This amazing airplane first flew in 1949, and as at 2005, is still in front-line service with the RAF. It has served in a variety of roles including those of medium conventional bomber, tactical nuclear bomber, photo-reconnaissance, night intruder, navigational trainer, maritime strike, electronic countermeasures, and atomic cloud sampling and target-towing. It was manufactured in the USA under license as the Martin B-57, and in Australia under license as the Canberra B-20. It has been exported to Argentina, Chile, France, Germany, India, Peru, Sweden, Venezuela, South Africa and other Commonwealth countries. This book looks at the development of the aircraft during the early days of jet power and especially at its Rolls-Royce Avon power-plant. It was Britain's first jet bomber. Each of the many marks and variants are described and illustrated by many remarkable and rare photographs. The type's record of service with RAF squadrons throughout its service life is given together with descriptions of the many experimental models that were used in the development of a variety of weapons and avionics systems.

This book explains the systems and components used on the English Electric Canberra, how and why these components work, where they are in the system, as well as the servicing schedules. Within this book, there are stories from my time in the RAF, when working on the Canberra with 73 Squadron in Cyprus. This book should be of interest to people who have a fondness for aircraft, particularly those aircraft no longer in service. The Canberra was an important part of the RAF during the period known as the Cold War, the late 1960s to the early 1970s. I was born in Plymouth in Devon. I joined the Royal Air Force in February 1967, trained in the Airframe trade. That particular trade is what the book is based upon. I was posted to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in July 1968, where I worked on the Canberra in the hangar, known as second line servicing, then I was attached to 73 Squadron where I carried out first line servicing. The stories in this book are true; they are my personal experiences.

“A useful review of the development of a classic jet bomber that saw widespread service in the Royal Air Force and was exported to many overseas air forces.” —Aeromilitaria This amazing airplane first flew in 1949 and is still in front-line service with the RAF. It has served in a variety of roles including those of tactical bomber, photo-reconnaissance, navigational trainer, maritime strike, electronic countermeasures and target-towing. It was manufactured in the USA under license as the Martin B-57 and has been exported to Argentina, Chile, India, Peru, South Africa and other Commonwealth countries. This book looks at the development of the aircraft during the early days of jet power and especially at its Rolls-Royce Avon powerplant. Each of the many marks and variants are described and illustrated by many remarkable and rare photographs. The type’s record of service with RAF squadrons throughout its service life is given together with descriptions of the many experimental models that were used in the development of a variety of weapons and avionic systems. “For an aircraft that has been the subject of countless books, the author still found a remarkable wealth of previously unpublished material on Canberra operations. A classic aircraft given the proper coverage it so richly deserves.” —Airfix Model World “A wonderfully researched tribute to this remarkable achievement, with a plethora of excellent photographs . . . Essential reading for any aviation enthusiast.” —Pegasus Archive

A Bucket of Sunshine – a term coined by RAF aircrew for the nuclear bomb that their aircraft would be armed with - is a first-hand insight into life in the mid-1960s on a RAF Canberra nuclear-armed squadron in West Germany, on the frontline in the Cold War. The English-Electric Canberra was a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers in the 1950s. The Canberra B(I)8, low-level interdictor version was used by RAF Germany squadrons at the height of the Cold War. Mike Brooke describes not only the technical aspect of the aircraft and its nuclear and conventional roles and weapons, but also the low-level flying that went with the job of being ready to go to war at less than three minutes' notice. Brooke tells his story warts and all, with many amusing overtones, in what was an extremely serious business when the world was standing on the brink of nuclear conflict.

Detailed profile artworks and descriptions of 14 different RAF jet aircraft types.

The English Electric Company was established in 1918 to amalgamate the electrical and mechanical interests of a number of companies which included the Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Co and the Coventry Ordnance Works, both of which had produced their own aeroplanes.This work records the Phoenix and COW designs and other related types before dealing with those bearing the English Electric designation which began with the Wren of 1923 and continued into recent times with the Canberra and the Lightning. The design, development and histories of all these types are covered in the usual Putnam detail and there are production lists and service histories, including those of the United States-built Martin B-57 version of the Canberra. The authors were given full access to the company's archives and to the records of its most famous designer, W O Manning. Projects ranging from early flying boats to supersonic and VTOL airliners are listed, with many illustrated by three-view drawings. Some 250 photographs are also included. Stephen Ransom and Robert Fairclough have had a long association with English Electric and its descendants.

A history of B-57 Canberra jet bomber in service in the U.S. Air Force. Contains appendices about the aircraft.