NASA's WB-57s - 3 of them back in the sky
Discussion
http://arstechnica.co.uk/science/2015/11/three-hig...
quite interesting looking thing. Crazy to think it started development in 1944 with the first one out in 1951 (Developed by English Electric). NASA bought one off the airforce in 1972 and retired it 10 years later. They had also bought two more which are still in use today and now, they've rescued a 3rd from a scrap yard where its been sat for I think 4 decades. They've had to go to museums for spare parts! But they got it going!
quite interesting looking thing. Crazy to think it started development in 1944 with the first one out in 1951 (Developed by English Electric). NASA bought one off the airforce in 1972 and retired it 10 years later. They had also bought two more which are still in use today and now, they've rescued a 3rd from a scrap yard where its been sat for I think 4 decades. They've had to go to museums for spare parts! But they got it going!
The Martin B-57 was a licence built version of the English Electric Canberra. The Canberra first flew in 1949, not 1951. Even though it was a not an American design the US Air Force decided that the Canberra was the best aeroplane of its type and decided they wanted some for themselves. A licence deal was done with Martin - who's own design. the B-51, was frankly not very good and was not wanted by the US Air Force.
Martin was allowed to develop their versions of the Canberra independently to English Electric and these WB-57s the most altered of the family. They really did take the basic shape and capability a long way beyond what English Electric did - with the possible exception of the Canberra PR9.
I saw NASA's original WB-57 at Ellington when I visited there in 1981. At that time it was in a highly polished natural metal scheme and looked really nice.
By the way, Davis- Monthan is not a "scrapyard" in itself. It's a huge storage facility outside Tuscon where aircraft are kept in storage for possible future use, resale or parting out to allow other examples to keep flying.
On occasions, NASA WB-57s have flown into Mildenhall, Suffolk - so we might get to see this newly refurbished one.
Martin was allowed to develop their versions of the Canberra independently to English Electric and these WB-57s the most altered of the family. They really did take the basic shape and capability a long way beyond what English Electric did - with the possible exception of the Canberra PR9.
I saw NASA's original WB-57 at Ellington when I visited there in 1981. At that time it was in a highly polished natural metal scheme and looked really nice.
By the way, Davis- Monthan is not a "scrapyard" in itself. It's a huge storage facility outside Tuscon where aircraft are kept in storage for possible future use, resale or parting out to allow other examples to keep flying.
On occasions, NASA WB-57s have flown into Mildenhall, Suffolk - so we might get to see this newly refurbished one.
I would say its an easier aircraft to operate. The U2s need a set of special ground handling equipment and personnel trained to operate it. The WB-57s are conventional in that department. There might be a decent spares supply available for the B-57s too - as they were built in far bigger numbers overall.
Never heard that story.
The highest performing version of the Canberra in RAF service was the PR9 - which was quite a bit more capable than its predecessors. So if any British Canberra could challenge a U-2 for performance it MIGHT be a PR9.
But, as is obvious from this thread, the US developed the Canberra concept to an even higher level of performance than the PR9 with their long winged, turbofanned WB-57s.
Also, there were a number of versions of the U-2 as well, from the fairly simple early versions of the mid to late 1950s to the higher performance versions in use today.
The highest performing version of the Canberra in RAF service was the PR9 - which was quite a bit more capable than its predecessors. So if any British Canberra could challenge a U-2 for performance it MIGHT be a PR9.
But, as is obvious from this thread, the US developed the Canberra concept to an even higher level of performance than the PR9 with their long winged, turbofanned WB-57s.
Also, there were a number of versions of the U-2 as well, from the fairly simple early versions of the mid to late 1950s to the higher performance versions in use today.
Not sure if the truth of it, but that story is along the lines of a Canberra took a photo flying above a U2 which was taking photos of the British fleet and positions during the Suez crisis. At the time, I don't think an early U-2 was hitting 75,000 ft so maybe possible .
What was interesting during this period, was the US navy, which wanted to go in and smash the British Med fleet, as they felt the Med was now their patch !
I wonder if the British fleet could have put up a fight !
What was interesting during this period, was the US navy, which wanted to go in and smash the British Med fleet, as they felt the Med was now their patch !
I wonder if the British fleet could have put up a fight !
si-h said:
Not sure if the truth of it, but that story is along the lines of a Canberra took a photo flying above a U2 which was taking photos of the British fleet and positions during the Suez crisis. At the time, I don't think an early U-2 was hitting 75,000 ft so maybe possible .
What was interesting during this period, was the US navy, which wanted to go in and smash the British Med fleet, as they felt the Med was now their patch !
I wonder if the British fleet could have put up a fight !
This story relates to the Armstrong Whitworth Meteor PR-19.What was interesting during this period, was the US navy, which wanted to go in and smash the British Med fleet, as they felt the Med was now their patch !
I wonder if the British fleet could have put up a fight !
Unfortunately the aircraft never existed, but was an elaborate hoax by a modeller who built an excellent "what if" model, and wrote a very convincing back story to go with it. So convincing that it attracted the attention of the CIA. It's a well known story to modellers, and the model itself is often seen at model shows; it was st Cosford last year.
http://www.avhub.net/MI_u2meteorpr19incirlik.htm
dr_gn said:
an elaborate hoax by a modeller who built an excellent "what if" model...
http://www.avhub.net/MI_u2meteorpr19incirlik.htm
So that whole page is bhttp://www.avhub.net/MI_u2meteorpr19incirlik.htm
ks?Simpo Two said:
dr_gn said:
an elaborate hoax by a modeller who built an excellent "what if" model...
http://www.avhub.net/MI_u2meteorpr19incirlik.htm
So that whole page is bhttp://www.avhub.net/MI_u2meteorpr19incirlik.htm
ks?ks AFAIK.t'internet's great int it?
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