Thunder & Lightnings

Blackburn Buccaneer - Profile Drawings

Prototype

XK486 profile

NA.39 XK486, Blackburn Aircraft Company, RAE Bedford, 1958
As first flown on 30th April 1958
Royal Blue and White (similar scheme used on 2nd prototype)

Pre-production Aircraft

XK531 profile

NA.39 XK531 of 700Z NAS (Buccaneer Intensive Flying Trials Unit, first S.1 delivered), RNAS Lossiemouth, 1961
Pre-production airframe; extended nose radome, shorter tailpipe fairings, modified tail with bullet fairing, final airbrake shape
Early FAA scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and White

Production Aircraft

XN957 profile

S.1 XN957 of 801 NAS (one of their first), RNAS Lossiemouth, 1963
Second S.1 production batch. Intake on fin side moved to leading edge. Early style pylons and practice bombs
Early FAA anti-flash scheme of overall white

XN924 profile

S.1 XN924 of 809 NAS, RNAS Lossiemouth, 1964
Radar warning receiver bullet on wing leading edge
Early FAA anti-flash scheme of overall white

XN977 profile

S.2 XN977 of 801 NAS, HMS Victorious, 1965
Note larger intakes than S.1 and fixed in-flight refuelling (IFR) probe
Early FAA S.2 scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and White

2682 profile

S.51 2682 of Marinefliegergeschwader 2, Bundesmarine, Eggebek (Germany), 1966
What if? ...the Germans had bought Buccaneers instead of F-104s?
Standard Marineflieger scheme of Dark Grey and Light Grey

XV349 profile

S.2 XV349 of 12 Squadron, RAF Honington, 1969
Standard pylons; slipper tank and SNEB rocket pods.
Early RAF scheme of Dark Sea Grey and Dark Green over Light Aircraft Grey with full colour roundels and white serial

XV868 profile

S.2 XV868 of 736 NAS, RNAS Lossiemouth, 1971
Mid-period FAA S.2 scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey overall with full colour roundels
Slightly lighter paint on nose and tail where previous 809 NAS markings overpainted

425 profile

S.50 425 of 24 Squadron, SAAF Waterkloof, 1973
Aerial changes, strakes on rear of bomb bay door, relocated fuel dump and rocket doors in rear fuselage
Early SAAF scheme of Dark Sea Grey and PRU Blue with large, full colour markings

XV352 profile

S.2A XV352 of 208 Squadron, USAFB Nellis (for Red Flag exercise), 1977
Slipper tanks and AN/ALQ-101(V)-10 (ARI 23234) ECM pod
RAF temporary desert camouflage scheme of Dark Earth and Light Stone applied over normal colours except for rear fuselage

XT286 profile

S.2B XT286 of 16 Squadron, RAFG Laarbruch, 1983
No IFR probe on RAF Germany-based Buccaneers; slipper tanks fitted
RAF standard wraparound camouflage scheme of Dark Sea Grey and Dark Green

416 profile

S.50 416 of 24 Squadron, SAAF Waterkloof, 1991
Later configuration with ECM aerials, large slipper tanks, bulged bomb bay door, chaff/flare dispensers aft of bomb bay
Final SAAF scheme of Dark Sea Grey and PRU Blue with minimal markings

XX895 profile

S.2B XX895 of 208 Squadron, Muharraq (Bahrain), 1991
AN/AVQ-23E 'Pave Spike' laser designator pod and AIM-9L Sidewinder for self defence (slipper tank and ARI 23234 pod other side)
RAF temporary desert camouflage scheme of overall Desert Pink with minimal markings; 'Lynn / Jaws / Glenfiddich / Sky Pirates' nose art (mostly on on starboard side)

XV352 profile

S.2B XV352 of 237 OCU, RAF Lossiemouth, 1994
As at retirement date - 31st March 1994
Final RAF scheme of Medium Sea Grey and Camouflage Grey (aka Barley Grey)

ZU-NIP profile

S.2B XW986 / ZU-NIP of Thunder City, 2012
After post-retirement return to flight and delivery to Cape Town
Royal Aircraft Establishment 'Raspberry Ripple' scheme

XX894 profile

S.2B XX894, The Buccaneer Aviation Group, Kemble, 2021
809 NAS markings - as painted by RAF at end of Buccaneer service to commemorate RN operations
Later FAA S.2 scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey overall

XW544 profile

S.2B XW544, The Buccaneer Aviation Group, Kemble, 2021
16 Squadron markings as worn in 1980 at RAF Laarbruch
RAF standard wraparound camouflage scheme of Dark Sea Grey and Dark Green