In 1961 and 1962 I saw a number of Canberra U10 drones being ferried through RAF Changi in Singapore, on their way to Edinburgh Field to become 'sacrifices' in the development of the Bloodnound and Thunderbird ground-to-air missiles. I have discovered that "They could be flown with a pilot aboard who flew it via a supervisory panel installed in the cockpit that, by the use of 13 push buttons, simulated the inputs transmitted to the aircraft when flown unmanned. When flown without a pilot the U.10 was controlled via a VHF link from a control van. The aircraft had an explosive abort device on board in case of emergencies such as loss of contact" ('ADF Serials' web page). One such pilot was Australian John Parker: "In 1960, John had a very interesting posting to Woomera, SA, as a member of No. 1 Air Trials Unit Target Aircraft Flight. This unit operated the pilotless V12 Jindivik, Meteor U15 and Canberra U10 aircraft as targets for radar tracking and live firing, using surface-to-air (SAM) and air-to-air (AAM) weapons. He was a member of the team which flew the aircraft unmanned, but also the test pilot who conducted the flight tests sitting in aircraft under remote control from take-off to landing on the flight before an unmanned live firing at the target aircraft. This flight could be a rather nerve-racking experience, particularly the landing" (airforce.gov.au web site).
It must have been an experience to 'fly by 13 push buttons, simulating the inputs transmitted when flown unmanned'...unless of course they were also able to be flown by the usual controls during the long ferry flights. Does anyone know how this undertaken?
Canberra U10 WH652 at Changi on 15th March 1962.
Many more 1960's Singapore images at david taylor images | AVIATION
David Taylor