English Electric Canberra - Survivor WJ639
TT.18 WJ639 - North East Land Sea & Air Museum, Sunderland, Durham & Cleveland
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Canberra TT.18 WJ639 at North East Land Sea & Air Museum, 6th October 2021; Tom Moran
Built by Handley Page at Radlett as a B.2, WJ639 was ready for collection on 31 May 1954. Taken onto RAF charge, she was initially issued 57 Sqd at RAF Coningsby before conversion to a TT.18.
The next event was a sojurn at Warton (BAC) where, in February 1971, WJ639 was used for a trial installation to assess banner towing capabaility. In the July of 1971, she was with the Aircraft & Armament Experimental Establishment and stayed with A&AEE until she was transferred to BAC Samlesbury for modifications in September. By January 1973 she was transferred to Flight Refueling Ltd for a series of trial installations of modifications.
At some time during the late 70s WJ639, still configured as a TT.18, was transferred back to the charge of the RAF, joining 7 Sqd at RAF St Mawgan. There she stayed until 7 Sqd closed down in December 1981 when she, and several other Canberras, were sold back to BAe.
WJ639 was acquired from BAe by the North East Aircraft Museum of Sunderland who moved her by road to their site in June 1988. After the move, the owners began to make up some intake blanks for the aircraft, with it having no engines they came up with the idea of making some fibreglass starter covers (the part that sticks out of the intake) to make it look as if the blanks were covering up real engines making it look more authentic. Today, WJ639 is being treated to a much-needed repaint and is looking much smarter already.
The next event was a sojurn at Warton (BAC) where, in February 1971, WJ639 was used for a trial installation to assess banner towing capabaility. In the July of 1971, she was with the Aircraft & Armament Experimental Establishment and stayed with A&AEE until she was transferred to BAC Samlesbury for modifications in September. By January 1973 she was transferred to Flight Refueling Ltd for a series of trial installations of modifications.
At some time during the late 70s WJ639, still configured as a TT.18, was transferred back to the charge of the RAF, joining 7 Sqd at RAF St Mawgan. There she stayed until 7 Sqd closed down in December 1981 when she, and several other Canberras, were sold back to BAe.
WJ639 was acquired from BAe by the North East Aircraft Museum of Sunderland who moved her by road to their site in June 1988. After the move, the owners began to make up some intake blanks for the aircraft, with it having no engines they came up with the idea of making some fibreglass starter covers (the part that sticks out of the intake) to make it look as if the blanks were covering up real engines making it look more authentic. Today, WJ639 is being treated to a much-needed repaint and is looking much smarter already.
Information on this page current as of 14/11/2021, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of WJ639 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net