I make it 23 official in-service UK Canberra variants, with their own official ‘variant designation’, though there were others – the A1 and the B5 prototypes, the Elint B2s used by 192 Squadron, the recce-modded B2s used on Op Robin, etc. the B2 and B6 samplers, and the various RAE/RRE aircraft, etc.
And then there are the exports…..
But first, can anyone help fill in the blanks outlined below?
B2 – original bomber, with ejection seats for pilot forward (offset to port) and for nav plotter and nav bomb aimer port and starboard behind. Fold down canvas Rhumbold seat beside pilot. Prone visual bomb aiming position in the nose, behind glazed nose cone with optical flat offset to starboard. Nav bomb-aimer unstrapped and crawled forward beside pilot to reach nose.
B2T – small number of B2 conversions with Decca ‘Green Satin’ Doppler, GPI Mk.IV, last serving with 231 OCU and 100 Squadron? Probably WJ731 and WE113?
B2E – one off B2 conversion ex-Boscombe (WK164), once fitted out for single seat operation, subsequently serving with 100 Squadron.
PR3 – original recce, two seats (the rear navigator’s seat was offset to port, like the standard nav-plotter seat, with the nav bomb-aimer’s seat omitted) Two crew. No optical flat in the glazed nose-cone. Recce fuselage had 14 inch plug aft of nosewheel bay for forward camera bay, increasing overall length from bomber’s 65ft 6in to 66ft 8in. Bomb bay replaced by fuel tank forward and smaller flare bay aft. PR fuselage also had fuselage fuel filler points offset to starboard of centreline, whereas bomber fuselage had them to port.
T4 – trainer derivative based on B2 (some conversions from B2, some new build), dual flying controls, two side-by-side ejection seats forward, starboard seat hingeing upwards/forwards (then locked) to allow navigator access, or backwards (and locked) for left hand seat pilot access. Second DV panel in canopy to starboard. Solid nose with no bomb aimer’s position. Did any T4s have a fourth seat for a second nav, in the early days? One ejection seat for the single navigator.
B6 – bomber with integral wing tanks triple breech starters, bigger Avons, etc. Otherwise equivalent to B2.
B6(BS) – as above with Blue Shadow, mainly for 109/139 Sqns, designation also used by B6 Mod. Did the units fly with one or two navigators (I believe this was the case)? I ask as installation of Blue Shadow apparently required removal of one ejection seat, like it did on the B16? Blue Shadow to starboard ONLY.
B6 Mod – four modified B6/B6(BS) for 51 Squadron for Elint role. Additional tail warning receivers, Elint antennas in nose, which initially followed ‘normal’ contours, before addition of T11 type extended pointed nose radome, and finally extended rounded nose radome. Blue Shadow fitted (eventually twin Blue Shadow), but three ejection seats retained. Three crew. (Does anyone have an official length figure for the B.Mk 6 Mod from an AP4326 or similar?)
B(I)6 – as B6 with provision for gun pack in rear part of bomb bay, underwing hardpoints, LABS gear as standard. Three crew, with seats as for B2/B6.
PR7 – recce version with integral wing tanks triple breech starters, bigger Avons, etc. Stretched PR fuselage with fuel fillers to starboard. Was the seating arrangement the same as for the PR3??? Initially had no optical flat in the glazed nose-cone, later had centred optical flat like B(I)8.
B(I)8 – interdictor/strike derivative of B6 with pilot sitting higher and further aft, under an offset ‘fighter type canopy’ (non-opening) nav on fixed (‘rumble’, not Rumbold!) seat below and to the right of the pilot for take off, or sideways (port) facing at forward plotting table or prone in the nose. Optical flat in nosecone centred. Pneumatically actuated windbreak door provided in front of normal hatch to facillitate bail-out by nav. Provision for gun pack (4 x 20mm Hispano) in rear part of bomb bay, underwing hardpoints, LABS gear as standard.
PR9 – recce version with opening offset ‘fighter type canopy’ for access, nav on ejection seat in front of pilot in sideways hinged nose, with frangible panel above. (Prototype combined PR fuselage with B(I)8 type glazed nose and no ejection seat for nav). New wing with modest increase in span and increased chord inboard of engines. More powerful engines. Powered ailerons. Length 66′ 8″ Span 67′ 10″ from AP101B-0409-1A.
U10 – drone conversion of B2.
T11 – crew trainer for Javelin crews converted from B2, with AI17 (or was it AI22?) (APQ-43) radar in extended conical nose (increasing length to 69 ft 9 in), long pitot boom on port wingtip. Four crew. Did it have dual controls and an ejection seat for both pilots (like the T4), or did one crewmember sit on the Rhumbold seat??? B(I)8 type hydraulic windbreak door provided in front of normal hatch to facillitate bail-out, suggesting use of the Rhumbold seat by the fourth crew member.
D14 – drone conversion of B2 with PR9 type powered controls
B15 – Converted B6 for the Akrotiri Strike Wing and 45 Squadron, Decca Doppler and Roller map, F95 camera in nose, G45 in starboard wing leading edge. Underwing hardpoints for unguided rockets, and later Nord AS30 ASMs. Crew and seating as for B2/B6.
E15 – calibration conversion of B15. Crew and seating as for B2/B6. (Does anyone have details of the calibration kit fitted?)
B16 – Converted B6 for the Akrotiri Strike Wing with Blue Shadow SLAR. Blue Shadow to starboard ONLY. This supplanted one of the rear crew ejection seats, requiring the nav bomb-aimer to wear a chest parachute and carry a portable oxygen bottle, and to use the Rhumbold seat. Did the B16 also have the Decca Doppler and Roller map, F95 camera in nose, G45 in starboard wing leading edge associated with the B15. Underwing hardpoints for unguided rockets but did the B16 also have AS30 capability?
T17 – EW training conversion of B2, extended bulbous nose and numerous antenna fairings, scoops, etc. Long pitot boom on port wingtip. Crew and seating as for B2/B6. (Does anyone have an official length figure for the T.Mk 17 from an AP4326 or similar?)
T17A – Further conversion of T17, with new kit (?) (externally identifiable by new underwing blade antennas).
TT18 – Target towing conversion of B2 with underwing Rushton winches, extra window in starboard fuselage to allow nav to see starboard winch. Flown as two-crew aircraft, but retained both navigator’s ejection seats.
T19 – Silent target conversion of T11 with radar replaced by ‘Blue Circle’ (eg Concrete ballast).
T22 – Conversion of PR.Mk 7 with Buccaneer radar in extended nose. Said to have been intended as Buccaneer Blue Parrot radar trainer for observers, but this seems unlikely given the two-seat configuration with single pilot/single nav. Perhaps intended as a radar equipped platform for training fighter controllers – since it could ‘play the part’ of a fighter. Actually used as silent target. One seat forward for the pilot as in PR7, rather than two as on the T4, and one behind for the nav. (Does anyone have an official length figure for the T.Mk 22 from an AP4326?)
By: nazca_steve - 12th June 2009 at 00:20
So does this mean the Decca Doppler was associated with the AS-30 firing systems? Excuse ignorance here, but I’m trying to understand what gave the B.15 the capability to launch this weapon over the 16. I’m guessing it needed some kind of look-down radar to target ships.
Can anyone help on this?
** UPDATE: done a bit of homework and realised the Decca Doppler was a radar nav aid, silly me 😉 But if anyone can shed some light on the AS.30 I’d love to hear it. All I know now is that it was optically guided via flares on the bum-end of the missile and adjustments were made via radio. Lovely stuff.
By: SandyW - 23rd April 2009 at 12:20
B16s of 249 Sqn at Akrotiri
“B16: – Did the B16 also have the Decca Doppler and Roller map, F95 camera in nose, G45 in starboard wing leading edge associated with the B15. It had underwing hardpoints for unguided rockets but did the B16 also have AS30 capability?”
I was a pilot on 249 Sqn flying the B16 out of Akrotiri until 249 disbanded in Feb 1969. The B16 did not have Decca Dopler or the Roller map. Also no AS30 capability.
The distinguishing feature of the B16 was the sideways looking radar, used as a nav aid, which meant there was no space for an ejector seat for the navigator/observer, who had to sit on the folding metal Rhumbold seat for take-off and landing, but was otherwise able to lie in the bombaimer’s position in the nose. I never liked taking off at high weight as the chances of climbing away in the event of an engine failure below 185kt were zero, and the two of us (pilot and navigator/plotter) with ejector seats could have been in the invidious position of having to eject, leaving our observer to his fate. We never discussed it and it never happened thank goodness. I don’t think the arrangement would have passed inspection by modern ‘Elf ‘n’ Safey! And of course there was no Observers Union.
By: alanl - 23rd May 2007 at 22:22
Scorpion 63 has put a list on the Duxford display thread ,with the Canberra’s ,provisional, display list ,Bruntingthorpe is on there ! 🙂
All it says is ‘ May 27th Bruntingthorpe. Not landing.
Not sure if it will be flypasts or a full display though.
Alan
By: bexWH773 - 23rd May 2007 at 18:33
Starboard Pilots Panels
Hi all,
Just wondered if anyone has in their possession any photos of the Starboard Pilots panels for B Mk6 or PR7’s. The one Im on about is angled across from the engine / fuel panel to the starboard fuselarge. I believe it has Oxygen & perhaps hydraulic guages along with radio equipment & other switches.
Thanks in advance
Bex
By: mjr - 23rd May 2007 at 08:53
low level pass over brunters. it would be rude not to:D !
By: JASE - 23rd May 2007 at 08:27
Scorpion63, how about a fly past at Brunty? Any news on 874 flying again?..
By: Jackonicko - 23rd May 2007 at 01:08
It’s all gone a bit quiet with the PR9s….
By: scorpion63 - 18th May 2007 at 14:52
I will be strapping the last flying one in the UK to my pink little body on sunday morning to go and display at Duxford.
By: Jackonicko - 17th May 2007 at 11:03
The Canberra’s frontline military career is over, the IAF having retired its last few aircraft. A number of aircraft are still performing useful service in the USA, and two PR9s may yet go back to the UK MoD on lease, while the status of Peru’s aircraft remains uncertain.
And the jet has just celebrated the 58th anniversary of its first flight.
By: Paddy R - 8th May 2007 at 11:33
Hi Canberra fans.
Thought yuo might like this “Riggers eye view” of a B1
Paddy R
By: bexWH773 - 1st May 2007 at 11:09
Thanks for the piccy Paddy, shes looks really good up there, but thats one bird they deffo wont let u into!!!! Bex
By: Paddy R - 30th April 2007 at 20:43
Canberras
Hi canberra fans
For those who haven’t seen it here is a pic of WH 725 “flying” inside at Duxford !
Paddy R
By: bexWH773 - 27th April 2007 at 13:36
08 & 09 October 1953 – London – Columbo was PR7 WH773 Wg Cdr L. Hodges (Pilot) & Sqn Ldr R. Currie (Nav) 540 Sqn.
Bex :diablo:
Forgot to ask this, anyone know if this record has been broken since 1953? Bex
By: Jackonicko - 27th April 2007 at 13:33
Many thanks Richy!
By: RichyD - 27th April 2007 at 09:09
Jackonicko,
Sorry I have been so long getting back to you, but the official length of a T.22 is 72ft 4inches, thats straight out of the A.P.
Regards
Richy.
By: bexWH773 - 25th April 2007 at 19:01
Cranberry Record Breakers
08 & 09 October 1953 – London – Columbo was PR7 WH773 Wg Cdr L. Hodges (Pilot) & Sqn Ldr R. Currie (Nav) 540 Sqn.
Bex :diablo:
By: Paddy R - 25th April 2007 at 18:49
Some more trivia for Can fans from Paddy R
By: John Aeroclub - 23rd April 2007 at 08:59
Hi John,
The RNZAF Pilots Notes for the T Mk.13 AP4326N dated March 1961 (Pre amendment 1) gives the crew as having three ejection seats.
Pupil Mk3 CT1
Instructor Mk3 CT2
Navigator Mk3 CSTDoes your sketch pre date or post date the March 1961 date?
Regards
Ross
Hello Ross
Unfortunately I don’t have a date for the AP sketch but it did come from a South African AP.
I am certain it must pre-date the EJ fits.
Here is part of an article on Canberras I did concerning Crew entry for the T.4
John
Crew access to the T.4. A pantomime in several acts.
The ground crewman unlocks the base of the second pilots seat and swings it forwards so with no-one in the seat, it locks against the panel. (The top of the seat is hinged from a tubular beam so it swings in an arc). The normal first pilots seat is also attached to this beam on the port (Left) side but it has been moved further over to port
The Nav crawls past into the back and straps in.
The second seat is then swung completely further aft and locked at a steep angle so the way is clear for access to the port seat from the entrance door.
The first pilot climbs in past the stbd seat and straps in.
The second pilot now climbs in and straps into the aft angled seat, with his feet braced against the rudderbar plinth.
At a signal from him, the ground crewman now moves the seat back to it’s central base locking position, and all three crew are now in position and the crew side door can be closed.
At this point the Nav decides he does need a pee after all……..
By: David Burke - 22nd April 2007 at 17:45
Les – could you PM me regards Canberra noses?
By: LesB - 22nd April 2007 at 17:38
It’s a B.Mk 6 (Mod), officially.
Yes. I did say in my post (#9) that I thought the (R) was local to 51.
The B(I).Mk 6 flew with No.213 Squadron, not 231.
Yes, silly typo on my part.
51’s B6 Mods did not usually fly with squadron markings. B2 WJ640 had the red goose on the fin in the late 50s/early 60s, and WH698 had a red goose on the tip tanks at the same time. WJ775 had the ‘goose’ very early in its career, too.
Again, yes. As you say none of their airframes (inc Comet and Hastings) had explicit sqn markings. Also, the Red Goose was only on the Gate Guard. Didn’t know about the tip tank marking, maybe it was a one-off.
I have about three dozen black and white photos of 51’s B6 Mods and none of them have a fin badge, whether in silver or camouflage, after the installation of the long T11 nose or the later blunt nose. 305 did gain a fin badge when on the gate at Wyton, however.
OK. Wouldn’t mind seeing them. 😉 Also, realise that radoms (of all shapes and sizes) were never overpainted, at least not when in working form. That’s why I mentioned it for the Zabra airframe.
The Zabra aircraft was extremely unrepresentative, in that its radome and ‘orange putter’ were over-painted – quite apart from having the Zabra device on the nav hatch. It also flew without tip tanks – which may have happened on other B6 Mods, but which I’ve never seen in any other photo of a long-nosed 51 Squadron jet.
I believe when on missions the 51 Cans always wore tips, they did some very round-about routes.
There is a colour photo of ‘305 with Zabra in IAPR Volume 1, together with a close-up of the Zabra installation. There are also colour photos of 768 and 775, and of 301.
OK. Really looking forward to maybe seeing that stuff.
Thanks for keeping the thread open.
.
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April 14, 2007 at 9:29 pm