Blackburn Buccaneer S2B - XV350
Buccaneer Specifications
Length: 19.33m (63ft 5ins)
Wingspan: 13.41m (44ft)
Height: 4.95m (16ft 3ins)
Power Plant: Two Rolls Royce RB 168-1A Spey Mk101 turbofans rated at 11,030 Lb thrust each.
Maximum Speed: 691mph
Service Ceiling: 12,190m (40,000ft)
Range: 3071Km (2,300 miles)
History of the Buccaneer
Originally conceived in 1962 in response to a Naval Aircraft requirement (NA39 the Blackburn Buccaneer was developed as a low level nuclear strike aircraft for the fleet's aircraft carriers. Blackburn secured the initial order in 1955 and work commenced for the development of 20 aircraft. One of the primary requirements was that the Buccaneer should be able to operate in a radius of 460 miles with a full weapon load.
One of the major innovations in the design was the use of the american pioneered boundary layer blowing system which enabled the aircraft to gain maximum lift from wings which had to be kept small for stowage on aircraft carriers.
The first unit to form was No 700Z squadron based at Lossiemouth and was quickly followed by the first operational squadron , No801 which embarked on HMS Ark Royal in early 1963. These Buccaneers were painted in the nuclear flash white, similar to the the 'V' bomber force.
At this time an up rated development of the Buccaneer was progressing (S.Mk2) which had a significant increase in the radius of operation with the fitting of new engines - The Rolls Royce Spey. The new engine increased the power by one third when compared with the original Gyron engines The first S.Mk2 flew in may 1963 and the up rated Buccaneer went operational with No:700B Squadron in June 1964.
The Aeropark Buccaneer
Buccaneer (XV350)
first flew from Holme on Spalding Moor in 1967, the aircraft was delivered to the Royal Navy in September of that year and was transferred to the RAF on January 1st 1969. However the aircraft never operated in RAF squadron service and was brought up to Martel capability in February 1969 and issued to 'A' squadron at the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down. The Buccaneer was used initially for fin service trials and the development of 'Matra' rocket pods for the RAF.
In July 1973 the aircraft was detached to Edwards Air force Base, California and was used as a trials aircraft for a number of years. In 1980 she was detatched to Elgin Air force Base, Florida again for trials.
XV350 returned back to A&AEE in December 1981 and began trials of the laser designate 'Pave' system that was to prove so effective in the precision bombing operations in the 1991 Gulf War. The aircraft then transferred to Hatfield to commence trials for the Sea Eagle missile In 1985 the aircraft became the fourth Buccaneer to receive the new ASR102 updated avionics package and in 1988 she operated at BAe Scampton for pre service trials.
Finally XV350 was withdrawn from service on the 28th April 1993. The AVA purchased the aircraft from RAF Shawbury and it was moved to the Aeropark by road.
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