Canberra airborne again
 

just seen this, perhaps we can buy it back to bolster our fading Air Force ?.

After a significant effort over a number of years, we are happy to report that the Temora Aviation Museum successfully performed a test flight with their English Electric Canberra TT.18 WJ680 on June 27th, 2021. One of 11 aircraft in The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) 100 Squadron Temora Historic Flight collection, returns to flight after an 11-year hiatus, last flown on 5th June 2010. The flight took place at the museum’s home airport in Temora, New South Wales, just 150 miles or so north west of Australia’s capital city of Canberra. Outside of NASA’s fleet of three WB-57 Canberras, WJ680 is presently the only currently airworthy example of the breed anywhere in the world, although that will hopefully change in the not-too-distant future, with at least one other example under restoration to fly in the USA (B.6 XH567 at Lampson Field, Lakeport, California).

Cartridge start ( sourcing them would be v difficult ) or modified to electric ?

The pneumatic mod works well even though RR don’t like it.

Electric Start

Fabulous! It would be nice to think the guys in Doncaster could do the same.:ok:

It look so wrong without the cartridges venting, but lovely to see one in the air again! Controlled them on my first 2 ATC tours (Strubby and Tengah) and always thought they were a beautiful classic airframe … “If it looks right …”

First flight in 1949 … it must have seemed like a Star Wars prop back then!

Battle of Britain Day, 1952. Cosford. My mother and I were standing in front of the Hangar (which still exists) when a Canberra crept up behind it, to overfly the crowd. There was no indication it was coming, and suddenly this vision of the future flashed overhead. This five year-old boy looked up and thought "I want to do that". I never had the pleasure of the Canberra, but I did manage a 39 year career as a professional pilot. Thanks, English Electric.

I had a trip in a TT18 of 7 Sqn in 1972, still one of the most memorable and I’ve flown in over 50 types. We flew a practice approach and overshoot at St Mary’s in the Scilly Isles!