VX185s original record breaking B.5 bubble top cockpit section is preserved at East Fortune (demobbed link http://www.demobbed.org.uk/images/vx185.jpg), and is the oldest substantial Canberra item, looks like it is the only solid nose bomber variant part preserved aswel.

The rest of the airframe with the newer fighter style cockpit was scrapped at Filton.

“VX185 made its record-breaking double crossing of the Atlantic on 26 August 1952. It was flown from RAF Aldergrove (Ireland) to Gander and back by Wing Commander RP Beamont and crewed by Peter Hillwood and Dennis Watson. The flight took 10hours 3minutes 29.28seconds at an average speed of 411.99 mph”

Quoted from the late Les Bywaters site..

Apparently the nose now exists over at East Fortune..a trip there is in order I reckon!

VX185 was converted to become the only Canberra B5 and it is the B5 nose which is preserved. The rest of the airframe went on to become a B8.
I was sure that I remembered the nose of VX185 being in the air gallery at the Science Museum and a check back in Veteran and Vintage Aircarft confirmed my memeory wasn’t playing tricks.
I remember reading the board beside the cockpit and have an idea it was involved in some kind of record attempt ( a flight to New Zealand?). Perhaps someone else has a better memory (or better references) than me and can shed some light on this.

I don’t suppose anyone has recently ventured out to the crash site? Being stateside bound, I am sadly limited to looking for the site on Google Earth on lunchbreaks!!

Thinking about FMK.6JOHN’s comments about her being struck off charge – does anyone know anything more about the actual crash?

Steve

If anybody goes looking for the scrap remains of VN799, good luck and let me know how it goes. What would be equally interesting would be to find the remains of the other sister prototypes, especially my old fave, VN813, which was later used as the De Havilland Spectre rocket testbed. I have no idea what happened to these other B.1s, but would love to know.

There is something classic to me about the B.1. It really was too bad that the radar bombing equipment never materialised in time to fit the B.1 and make it what it was supposed to be. Results might have been more accurate in the Suez crisis for example. As much as I love the glazed nose types, there is something sleek and attractive about the smooth nose B.1 (and T.4 I suppose).

Maybe Les B will confirm about VX185, but I would guess that is among the oldest, since this was an early PR.3 prior to her conversions. I wonder if the MAM’s PR.3, WF922 is also a contender…?

Glenn L Martin Company was building the Canberra for the USAF as the B-57 under English Electric license.

http://www.marylandaviationmuseum.org/history/martin_aircraft/23_b57.html

les im really sorry, i didnt proof read my post i thought i had credited the photographs, ill remove them

apologies once again 🙁

Nash

If you’re going to use images from a web site be so good as to at least credit that site.

😡

According to demobbed, there is a cockpit of a VX185 on display at east fortune. she was thenthen converted to the B(1).8 prototype, as she’s the only V serial number canberra on there, so possibly the oldest survivor? 🙂

.
In Australia we have a number of the GAF built Australian Canberra’s surviving as well as 2 surviving former RAAF “British” built trainer Canberras imported to support the RAAF operations of the Australian built aircraft, and 3 surviving former RAF U-10 British Built Canberra’s from use at Woomera.

One of those imported british built RAAF Canberra’s is A84-307, the former WD939, s/n 71020. It is listed on the Australian ADF-Serials.com site as being “The world’s oldest surviving Canberra” jet?

By RAF identity, it seems to the oldest complete airframe existing after the cockpits of VX185, WD931 & WD935? (I’m not a RAF ID expert but I assume in this case alphabetical = chronological?)

Anyone able to confirm if it is the oldest complete canberra survivor, and what number in the production line from the prototype was it?

(quote from www.adf-serials.com)

A84-307 B.2 Mk.21
Built by English Electric c/n 71020. Diverted from RAF contract (serial WD939). Delivered to RAAF on 01/08/51. (Allocated to be A84-307 back on 07/12/50). The first Canberra to arrive in Australia (in fact the first jet to fly UK to Australia). It was flown by WGCDR D R Cuming with FLTLT Col Harvey as navigator on 31/07/51. The flight totalled 10,235 miles (16,487km) and was covered in a flying time of 21Hrs 41mins giving an avarage speed of 477.62mph (768.63) This was a speed record at the time albeit unofficial as no FAI observers were present. To 1 AD 31/07/51. Officially delivered 06/08/51. To ARDU 25/08/51. To 82 Wing 04/10/51. Unserviceable 22/11/51, waiting for parts for rudder from England. To ARDU 19/12/51. Minor repairs required at ARDU 18/09/52. Port engine failed on 07/02/53 at ARDU. To 1 LRF 19/05/53. Was prepared as the second entry in the 1953 London to Christchurch Air-Race in case A84-202 was not completed in time. To 1 AD 06/11/53. To 82 Wing 14/12/53. The fuselage was damaged on 01/07/55, taken to GAF at Avalon 21/07/55 for repairs and modification. Modified to Mk.21 trainer configuration from 15/08/56, first flight 26/09/58, re-delivered on 07/11/58. To 82 Wing 12/12/58. To 3 AD 01/09/61 for E servicing. To 82 Wing 16/04/62. To GAF Avalon 22/05/62 for modification. To 86 Wing 11/07/62 – Served with 38 Sqn Comms Flight. To 82 Wing 19/09/62. To 2 Sqn 02/04/63 and still held 12/06/65. To Parafield for corrosion repair 11/01/66. To 82 Wing 11/03/66. To 3 AD 05/06/67. To 1(B) OCU 02/05/68. To 3 AD 18/12/68. To 3 AD 03/03/69. To 1 OCU 21/05/69. To 1(B)OCU 24/09/69. To 2 Sqn 30/06/71. To 3 AD 07/03/72 for E servicing and repair. To 2 Sqn 23/10/72. To 3 AD 12/09/73. To 1 CAMD 11/06/83 and converted to training aid.
Was located at No.1 Central Ammunition Store, Kingswood, NSW. Dismantled for removal 10/04, Still at Kingswood 04/05.Purchased by The National Vietnam Veterans Museum and relocated to their museum at Phillip Island Victoria where it is currently on display.
The world’s oldest surviving Canberra (and will hopefully remain so).

(Photo & quote from www.bywat,.co.uk)

This nicely preserved Canberra began its life as a B.2, WD939. Awaiting collection in August 1951, it was immediately delivered, on 1 August that year, to the Royal Australian Air Force. Delivery was over a four day period from RAF Lyneham to Darwin with the Australian crew, Wg Cdr D.R.Cuming and Flt Lt Harvey, setting up an unofficial fastest jet record for the trip, flying 10,200 miles in just 21 hours. WD939, all-over silver with a black fin, arrived on 5 August 1951. For a few days it flew out of Laverton to assist training and aircrew conversion before it joined the RAAF’s 6 Sqd as A84-307.

In 1958, it was converted to a Mk 21, first flying in that configuration on 29 September of that year. As a Mk21 it was delivered to 1 Sqd in the November. Later, a stay with the famous 2 Sqd was broken when A84-307 transferred to the RAAF’s 1(B)OCU. It ended its service life on 2 Sqd and is currently in a park area of the Defence Munitions Depot, Kingswood NSW Australia. Bob says that because of the sensitive nature of the area, it took him some time to get approval to take the photos.

It has recently joined the National Vietnam Veterans Museum in Victoria.

regards

Mark Pilkington

VN799 crashed on aproach to Sutton Heath in August 1953, she was ‘struck off charge’ so there may have been some salvaged remains?.

T.4 WT478 was last listed as in open storage at RAF Wyton in 1992, not sure what remains of her today.

There is a survivors list on this site but not sure if it is bang up to date…….

http://www.bywat.co.uk/canb06.html

Hope this helps,

John.