| History The
Museum Canberra is the only flying Canberra in Australia.
The English Electric Canberra is an all-metal, semi-monocoque
construction with a canti-levered wing and a wooden vertical
stabiliser. English Electric and Handley Page manufactured
a total of 926 with 48 manufactured by the Government
Aircraft Factory in Australia, and 403 built by Martin
in the United States as B-57’s for the U.S. Air
Force.
WJ680 entered service in December 1955 as part of 551
Wing RAF Bomber Command based at Gutersloh in Germany.
However in February 1956 it suffered damage that resulted
in its removal from service for 12 months. Shortly after
its return to 59 Squadron, the aircraft again suffered
extensive damage from a bird strike during a low level
training mission. Its canopy was badly damaged, as were
the engine cowlings, tailplane and the wooden fin fitted
to the UK built machines. Repaired yet again the aircraft
was reassigned to a UK based maintenance unit where it
remained in storage for 10 years. In 1967, it was removed
from storage and converted by British Aerospace to TT.18
standard carrying the Rushton designed target-towing system
but was again placed in storage until 1971. In December
1972, it was involved in yet another incident, which resulted
in the ejection of the navigator. More repairs followed
and it returned to 7 Squadron on target towing duties
until 1980 flying without incident at which time it returned
to British Aerospace at Salmesbury for major servicing.
Returning to 100 Squadron where it remained on strength
until 18 December 1991 when it performed its last flight
in RAF service. It was placed in open storage at RAF Wyton
until sold in 1992 to Ron Mitchell. In 1994 G-BURM performed
its first civil display at Duxford.
Temora Aviation
Museum acquired the aircraft in May 2001. The Museum repainted
the aircraft to represent those flown by the Royal Australian
Air Force 2 Squadron during the Vietnam conflict. The
aircraft is maintained in an airworthy condition and regularly
flown at Museum displays and airshows.
| Specifications |
| |
| Engine |
| Rolls-Royce RA.3 Avon Mk. 1 |
| 6,500lb (2,948 kg) |
| Engines feature a 9 stage axial compressor,
8 combustion stages and a single stage turbine. |
| |
| Fuel
|
| Aviation Turbine Fuel (Jet Fuel) |
| Fuselage Tank Capacity: |
1,374 Imperial Gallons |
6,246 Litres |
1,650 US Gallons |
Wing Tank Capacity (2):
|
250 Imperial Gallons
|
1,136 Litres |
311 US Gallons |
| |
| Dimensions |
Wingspan: |
64’ 0" |
19.50 m |
|
Length: |
65’ 6 " |
19.96 m |
|
Wing Area: |
960.3 sq. ft |
89.20 sq. m |
|
Height:
|
15’ 7" |
4.75 m |
|
| |
| Weights |
Empty: |
25,400 lb |
11,521 kg |
|
Maximum Takeoff weight: |
47,000 lb |
21,312 kg |
|
| |
| Armament
|
| Four 750 lb (340 kg) M1117 general-purpose
bombs in weapons bay plus two others mounted externally,
one under each wingtip. |
| |
| Performance |
Maximum Speed: |
504 knots |
580 mph |
933 km/h |
Cruise Speed: |
379 knots |
437 mph |
703 km/h |
| |
|
|
|
|