Was that the Canberra Swansong?
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.
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.
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Here's some shaky video...
...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
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
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!
BŁoody shame there's nothing to replace it. 'Capability holiday' my ar$e - just another gap in our underfunded armed forces.....
That was back in 1970. Amazing that it was still flying 36 years later and 3 years after I retired!
BŁoody shame there's nothing to replace it. 'Capability holiday' my ar$e - just another gap in our underfunded armed forces.....
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Canberra PR9
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!
Originally Posted by wub
The East Fortune Air Show next weekend is claiming to have a Canberra displaying at around 15:15
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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?
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?
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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.)
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?)
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?)
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Flypast
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
JB
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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!
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.
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!
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.
Last edited by Oblique96; 25th Jul 2006 at 11:44.
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Happy in his work
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).
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).
