55 years of Canberra, the end of a beautifull plane
The last few years, a lot of West European countries are replacing their older aircraft types for brand new types like the Eurofighter, Gripen and Rafale. Other aircraft are withdrawn from service because they are at the end of their lifetime or due to changing tasks.
Also the RAF (and Navy) are withdrawing some types from service, like the Jaguar and Sea Harrier. Also the career of the PR9 Canberra, the longest serving aircraft in the RAF, comes to a close.
The original Canberra design dates from the 1940's and the prototype aircraft flew for the first time on 13 May 49. The type first entered operational service with the RAF in 1951 as a medium bomber, although photo reconnaissance (PR) variants were first produced soon afterwards.
The prototype PR9 made its maiden flight on 8 July 1955. In total, 23 production standard PR9s were built between 1958 and 1962. The first operational sortie was flown by an aircraft of No 58 Squadron in April 1960. The remaining PR9s serve with No 39 Squadron at RAF Marham. As the only remaining Canberra squadron in RAF service, No 39 conducted its own conversion training, for which it retained a number of T4 dual-control training aircraft.
Recent operational deployments have included humanitarian and peace support operations in Rwanda and Zaire, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
No 39 Squadron will cease operations at the end of July and at the RIAT 2006 the Canberra showed his beauty for the last time.
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