Last RAF Canberra PR.9's

Hi
Dont mean to butt in on the thread, I was talking to one of the aircrew of the PR9’s at Waddington 2006 and he said that there wouldnt be a problem keeping then flying in civvie hands even though they had reached their pressure cycles for RAF use, the RAF limits on the aircrat for operational use were much tougther than on the civil register, is it not the nose section only that the pressure cycles run? I think the airframes them selves were still good

Yes, it wouldn’t be a problem for civvie display flying only, as per the Vulcan, which is limited to VFR and less than FL15, hence no neeed for pressurisation.

But, as I said, can the UK display circuit sustain 2 x airworthy civvie operated Cranberries as much as a PR.9 would be awesome to have on the scene….??

I assume the lack of pressurisation cycles, and the unavailablity of zero time canopies and/or seals or just the shear cost of the work to up the pressurisation cycles is what put paid to any mod contract work for them….??

Hi
Dont mean to butt in on the thread, I was talking to one of the aircrew of the PR9’s at Waddington 2006 and he said that there wouldnt be a problem keeping then flying in civvie hands even though they had reached their pressure cycles for RAF use, the RAF limits on the aircrat for operational use were much tougther than on the civil register, is it not the nose section only that the pressure cycles run? I think the airframes them selves were still good

Just a quick question.. hello Les by the way… Do you need to pressurise the cockpit to fly at the height that you would as a civvy warbird? I know the jets we’re high on pressurisations,but you’re not going to be flying at **000 odd ft in the circuit at Duxford are you???? :dev2:

Correct, for a pure civvie display a/c, you could do without pressurising, as in the case of XH558, which also only has a handfull of pressurisation cycles left in the airframe but the CAA restrictions mean that isn’t a real issue.

Would be lovely to see a PR.9 display machine, but could the UK display circuit support one, or rather two if you include AA’s example…?

Would be stellar though to see a three ship display of the Vulcan and 2 x Cranberries…..:D

J. . . hello Les by the way

Hi yourself Jase. You still defending the country? PM me sometime.

As for pressurisations, well, I’ve always wondered about it as you say. Can’t really talk for the 9 as I have only ever done turn-rounds, A/Fs and B /Fs on them, nothing ‘deep’ at all (tyre changes, flap change, etc). But I wonder if airframe pressurisation happens anyway? Can it actually be de-selected?

Memory is hazy here so need another Canberra rigger to say if Cans started partial pressurisation pretty much as soon as the wheels left the deck. As I said, my thought is it happens anyway. I know that when seeing a Canberra in you don’t go near the entrance door until the jockey opens the DV window. And on B(I)8s you let the nav open the door. Opening the cockpit of a 9 would be the equivalent I guess.

:confused:

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you’re not going to be flying at **000 odd ft in the circuit at Duxford are you????

Well they do at Farnbourgh lol

Just a quick question.. hello Les by the way… Do you need to pressurise the cockpit to fly at the height that you would as a civvy warbird? I know the jets we’re high on pressurisations,but you’re not going to be flying at **000 odd ft in the circuit at Duxford are you???? :dev2:

Mean that of the three, 134 is the last best hope for mankind.

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XH134 (I think) is the most likely to get into the luft again for a few filghts

Do you mean that something is being planned with regards to getting XH134 flying or did u just mean its the most suitable of the 3 aircraft in question to be returned to flight.

*crushed for life by sarcasm*

I think you can get an ointment for that! 😉

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Yes Nashio, the tailplane looks good, but the commemoration fin paint-job looks even better.:D

*crushed for life by sarcasm* :rolleyes:

Last I heard was that the leasing deal with the MoD had fallen through and the owner(s) were considering selling them off. Heard that at least one museum is interested in one of them – but break-down and transport cost are a key factor.

The PR.9s have very few (if any in the case of two of them) pressurisation cycles left. XH134 (I think) is the most likely to get into the luft again for a few filghts – if a reliable source of squids and Avpin can be found. Depends on the owner, the CAA and whether or not the frame is considered safe to fly as a civvie.

Gratuitous Canberra pic of XH134 doing a low, fast fly-by during the impromptu mini-display while waiting for the other two to show up in the overhead.

Yes Nashio, the tailplane looks good, but the commemoration fin paint-job looks even better.:D

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is this due to the amount of hours left on the airframes? if it ever does fly again XH134 would be awesome, the tailplane looks beautiful

2 certainly will not be flown again, 1 might be.