Thunder & Lightnings

English Electric Canberra - Walkaround Photos

We'd like to extend our thanks to the Midland Air Museum, RAF Marham, Cotswold Airport, the Treble Three crew and The Buccaneer Aviation Group for access to various of these airframes, and to John Adams of Aeroclub for his handy round-up of differences between various Canberra marks.

Cockpit

We're a little lacking in cockpit photos for most marks - submissions welcome!

PR.3 WE139, Hendon, 2016. Navigator's position. PR.3 WE139, Hendon, 2016. Pilot's panel. PR.3 WE139, Hendon, 2016. Pilot's seat and port console. The seat is lacking much of its equipment - cushions etc.! PR.3 WF922, Baginton, 2004. Pilot's position. PR.3 WF922, Baginton, 2004. Navigator's position. PR.9 XH135, Marham, 2003. Pilot's access ladder. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. Port upper nose showing canopy hinges. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. Navigator nose cone opened up. PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. Navigator cockpit. PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. Navigator cockpit. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Navigator cockpit. PR.9 XH134, Marham, 2006. Pilot's canopy showing rear view mirror. Open equipment bay behind pilot's seat.

Nose

The nose was where you'd see most variation in Canberras, and indeed the ease with which it could be built with different noses was key to the airframe's flexibility and therefore its large production run. The PR variants had a 14.5" stretch introduced just ahead of the bomb bay; the B(I).8 and PR.9 had a fighter style offset canopy for the pilot. The T.4 had a solid nose cone from frame 1 forward (the nearly vertical panel line ahead of the cockpit canopy), whereas bomber and PR.3/7s had a clear tip to the nose cone (including an offset flat plate on the bomber and PR.7 but not the PR.3). The T.4 also had two clear vision panels on the bubble canopy (and two ejection seats squeezed underneath it!). The many 'special' versions of Canberra (T.11, T.17, T.19 etc.) generally had entirely new nose cones from frame 1 forward.

B.2 99+35, Gatow, 2016. Starboard nose. Only the white antenna under the nose is not standard B.2 fit. B.2 WK163, Kemble, 2003. Starboard nose. B.2 WK163, Kemble, 2003. Headon, showing the offset bomb-aimer's panel in the clear nose cone. B.2 99+35, Gatow, 2016. Port nose. The various white antennae under the nose are not standard B.2 fit. PR.3 WF922, Baginton, 2004. Headon, compare with the B.2 - no flat panel in the clear nose cone. PR.3 WF922, Baginton, 2004. From this angle the PR.3 nose looks identical to that of the B.2. T.4 WJ874, Marham, 2005. Starboard nose. Similar in outline to the B.2 nose, the T.4 has a completely different nose cone, and two clear vision panels on the canopy. T.4 WJ874, Marham, 2005. Port nose. T.4 WJ874, Marham, 2005. Port nose and fuselage. B(I).8/B.6(mod) WT333, Bruntingthorpe, 2016. Starboard nose. B(I).8/B.6(mod) WT333, Bruntingthorpe, 2016. Starboard nose. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. Starboard upper nose. The PR.9 nose is unlike any other Canberra nose as you can see. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. Starboard upper nose. The black bracket has had the aerial wire removed - it would normally run to the fin. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. Starboard upper nose showing the frangible upper hatch the navigator would eject through if need be. PR.9 XH134, Waddington, 2005. Starboard nose. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. This nicely shows how the nav's nose cone swings outwards, and doesn't just hinge to the side. PR.9 XH134, Waddington, 2005. Headon. PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. Headon lower nose showing the underside periscope. A very worn ARTF grey scheme! PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. Port upper nose. PR.9 XH131, Fairford, 2004. Port nose showing pilot's ladder attached. PR.9 XH135, Waddington, 2003. Port nose - with impressive tally of mission markings! PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. Port nose. T.19 WJ975, Doncaster, 2016. Starboard nose. T.19 WJ975, Doncaster, 2016. Port nose.

Fuselage

PR.3 WF122, Baginton, 2004. Upper central fuselage. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Rear camera hatch, port side. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Rear camera hatch (camera has been removed). PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. Rear fuselage, port side. PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. Rear fuselage. PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. Tail bumper and fuel dump. PR.3 WF122, Baginton, 2004. Starboard rear fuselage. PR.9 XH134, Marham, 2006. Rear camera hatch, starboard side. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Rear camera hatch and flare bay doors, starboard side. PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. Flare bay, looking forward. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2021. Flare bay, looking forward. PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. Central starboard fuselage. PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. Central starboard fuselage. PR.3 WF122, Baginton, 2004. Upper central fuselage. PR.3 WF122, Baginton, 2004. Upper central fuselage.

Wings

Wings were another area for variation; most marks shared the same wing layout (bar internal tankage introduced from the B.6 onwards), but the PR.9 had radically enlarged wings. The inner portion had greater chord, and the outer wings were extended in span with entirely different wingtips. The wingtip drop tank, however, mounted in the same place so would actually sit in from the wingtip rather than directly under it. Engine cowlings varied with engine fit and starter type - single or triple breech cartridge for most marks, and AVPIN starter on the PR.9.

PR.9 XH171, Cosford, 2010. General view showing off the increased chord of the inner wing portions on the PR.9. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2013. General view of the final PR.9 equipment fit - compare with XH171. B(I).8/B.6(mod) WT333, Bruntingthorpe, 2009. This version has triple starter cartridge breeches inside the engine nose cone exhausting through holes in the cowling. PR.9 XH131, Marham 2006. Port engine. The much larger cowling of the AVPIN-started Avon RA.29, starter exhaust just about visible on the underside of the forward cowling. Very worn ARTF grey finish. PR.9 XH135, Kemble 2021. Port engine. PR.9 XH135, Kemble 2021. Port engine. PR.9 XH135, Kemble 2021. Port wing showing off the line of vortex generators and the bare metal wing spar (left like this for easier inspections in later years). PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Outer wing by the engine, looking aft/inboard. The oval panel to the left is fuel pump access (black sealant often left unpainted). Landing light further to the right. The raised panel covers the underwing pylon mount. PR.9 XH131, Marham 2006. Port outer wing and engine cowling. Very worn ARTF grey finish. The black oval is sealant over the fuel pump access panel. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Port wingtip. Taxi light inboard of the tip, with red navigation light on the tip itself. Note undersurface vortex generators. PR.9 XH131, Marham 2006. Port aileron showing off the PFCU fairings. PR.9 XH131, Marham 2006. Port outer flap. PR.9 XH131, Marham 2006. Port engine exhaust. Flare bay doors open. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Port engine exhaust. PR.9 XH135, Kemble 2021. Port engine exhaust. Inner flap would normally be open to same extent as outer one. PR.9 XH131, Marham 2006. Port inner flap. PR.3 WF122, Baginton, 2004. Port wing. Other than the PR.9, the Canberra wing was mostly unchanged between marks. Airbrake fingers raised here. B(I).8/B.6(mod) WT333, Bruntingthorpe, 2009. Port wing. This shows how the wingtip tank mounts under the wing tip, and the pitot probe present on some versions (where the nose pitot was removed by other mods). PR.9 XH131, Marham 2006. Starboard inner flap. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard inner wing, looking forward. PR.9 XH131, Marham 2006. Starboard engine exhaust. PR.9 XH131, Marham 2006. Starboard outer flap. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard countermeasures dispensers - removed leaving empty holes. The burn on the flap is from a flare igniting as it was fired from here. PR.3 WF122, Baginton 2004. Starboard wing trailing edge showing extended airbrake fingers. PR.9 XH135, Kemble 2021. Starboard wing. Aileron removed. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard wingtip. PR.3 WF122, Baginton, 2004. Starboard wing. PR.3 WF122, Baginton, 2004. Starboard wing. B(I).8/B.6(mod) WT333, Bruntingthorpe, 2009. Starboard wingtip tank. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. Starboard engine. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard engine. B(I).8/B.6(mod) WT333, Bruntingthorpe, 2009. Starboard engine. As you can see the engines are not handed, so the starboard side of each has 2 cartridge exhausts, and port side 1. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard engine. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard inner wing, looking aft.

Undercarriage

While the gear legs did not vary between marks, the wheels did - earlier wheels (e.g. B.2) had multiple radial hub spokes and you could see through them from one side to the other. Later, heavier marks (e.g. B.6) had a slightly larger wheel with 4 depressions in the hub as seen in these photos.

PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. Nose gear. Leg is light blue grey, bay, door interiors and mudguards are white, wheels are silver. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Nose gear. Three blobs above the door are where the 'towel rail' aerial used to be fitted. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. Nose gear. Note this PR.9 has not had the 'towel rail' aerial removed, but the front of it has been broken off. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Nose gear from behind. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Nose gear bay. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Port main gear bay, looking forward. Generally white with some black and grey bits. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Port main gear leg, looking outboard and forward. Silver wheels, moslty white leg and bay door interior. Cloth to soak up a hydraulic leak is not standard issue! PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. Port main gear. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard main gear leg, looking outboard and forward. Silver wheels, mostly white leg and bay door interior. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2021. Starboard main gear bay. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard main gear bay, looking outboard. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard main gear bay, aft end, showing the retraction jack and arm. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard main gear bay and inner door, looking forward. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard main gear bay and inner door, looking aft. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard main gear leg, looking aft. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. Starboard main gear leg, looking aft. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2007. Starboard main gear, looking inboard. PR.9 XH134, Kemble, 2021. Starboard main gear, looking inboard.

Tail

Again, the tail was mostly common between marks, with minor variations in aerial fit. However, the PR.9 was fitted with fully powered flying controls, and thus had a PFCU to operate the rudder. This resulted in a scabbed on fairing on the port side only. The PR.9 also had some vortex generators on the fin side and upper rear fuselage, and was later fitted with a radar warning receiver (RWR) housing in the upper leading edge (and the tip of the tailcone).

PR.3 WF122, Baginton, 2004. Looking back at the tail fin, look how thick that beastie realy is! B(I).8/B.6(mod) WT333, Bruntingthorpe, 2009. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. The PR.9 differs from other marks in having vortex generators on the side and a powered rudder, the fairing on the port side of the rudder covers the PFCU. The RWR bullets on the upper fin leading edge and rear tailcone were not fitted early in the PR.9's career. PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. With the controls locked, PR.9 elevators would sit in this position. T.4 WJ874, Baginton, 2010. The T.4's tail fin is essentially identical to most other versions. Note slight pitch down of the tailplane assembly. T.17 WH740, East Midlands, 2011. The T.17 tailcone differed as you can see but the fin remained the same as other versions. PR.9 XH131, Marham, 2006. Closeup of the rear radar warning receiver. PR.9 XH131, Kemble, 2006. Note that the PR.9 has vortex generators on both sides of the fin but the PFCU fairing is only present on the port side of the rudder. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021. PR.9 XH135, Kemble, 2021.