Bac Canberra
The English Electric Canberra was Britain’s first jet bomber and became one of the most successful post-war military aircraft designs. Its high-altitude performance was so strong that early versions could outrun many fighters sent to intercept them. Canberra airframes were adapted for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, training, and record attempts, while Australia and the United States built local versions. The US-built B-57 even flew combat missions decades after the original design first appeared.
Did you know?
The Canberra's slender, high-aspect-ratio wings gave it exceptional high-altitude performance, letting it outrun fighters sent to intercept it.
Specifications
| Length | 20 m (65 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 19.5 m (64 ft) |
| Height | 4.8 m (16 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 20.8 t |
| Range | 1,800 NM (3,334 km) |
| Maximum speed | 510 kt (945 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 48,000 ft (14,630 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 31,000 ft (9,449 m) |
| Rate of climb | 4,200 ft/min (21.3 m/s) |
| Fuel capacity | 11,170 l |
| Engines | 2x Rolls-Royce Avon |
| Units built | 949 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Bac Canberra starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Bac, the Canberra family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
Catch it yourself.CatchFlights shows the aircraft flying near you on a radar, so a type like this one is only a catch away when it passes overhead. Explore CatchFlights.
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