I took this in September 1971 on my one and only flight in a Canberra (7 Sqn RAF St Mawgan)
http://www.pbase.com/glenns/image/31580185.jpg

Hi,

I am not sure if this post belongs here,

I saw the last display flight of the Canberra during the fly past for the Queens 80th birthday celebration on BBC world. Doesn’t the retirement of the Canberra leave the RAF without a high altitude reconnaissance aircraft? What is going to replace the Canberra in the RAF?

Nothing.

The squirearchy term it a 'capability holiday' - if you've ever heard of a more stupid description, I'd like to know of it.

Basically it's yet another capability our underfunded, overstretched rather pathetic excuse for a modern air force has given up as another well-past its sell-by date aeroplane is retired. A bit like the time we abandoned strategic bombing.....good job the South Atlantic war wasn't 2 years later or Argentina would own the Islas Malvinas by now - and people wouldn't have the joy of pointless trips to MPA to look forward to!

Hang on...

It is sad to note the number of projects from the 1960's that would have given UK an edge over many airforces have been hampered by politics. The BAC TSR.2 comes to mind. Similarly not acquiring a replacement for the Vulcan bomber firmly placed the UK dependence on the USA to provide stratagic bombing. Also I read about the ill-fated Hawker Siddeley supersonic version of the Harrier. Now we have JSF which UK was initially part of, but withdrawn from the project I think. The thing is RAF could have had this capability in the 60's.

I agree if Argentina were to repeat the Falkland invasion anytime soon who knows how the outcome will be this time around. Especially as UK forces are spread thin over Iraq and Afganistan. I can not understand why politicians want to cut defence spending and at the same time land troops in combat situations.

UK is still in the JSF project. It appears on the publicity posters for this year's Yeovilton Air Day. Bit premature, me thinks!

Mind you the Space Shuttle appears on some Farnborough posters!

Doesn't the PR9 have an Avpin starter? All the others were cartridge start. The photograph of the NASA Canberra looks to be one of the earlier versions. I think the ones that they are currently using are the long wingspan, big engined RB57F version. One flew from Mildenhall on an air sampling operation not so long ago.

411A,

They are Royal Navy machines & have recently been moved off of the hard standing to make room for resident a/c during resurfacing work on the main ramp. Doesn't look like they were moved with much care though & are looking a bit forlorn with cockpit canopy covers hanging off etc.

You live in the Mesa area then 411? :eek:

The Canberras for sale on "cgi-uksurplus" mentioned at the start of this thread appear to have been delisted. Has someone decided that a "capability holiday" may be politically or strategically unseasonable.?

Imagegear

Is this what you mean? certainly different from our dear old Canberras

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...sacanberra.jpg

[B]Fishtailed[B]

That's the one! (I think that, technically, they are known as WB57Fs).
They appear to be down to their last 2, with a few 'spares' at AMARC. Yes, they are more than a bit different to the old PR3s and PR7s that I used to fly! - Happy days!

PR9 Starting
 

The Avon engines fitted to the PR9, basically the same as the Lightning engines but without the reheat, used AVPIN for starting. Current cost £3,500 for 45 gallons! Figures from the Bruntingthorpe based Lightning Preservation Group. Cartridges were not involved

PR9 Auction
 

The Auction of the 3 PR9's is now completed - Sadly the Ulster Aviation Society was outbid and we won't be able to have one on display to the public near its birthplace. I have it on good authority that 2 machines will be staying in the UK. Anyone know where?

Canberra Still Flying in Australia
 

Here's a link to a great photo of the Temora Aviation Museum's Canberra firing up its engine via the cartridge starter:

http://aviationmuseum.ayera.com/news/canberraengine.cfm

If you hunt around on the site you'll find some photos of the Canberra, Meteor, and F-18 in formation. Beautiful sight to be sure....

(PS: Those photos of the NASA B57 are amazing - the engines they've shoved into that thing..... wow! :)

Canberras new home
 

All three aircraft will be flown the Kemble Airfield on the 31st July arriving anytime after 0930BST. Ex Canberra air crew and engineers are welcome on the day to witness the arrival and meet the new owners and Delta Jet, the maintainers.

The initial plan is to keep the aircraft active on the ground by care and maintenance, ground runs and taxying, whilst assessing their future, which could involve flying again.

falcon12

Full story on PR9 retirement in Military Forum
 

Link to details of final fly in to Kemble, airframe numbers, photos and thoughts on where they are going. Thoughts are 2 to Thunder City and one to Switzerland.
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=237076