English Electric Canberra

The English Electric Canberra was the Royal Air Force’s first jet powered bomber and first flew in May 1949. It was powered by two Rolls Royce Avon turbojet engines and had an impressive top speed of over 500 mph. The aircraft was designed to operate at high altitudes, allowing it to evade enemy interceptors and anti aircraft defences.
The Canberra was a highly versatile aircraft and served in the bomber, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and target towing roles. The type was also operated by Australia, the US, Argentina and India. The Canberra was a record-breaker and in 1951 a modified aircraft set a world altitude record of 70,310 feet. The type was also used for Britain’s nuclear testing program and saw active service in the Suez Crisis, The Indo-Pakistani Wars and the Vietnam War. As the Harrier was developed into the AV8B for the United States Marine Corps, the Americans developed the Canberra into the B57. Impressively the Canberra remained in service with the RAF until 2006.
The Canberra was built at Samlesbury Aerodrome in Lancashire, England. The airfield was built in the early 1930s and served as an airplane testing and production site. Other famous aircraft such as the Halifax bomber, sections of the Vulcan, the Bae Hawk, the Eurofighter and the F35 Lightning 2 have been built at the airfield over the years. It was also home to 635 VGS who used to train Air Cadets to fly the Slingsby Venture and the Grob Vigilant.

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