Originally Posted by
chevvron
I understand that Canberras were built so that the nose section, forward from the cockpit, could be removed and re-installed.
So at Farnborough (so the story goes and correct me if I'm wrong) they wanted to create a one off 4 seat Canberra using a T4 (2 seat) nose but retaining the 2 navigators seats for 'trials' purposes.
So they removed the nose section and after suitable mods, mated it up to the remaining fuselage, only to discover that this had been a Shorts built Canberra and the nose section was of Warton/Samlesbury manufacture and so a slightly different diameter and the two parts didn't fit!
The Canberra nose section did indeed simply and literally, bolt on / off the main fuselage.
Removed / refitted a couple of 7 Sqns Target Towers at St Mawgan to gain access to the tank bays for corrosion inspections.