The Last Flight

Think deep down the linies were sad to see the T4 go.

Yeah, know what you mean JASE.

But look on the bright side, no more busting a gut swinging the 2nd seat back with one hand while trying to push the column forward and get the pig-sticker in with the other. Mind you, it was easier I reckon if it was a nav change, then you could do one thing at a time. But it always felt awkward swinging the seat forward with the left hand. And the always anxious moment for riggers when you were undoing the last toggle fastener to swing the nose open, never really trusted that fragile looking hinge.

Still, as you say, sad to see it go. The whole thing will become fond memories in a few years time, you wait and see. 😀 :rolleyes:

Hi Les, most of the hangars at Marham have nearly white floors,pain to keep clean! but mean you can work using a little reflective light. 3 Hanger probably hasnt had a lick of paint since v-bomber days . Add 5 nearly out of date aircraft and you have a perfect snapshot of 1960-70s. Think deep down the linies were sad to see the T4 go.

Hi JASE

Those hangars are pretty much the same as when all us ex-RAF blokes worked in them. What you say was true in the “good old days” as well as now. You’ve got cleaner floors and better lighting now though. :rolleyes:

Do you still “TwoSix” on the doors with a winding handle?

just a couple of quick points Mr Cooper_ 39 sqn work out of a run down,cold in winter,hot in summer un-modernised hangar…when they,re in the country that is ! if you look at the photo you will see the AOC… H&S dont allow painting of hangers or floors such as in the “good ole days”…….and T4 bomb doors are open from engine start!!! Damien if you were the chap I snapped at while wheeling the giraffe around please allow me to apologize….been a looooong day.

Had I known, I would have worked from home today (4 miles from Wyton) rather than traipsing down to Newbury…..

I remember when I was 14 (22 years ago!) cycling my Raleigh Grifter 😮 to Wyton from Royston to watch the Canberras, saw 4 vulcans practice the 60 second launch as well…what a day!

Perhaps Kennet Aviation might be interested in taking this one on? :confused:

No way buddy…it’s ours!!!

Well do something with it then instead of letting it moulder away still in a dsimantled state in the back of an overcrowded hangar.

T4’s fitted with the Avon 1 so only single breach start. The B6 had – has! Avon 109’s and have triple breach starting (TBS720) with No 10 carts. Just think in the next year or so we’ll be the only flyer’s of the type in Europe

Dave

Great pics as usual, on the Air Eng HQ pic obviously the AOC-in-C hasn’t visited this building lately, the paint is flaking off the entrance 😮

Looking at the start up I guess that these are still the three cartridge in the breech starters, over 50+ years I wonder how many start ups she has seen.

Start 1
Start 2
Flaps open………flaps closed
Bomb doors open…….bomb doors closed
Pitot head……..on and warm
Air Brakes open………air brakes closed

Chocks away………seems just like yesterday! :p

I was near RAF Marham a few weeks ago and noticed a few PR.9s in the circuit. At some point I saw a darker coloured Canberra which seemed to sport a bubble type canopy. Never realised it was this one at the time! Good thing that I did get to see her fly though.

My view

Would it not make sense that as this is a trainer with minimal restoration /maintaince issues then it would be an ideal aquisition for various historic jet operators around the world. I can think of two here in aus who would profit from having this aircraft in the fleet. I would not imagine it will secure a huge bag of gold at auction so is a “Cheap” investment for a jet warbird operator- no doubt there would be a fair mountain of spares on the market soon as well.

Regards
John P

This particular airframe is 51 years old, but still has bags of life left.

It’s a surreal thought that of the century plus two years we have of sucessful heavier than air flight, this one airframe has been flying for all of half that time.

It’s something like having a roman galley in the navy, or an oxcart in the army!

Paul,

…. I wonder if someone will have the gumption to rescue the B(I)8 from NZ? A display of three Canberras – to show their versatility in Cold War roles – would be quite acceptable…

No way buddy…it’s ours!!!

Great shots from a great, if rather poignant day, Damien. 🙂

Paul,

I think it would have been 13 Sqn aircraft that you saw in Malta. The squadron was there at the time (relocating to Wyton in 1978). 9 Squadron were back at Waddington with their Vulcans (after the sojourn in Cyprus) by this point.

I’d have thought, given the Cold War connections of the Canberra, that a space ought to be found for the airframe at Cosford. I know they have a PR9, but one can never have too many Canberras on display…. I wonder if someone will have the gumption to rescue the B(I)8 from NZ? A display of three Canberras – to show their versatility in Cold War roles – would be quite acceptable…

We were taking the dogs for a walk at Swavesey nature reserve just north of Cambridge when a Canberra flew over,did’nt realise it’s significance,what a shame.

Where’s she going….

Anyone know where is she going after this afternoon’s flight is over – is she to be retired to a museum or is she destined for the scrapman?

I sincerely hope it’s the former…..

Not many of the old girls left now – In 1977 I was on ATC camp in Malta, and we visited 9 Sqdn (IIRC) who still had operational Canberras there then, alongside 203 Sqdn Nimrods at RAF Luqa, I never thought any Canberras would still be operational with the RAF 18 years later…..even if the number is dwindling further still after today.

I was also lucky enough to see a four ship (IIRC) of Canberras as they overflew RAF West Raynham the day they closed the base or finally retired the Bllodhound missiles, sorry grey cells failing me… (back in about 1991 or 92?).

Paul F

It passed directly over my head at Duxford at about 2.20 ‘ish (didn’t look at my watch but know it was sometime between 2 and 3 :D)

It looked absolutely stunning…such a shame to learn it’s airtime is coming to an end 🙁

Well, i was about twelve at the time! 😀

Ah, close enough, all look the same to me!

What a confession to make on an Historic Aviation Forum! 😮

A bit of history indeed. Strange to think folks will be as sentimental over the current tin as this, one day.