Canberra & B-57 @·AIRCRAFTUBE

  • English Electric Canberra B2 English Electric Canberra B2
    English Electric Canberra B2
  • Martin B-57E Martin B-57E
    Martin B-57E
  • English Electric Canberra B2 English Electric Canberra B2
    English Electric Canberra B2
  • Martin B-57 Martin B-57
    Martin B-57
  • English Electric Canberra B2 prototype English Electric Canberra B2 prototype
    English Electric Canberra B2 prototype
  • Canberra B20 - 2Sqn RAAF - Vietnam 1970 Canberra B20 - 2Sqn RAAF - Vietnam 1970
    Canberra B20 - 2Sqn RAAF - Vietnam 1970
  • B-57 Prototype B-57 Prototype
    B-57 Prototype
  • Martin EB-57B Martin EB-57B
    Martin EB-57B
  • EE Canberra B6 EE Canberra B6
    EE Canberra B6
  • Canberra BI-6 Canberra BI-6
    Canberra BI-6
  • PR.3 - 540Sqn - 1953 PR.3 - 540Sqn - 1953
    PR.3 - 540Sqn - 1953
  • English Electric Canberra B2 English Electric Canberra B2
    English Electric Canberra B2
  • Canberra PR.9 Canberra PR.9
    Canberra PR.9
  • Canberra B15 - 45 Sq RAF Tengah Singapore Canberra B15 - 45 Sq RAF Tengah Singapore
    Canberra B15 - 45 Sq RAF Tengah Singapore
  • English Electric Canberra PR7 English Electric Canberra PR7
    English Electric Canberra PR7
  • PR9 Preserved PR9 Preserved
    PR9 Preserved
  • English Electric Canberra T.4 English Electric Canberra T.4
    English Electric Canberra T.4
  • Martin B-57E target towing Martin B-57E target towing
    Martin B-57E target towing
  • Canberra T17A - RAF Canberra T17A - RAF
    Canberra T17A - RAF
  • Martin B-57B Night Intruder Martin B-57B Night Intruder
    Martin B-57B Night Intruder
  • Canberra PR9 - RAF Aviano air base - 2003 Canberra PR9 - RAF Aviano air base - 2003
    Canberra PR9 - RAF Aviano air base - 2003
  • Canberra T22 - Navy Canberra T22 - Navy
    Canberra T22 - Navy
  • Canberra TT18 UK Navy Canberra TT18 UK Navy
    Canberra TT18 UK Navy
  • SC-9 Canberra SC-9 Canberra
    SC-9 Canberra
  • Martin B-57B - 345th Bombardment Wing - 1957 Martin B-57B - 345th Bombardment Wing - 1957
    Martin B-57B - 345th Bombardment Wing - 1957
  • Rolls-Royce Avon Rolls-Royce Avon
    Rolls-Royce Avon
  • Martin WB-57D + B-57A 1950s Martin WB-57D + B-57A 1950s
    Martin WB-57D + B-57A 1950s
  • Canberra B15 - 45 Sq RAF Tengah Singapore 1963 Canberra B15 - 45 Sq RAF Tengah Singapore 1963
    Canberra B15 - 45 Sq RAF Tengah Singapore 1963

English Electric 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.

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. 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 four 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 Royal Air Force (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 three hours in the dual-control Canberra trainer. With a maximum speed of 470 kt (or 870 km/h), a standard service ceiling of 48,000 ft (or 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, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Rhodesia, South Africa, Sweden, Venezuela and West Germany.

Other manufacturers

In the United States where the US Air Force 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 Royal Australian Air Force, 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. 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 50s, 60s, and 70s, and continued to serve as bombers and reconnaissance aircraft with minor air forces through the 80s and 90s. 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. 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 60s and 70s, 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. 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. 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.

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.

The Argentine Air Force received 10 B.62 and 2 T.64 trainers at the beginning of the 70s. 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.

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 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.

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.

Flight records set by Canberras

  • 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 - 65,889 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.

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This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article English Electric Canberra of Wikipedia ( authors )

Specifications (Canberra B.Mk.6)

  • Crew : 3.
  • Length : 65 ft 6 in (or 19.96 m).
  • Height : 15 ft 8 in (or 4.77 m).
  • Wingspan : 64 ft 0 in (or 19.51 m).
  • Wing area : 960 ft² (or 89.19 m²).
  • Wing loading : 48 lb/ft² (or 234 kg/m²).
  • Empty weight : 21,650 lb (or 9,820 kg).
  • Loaded weight : 46,000 lb (or 21,000 kg).
  • Max. takeoff weight : 55,000 lb (or 25,000 kg).
  • Max. speed : Mach 0.88 (or 580 mph, 933 km/h) at 40,000 ft (or 12,000 m).
  • Combat radius : 810 mi (or 700 nm, 1,300 km).
  • Ferry range : 3,380 mi (or 2,940 nm, 5,440 km).
  • Service ceiling : 48,000 ft (or 15,000 m).
  • Rate of climb : 3,400 ft/min (or 17 m/s).
  • Powerplant : Two Rolls-Royce Avon R.A.7 Mk.109 turbojets.
  • Thrust : 7,400 lbf (or 36 kN) each.
  • Thrust/weight : 0.32.
  • Armament : A belly gun pack in rear bomb bay with four 20 mm cannon, 500 rounds per gun. Bombs : Nine 500 lb (or 230 kg) bombs, or six 1,000 lb (or 450 kg) bombs, or one 4,000 lb (or 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.

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This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article English Electric Canberra of Wikipedia ( authors )
English Electric Canberra & Martin B-57 : Your comments on this subject
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