• span : 63'11"(19.5m)
• length : 65'6"(19.96m)
• height : 15'7"(4.75m)
• wing area : 960 sqft(89.2m²)

WEIGHTS

• empty : 21,679lb(9,842kg)
• loaded : 55,000lb(24,970kg)

PERFORMANCE

• max speed at sea level : 518mph(833km/h) - at 30,000' : 580mph(930km/h)
• ceiling : some big-winged spy variants reach 80,000ft
• range : 3,790miles(6,098km)

FIRST FLIGHT

• Mk.1 : 13th May 1949
• Mk.9 : 8th July 1955

AVIONICS

• Decca navigation equipment
• F49/F96 Mk4 Survey camera
• LORAN air direction finder
• Omega digital navigation computer
• Whittaker ALQ-167 Yellow Veil jamming suite
• Ferranti AIRPASS III Blue Parrot radar

WEAPONS

• six 1,000lb bombs internally plus two external
• two packs of 37 2" rockets
• four 20mm or 30mm cannon

NOTES
Originally the English Electric A1 Canberra was conceived to be strong and simple, and this has resulted in an aircraft which still flies today, having gone through numerous changes along the way. Mks include: B2, PR2, T4, B6, PR7, B(I)8, PR9, E15, B16, T17, TT18 & T19. The Canberra was the RAF's first jet bomber, and has since become its most versatile servant. It reached its 50th birthday in 1999.

UPDATE 1998

Still flying in the photo reconnaissance role (at 70,000 feet!) and will be for several years to come.

UPDATE 1999

The Canberra celebrates 50 years in service by taking part in reconnaissance missions over Kosovo in Operation Eagle Eye

Squadrons using the Canberra:

• No.39 Squadron, RAF Mareham (5 x PR.9s and 2 x T.4s)

UPDATE 2005

Of the 1,836 Canberras built, the only flying survivors with the RAF number just 7. They are:

UPDATE 2006

The Canberra makes its last operational flight for RAF on the 23rd June 2006.

B(I)8 - WT346 - RAF Cosford Aerospace Museum
Standing in an impressive line at RAF Cosford, alongside a Victor & a Vulcan, this example shows the unusual offset cockpit, and the bomb aimer's dome.