Was that the Canberra Swansong?

[Almost_done]

As the title says at lunch today the Canberra gave a flypast at the secret helicopter base in South Oxfordshire, was this the last time to see it?

:confused:

[Tombstone]

There are three seperate routes being flown today by the guys as a farewell to the RAF. Such a shame to lose the capability however, I do think the airframe has had it's day.

[Almost_done]

Well it was nice to see it, however, I must agree with you that it's sad to see it go and with no replacement for the capability, other than relying on our friends over the pond.

On an aside, no mention was made at the unit regarding the flyover, poor show on the Ops part.

[Tombstone]

The planned routes were:

Southern Route
Callsign: Avon 1
Take-off: 0842Z

Airfield Arrival Time Zulu
1. RAF Shawbury, Visual Circuit 0909
2. RAF Valley, Visual Circuit. 0930
3. RAF St Mawgan, Visual Circuit 1002
4. Bournemouth Hurn, Visual Circuit 1034
5. RAF Odiham, Visual Circuit 1051
6. RAF Benson, Visual Circuit. 1103
7. RAF Brize Norton, Visual Circuit 1113
8. RAF Lyneham, Visual Circuit. 1123

Central Route
Callsign: Avon 2
Take-off: 1003Z

Airfield Arrival Time Zulu
1. Cambridge, Visual Circuit 1012
2. Bassingbourn, Fly Through. 1019
3. RAF Wyton, Visual Circuit 1024
4. RAF Wittering, Visual Circuit 1038
5. RAF Cottesmore, Visual Circuit 1049
6. RAF Coningsby, Visual Circuit. 1107
7. RAF Cranwell, Visual Circuit 1115
8. RAF Waddington, Visual Circuit. 1123
9. RAF Scampton, Visual Circuit 1133

Northern Route
Callsign: Avon 3
Take-off: 0843Z

Airfield Arrival Time Zulu
1. Warton, Visual Circuit 0915
2. Belfast City, Fly Through. 0941
3. RAF Kinloss, Visual Circuit 1013
4. RAF Lossiemouth, Visual Circuit 1020
5. RAF Leuchars, Visual Circuit 1043
6. RAF Leeming, Fly Through. 1116
7. RAF Topcliffe, Fly Through 1118
8. RAF Linton on Ouse, Fly Through. 1120
9. RAF Church Fenton, Fly Through. 1124
10. Normandy Barracks (Leconfield), Fly Through. 1131

[JAG3]

Just watched in the NI news that a Canberra flew past Shorts Belfast on a farewell flight due to its retirement because that is where it was built and also where I spent a boring week in the back of a learjet for my work experience.:ok:

[movadinkampa747]

Just watched in the NI news that a Canberra flew past Shorts Belfast on a farewell flight due to its retirement because that is where it was built and also where I spent a boring week in the back of a learjet for my work experience.:ok:

That was nice for you dear...........

[teeteringhead]

Wot no Aldergrove?? Canberras were fettled there for many years when 23 MU was there.

And no St Athan either .......:(

[oldbeefer]

Brilliant to see it beat up Strawberry. I belive there are lots still flying in the States?

[Beeayeate]

Brilliant to see it beat up Strawberry. I belive there are lots still flying in the States?
No, not really.

Two with NASA (just recognisable as Canberra derivatives); two earning revenue with a US company (Air Platforms Inc - both ex-UK 'frames ); one with a pivate owner that is up for sale - if not sold already - it's a FRADU TT.18. And that's it. There are a couple of others, non-flyers, that are ex-UK and dozens of Martin B-57 and RB-57 types scattered around in Museums.

Oh, there are at least four other Martin WB-57Fs (long-wings, like the NASA 'frames) at Davis Monthan. You can see them using Google Earth.

:ok:

[reddeathdrinker]

Kinloss, 11:13 local, on the dot. Punctual, those Canberra pilots....

http://fileanchor.com/45739-r.jpg

[Inbound On Descent]

There's a great example flying at the Temora Aviation Museum in NSW, OZ.
http://aviationmuseum.ayera.com/aircraft/images/Lcan7.jpg
www.aviationmuseum.com
:ok:

[Flarkey]

Canberra flypast in Belfast.

http://static.flickr.com/70/192920512_c1178b07b4.jpg

http://ourweecountry.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/default/flag.gif :D

[A2QFI]

IOD, many thanks for that splendid photograph of a beatifully preserved and presented Canberra. I flew Mks 2,3,4,7, and 9; no surprise that I enoyed the 9 the most!

[teeteringhead]

Flarkey

Top picture!! At least he didn't try and go through the Harland & Wolff cranes. Allegedly there's enough room for a smallish helicopter........

[chevvron]

Amazing that Farnborough was missed out, considering much of the modern cameras/sensors were developed there.

[batfink2]

Amazing that Farnborough was missed out, considering much of the modern cameras/sensors were developed there.
airshow there this week - bad form to show off past glories in aviation whilst trying flog modern kit with half the shelf life, usability & grace

[chevvron]

Don't see why; it's not so long ago the last Shack AEW2 (c/s Gambia 08) was displayed with a Sentry!

[Comp Charlie]

Had a Canberra flypast at my passing out parade at Swinderby many moons ago.

Was a bit disappointing as we'd been told up until the day it was the Dead Sparrows doing it.

Oh well, never mind. I've always been bored rigid by aeroplanes anyway. I just happen to work on them. :bored:

CC

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

Also a pity they missed out Woodford. AVRO built 75 of the Type, commencing in 1951.

[matkat]

Saw it at Leuchars kind of guessed that it was a farewell nice touch I thought.

[fradu]

XH134 visited Hurn, presumably as a tribute to FRA and their maintenance efforts on the RAF fleet. The employees were out in force watching.

A bit surprised Yeovilton wasn't on the list (a FRADU Canberra base for nearly 20 years), but I suppose you could say that too was recognised by overflying Hurn.

http://www.russfam.f2s.com/2006/xh134.jpg

[TEEEJ]

Excellent Canberra display at Fairford during RIAT. Thanks you Sqn Ldr Terry Cairns for the wave and display.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/Picture2845a.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/Picture732A.jpg

[allyn]

...I took last Sunday:

Take off:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r4xdM2nDfs

Hi speed pass (I love the howling noise!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eP1KvKTz7Y

Landing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR7NoTgYyeU

[BEagle]

When I was but a newbie ULAS stude, one of our QFIs (Malcolm Sw*****) used to harp on about how 'fee-no-meenal' the PR9 was when he'd flown it a couple of years earlier.

That was back in 1970. Amazing that it was still flying 36 years later and 3 years after I retired!

B£oody shame there's nothing to replace it. 'Capability holiday' my ar$e - just another gap in our underfunded armed forces.....:mad:

[A2QFI]

I was lucky enough to fly the PR9 as my first tour after Bassingbourn. I remember the first one arriving at Akrotiri, on delivery, flown by Harry Joy. He did a flapless overshoot and was about 10,000 ft over the upwind end of the runway! For reasons of safety speed it was normal to only use 90% thrust for take-off. Of course, one could use 100%, but the amazing extra noise generated was enough to give those in the know material for a discussion after landing!:ok:

[wub]

The East Fortune Air Show next weekend is claiming to have a Canberra displaying at around 15:15

[H Peacock]

The East Fortune Air Show next weekend is claiming to have a Canberra displaying at around 15:15

Suspect that will be WK163 (Canberra B2/6) from Coventry.

[microlight AV8R]

I believe that the Peruvian AF has five Canberra which they keep airworthy. Apparently they are maintained for possible use if the need arises. That seems strange as it doesn't seem to allow for keeping aircrew current?

Perhaps we ought to do a swap with them.... How about we give them a couple of F3's for each Canberra? Nah, my mistake, they've got proper fighters anyway (Mig29 & Mirage 2000).

Their Canberra fleet consisted of four B(I)mk.68 and a T.mk.4 All painted in a very smart deep blue colour scheme. The (I) models have the offset canopy and glazed nose. [ Source: AirForces Monthly Aug'05]

Has Chile still got them in service?

[Beeayeate]

Peru still has 5.5 B(I)68s plus 1 T.4. (The 0.5 B(I)68 is slowly being taken apart and acts as a christmas tree.)

http://www.bywat.co.uk/types/peru.jpg

Chile only ever had the three PR.9s gifted by the UK after the Falklands bash. They lost one and now the other two are in a museum (or museums?)


:ok:

[John Blakeley]

Four Tornados and a Canberra were in loose formation, wide orbits over North Norfolk this afternoon - around the Swanton Morley area I guess, followed by a tight formation run east by Melton Constable and then back west along similar track towards Fakenham. Another Canberra swansong at a display? It was nice to see anyway.

JB

[Beeayeate]

Practice for next week's Sqn families day and close-down parade?


.

[Spugford]

Four Tonkas and Canberra were supporting some seamless drill at the Freedom of Kings Lynn parade.

:hmm:

[Rigga]

That formation spilled out over Taverham, northern Norwich, too!
(Five Torpedoes - including a Camera ship)


Edited fer Spllein agaen

[Oblique96]

Hi Beagle

I believe the same Malcolm was one of my studes at Sleaford Tech, and we served together sometime later in NEAF on the very nicest Canberra ever built. A little later we appeared to be getting close to a hot, as in warlike, situation in a thrid world region. The likely threat was posed by P51 Mustangs! We reckoned they could stay with us at low level...but not in a climb!:ok:

Hi A2 - more usually at 95% in my day, but fatigue in the the turbines and jet pipes was another reason for the more stately take offs usually employed, I think.

[Oblique96]

Terry Cairns has been thanked here, and anonymously on the Waddington Airshow thread, for the excellent manner in which he showed off the old lady. Perhaps some readers are unaware of his own vintage. This is from the RAF Marham/39 Sqn website:-

Watching the arrival home was Sqn Ldr Terry Cairns, at 61 the oldest operational pilot in the RAF who has served for 35 years on Canberras, who said: “We've all got to come to the end of our working day.
“I shall be retiring along with the aircraft, which seems right to me. It means I won't be standing on the golf course watching other guys fly over in a Canberra!
“I've been lucky in that I've had a job that I really loved doing. I've had a wonderful time and I wouldn't mind doing it all again.”

So, there's at least one happy aviator still serving (just). :D :D :D