GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT FACTORIES
GAF Canberra A84-226
GAF Canberra A84-226 at the Museum.
The English Electric Canberra was Britain's first generation gas turbine powered bomber and was developed to meet a 1944 Air Ministry requirement for a fast successor to the WW2 de Havilland Mosquito. The type first flew on May 13 1949 and entered RAF service in May 1951. The aircraft was named "Canberra" in 1950 as an acknowledgement of Australia's interest and purchase committment. 925 machines were built in Britain and two of many records established by the type was the first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic ocean by a gas turbine powered aircraft, and a world record altitude of 70,310 feet (21,430m) in 1957.
The RAAF post WW2 planning was for a smaller force with state of the art equipment, selected the Canberra to replace the obsolescent Avro Lincoln bomber. 48 Canberra Mk20s would be built under license by the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF) and would bear the RAAF serial A84, and to power the aircraft the CAC would build the Rolls Royce Avon engines under license.
The first aircraft was delivered to the RAAF in May 1951and the last in September 1958. Of the three Squadrons to operate the Canberra, No 2 was the first to receive the aircraft, followed by Nos 6 and 1.
No 2 Squadron was deployed to Malaya between 1948 and 1960 relieving No 1 Squadron during the Malayan Emergency followed by deployment to Vietnam where it was tasked with low level bombing operations.
Returning to Australia No 2 Squadron found that it would be the last to operate the Canberra as Nos 6 and 1 were preparing for the General Dynamics F111C, but delays to their delivery resulted in No 2 Squadron continuing to operate the Canberra's until they were finally retired on June 30 1982.
The Museum's Canberra A84-226 first flew on October 28 1955 and delivered to No 82 Wing on April 24 1956. It was transferred to No 2 Squadron on July 13 1971. Approved for disposal on November 19 1971 but on December 8 of that year it was approved as a training aid for use at RAAF Wagga New South Wales, where it remained until gifted to the Museum by RAAF Heritage in February 2016, and in June of that year it was transported to the Museum where it has been restored and is on display.
TECHNICAL DATA
Power plant : 2 x 7,500lbst Rolls Royce Avon 109 (RA7) axial flow turbojets
Length : 65'06'' (20.00m) Wingspan : 63'11.5'' (19.5m) Height : 15'07'' (4.75m)
Weights : empty - 21,679lbs (9,833kg) maximum - 55,000lbs (24.950kg)
Speeds : maximum - 450kt (541mph) (871km/hr) at 40,000ft (12,200m)
Range : 3,400 miles ( 5,470km) at max weight and no reserve fuel
Ordnance : up to 8,000lbs (3,630kg) of assorted armaments.
The RAAF post WW2 planning was for a smaller force with state of the art equipment, selected the Canberra to replace the obsolescent Avro Lincoln bomber. 48 Canberra Mk20s would be built under license by the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF) and would bear the RAAF serial A84, and to power the aircraft the CAC would build the Rolls Royce Avon engines under license.
The first aircraft was delivered to the RAAF in May 1951and the last in September 1958. Of the three Squadrons to operate the Canberra, No 2 was the first to receive the aircraft, followed by Nos 6 and 1.
No 2 Squadron was deployed to Malaya between 1948 and 1960 relieving No 1 Squadron during the Malayan Emergency followed by deployment to Vietnam where it was tasked with low level bombing operations.
Returning to Australia No 2 Squadron found that it would be the last to operate the Canberra as Nos 6 and 1 were preparing for the General Dynamics F111C, but delays to their delivery resulted in No 2 Squadron continuing to operate the Canberra's until they were finally retired on June 30 1982.
The Museum's Canberra A84-226 first flew on October 28 1955 and delivered to No 82 Wing on April 24 1956. It was transferred to No 2 Squadron on July 13 1971. Approved for disposal on November 19 1971 but on December 8 of that year it was approved as a training aid for use at RAAF Wagga New South Wales, where it remained until gifted to the Museum by RAAF Heritage in February 2016, and in June of that year it was transported to the Museum where it has been restored and is on display.
TECHNICAL DATA
Power plant : 2 x 7,500lbst Rolls Royce Avon 109 (RA7) axial flow turbojets
Length : 65'06'' (20.00m) Wingspan : 63'11.5'' (19.5m) Height : 15'07'' (4.75m)
Weights : empty - 21,679lbs (9,833kg) maximum - 55,000lbs (24.950kg)
Speeds : maximum - 450kt (541mph) (871km/hr) at 40,000ft (12,200m)
Range : 3,400 miles ( 5,470km) at max weight and no reserve fuel
Ordnance : up to 8,000lbs (3,630kg) of assorted armaments.