English Electric Canberra T4 WE188
History & Specifications
| Engine | 2 Rolls Royce Avon Mk.1 A3 |
| Thrust | 7,400 lbs / 32.91 kN |
| Max Speed | 541 mph / 870.65 Km/h |
| Length | 65 ft 6 ins / 19.96 m |
| Wing Span | 64 ft / 19.51 m |
| Max Altitude | 60,000 ft / 18288 m |
The English Electric Canberra was the first jet powered medium bomber to enter service with the RAF.
The design of the aircraft started in 1946 and production for the RAF in1950.
In 1951 it became the first jet powered aircraft to make a nonstop flight across the Atlantic and in 1957 set a world altitude record of 70,310ft
Our aircraft was the first of eight T4’s built to meet Specification T2/49 by English Electric at Preston and Salmesbury. The first flight of WE188 occurred on the 31st of July 1952.
Serving initially with 9 and 39 Sqns, it moved onto 231 OCU and then 56 Sqn where it was used as a target tug. After a spell with 100 Sqn it was returned to 231 OCU where it completed it’s RAF service and was returned to British Aerospace.
It was then purchased from British Aerospace and moved to the Solway Aviation Museum on the 9th of April 1988.
