English Electric Canberra B.2/T.17 - WH740
Canberra Specifications
Length: 20m (65ft 6in)
Wingspan: 19.25m (63ft 11in)
Height: 4.8m (15ft 7in)
Power Plant: Two Rolls Royce
Avon 109 turbojets each rated at
7,500lb static thrust
Maximum Speed: 620 mph
Service Ceiling: 13,000-16,000 (45-50,000ft)
Range: 4,800km (3,000m) with tip tanks
History of the Canberra
The Canberra was Britain's first jet bomber. Design work began in the mid-1940s
under the English Electric chief engineer W.E.W. Petter.
In 1949, test pilot R.P. (Rolly) Beumont flew the Canberra prototype for the first time and
amazed observers with the aircraft's fighter-like agility.
Simple to maintain with docile handling and virtually no vices, the Canberra's introduction
into service was fairly trouble free. In early operational excercises the aircraft was almost
immune to interception by contemporary RAF fighters.
In 1953, a Canberra won the London-New Zealand Air Race, flying 20,470km (12,720 miles)
in 23 hours 51 minutes. This aircraft is on display at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon.
The Aeropark Canberra
Built as a B2, WH740 was delivered to No.18 Squadron
at RAF Scampton in August 1953. The aircraft then became part of No.40 Squadron based at RAF Upwood.
In 1958, WH740 was one of 15 B2s loaned to the Royal
New Zealand Air Force as part of the Commonwealth
Strategic Reserve. It joined the newly formed 75
Squadron (RNZAF) based at RAF Tengah, Singapore and
saw active service in Malaya.
In 1962 the aircraft was handed back to the RAF and
converted to T.17 standard before joining 360 Squadron
at RAF Cottesmore. It remained with 360 Squadron for the rest of its service life, moving
to RAF Wyton in August 1975.
The T.17 was a rebuilt B2 with a compartment behind the cockpit which accommodated
a pupil and ECM Electronic Counter Measures) instructor.
The aircraft was struck off RAF charge in December 1987 and used as a ground
instructional airframe at No.2 School of Technical Training at RAF Cosford. After
providing many valuable years to young RAF Trainees it was bought for display at
the Aeropark.
