Could anyone help identify this plane? My grandfather was an engineer working on it but we're not entirely certain what it is or when. Photo was taken in Singapore at some point in the early 60's apparently.
Posted by Infinite_granite85@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 38 comments
Thanks folks, we've been going through a huge amount of photos of my late grandfather, he was very reticent about his time in the second world war and his various escapades after so we're just trying to see what he got up to!
MarvinPA83@reddit
It may well be the one I worked on in 1964. Shortly before, it had flown into a radio mat and damaged about 6 feet of wing.. pilot managed to bring it back to Labuan (off the coast of Borneo) and I was part of the team that went out to fit a new wing. When we got it back to Singapore., among other faults was the undercarriage retraction time - well over a minute, should be just a few seconds.
This is me, standing on it -
Infinite_granite85@reddit (OP)
Holy shit dude that's awesome!!! My grandfather was called Alan Blaseby if by any miracle that rings a bell. Love the photo and thank you for the anecdote, really appreciate it
MarvinPA83@reddit
Your grandfather would have been at Tengah, I was at Seletar with 390MU, so it is unlikely we ever met. Somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind the registration WT528 popped up, so it may well have been this one - https://airport-data.com/aircraft/WT528.html
WorldTour66@reddit
Still a couple still flying for NASA, modified of course. This one just before Artemis 2 launch
Kotukunui@reddit
I think they are down to one now. There was a landing incident that damaged one.
NASA WB-57F Wheels up landing
Southern-Bandicoot@reddit
I think it is 3 frames, down to 2 following the landing incident.
WorldTour66@reddit
I just checked nasa, yeah looks like 2, I assume the long term will be a write off 😞
Kotukunui@reddit
All those objects out in front look like cameras, so I guess it is probably a PR version of the Canberra.
Ok_Inspector9237@reddit
English Electric Canberra
Ok_Inspector9237@reddit
I,m guessing that with the cameras and camera trolleys,its a photo reconnaissance version.
Festivefire@reddit
The majority of the Canberra's service life with both the Americans and the British was as a high altitude photorecon platform.
Nasa actually still operates 2 of these birds.
Tight_Hedgehog_6045@reddit
Australia had Canberra Bombers too.
https://raafa.org.au/canberra-bomber/
Festivefire@reddit
Yes you are right. I have a bad habbit of limping "Commonwealth" countries all into the RAF when talking about ww2 and early cold war aircraft.
Tight_Hedgehog_6045@reddit
All good mate, just didn't want to be left out. :)
arrow_red62@reddit
81 Squadron operated the Canberra PR.7 from Tengah from 1960 to 1970. Possibly one of that units aircraft?
hgtcgbhjnh@reddit
Looks closer to a B.2, the PR.9 had the canopy offset to the left.
Aviator779@reddit
The PR.9 wasn’t the only photo reconnaissance variant, the PR.3 and PR.7 had the original canopy, rather than an offset canopy.
allthebaseareeee@reddit
Such a beautiful plane
AdultContemporaneous@reddit
The way they start the engines is unique.
Overall-Lynx917@reddit
A lot of 50s and 60s jets used Cartridge Srarters. I spent a lot of time unboxing and prepping No4 Carts EES for Hunter T7s - and dodging the clouds of black smoke they produced.
AdultContemporaneous@reddit
Isn't the idea behind it that they can start the engines without advanced gear out in the field? Or am I imagining that?
Overall-Lynx917@reddit
That was one of the ideas, the Starter Carts meant no additional Ground Equipment was needed. The Starter Breeches were lighter than electric motors so it was a simple system. The Hunter carried 3 cartridges whereas (if my memory is correct), the Canberra had only one.
The other common system used "Avpin" (Isopropyl Nitrate) which is basically rocket fuel to drive a Starter turbine.
Apart from the odd spontaneous explosion, this system worked well
Tight_Hedgehog_6045@reddit
https://raafa.org.au/canberra-bomber/
SportTawk@reddit
Still in use today, not specifically this one of course
ABoutDeSouffle@reddit
How do they even maintain them? I don't see how they can get new or overhauled engines - and I guess the engines of that age needed a lot of maintenance.
SportTawk@reddit
Well, we'd better ask NASA, they use three for high altitude research!
m00ph@reddit
Those were the USAF recon versions, the wings are huge, and I think it's a different engine. They like them enough that one was pulled out of a boneyard after 41 years and rebuilt not that many years ago.
Great_Specialist_267@reddit
And crashed one three months ago…
alpha_epsilion@reddit
Either Tengah, Paya Lebar, Seletar or Changi
Domish_@reddit
Like the other comments said, an English Electric Canberra. Most likely at RAF Tengah, both the RAF and RNZAF had Canberras there until ~1962.
StephenHunterUK@reddit
Tengah also had Vulcans fly out there for SEATO-related exercises.
Infinite_granite85@reddit (OP)
That would make sense, he was an RAF engineer throughout the second world war but got posted all over the shop post war. Thank you very much for the info, really appreciate it.
Overall-Lynx917@reddit
Looks like a Canberra PR3. Fishbowl Canopy, No optically flat panel (that I can see).
Zathral@reddit
It is there in shadow. Probably not a PR3
lordtema@reddit
Photo was probably taken from a Canberra!
Sad-Razzmatazz8047@reddit
Out of RAF Luton if I'm not mistaken
DavieStBaconStan@reddit
Google Lens.Â
English Electric Canberra.
post-explainer@reddit
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