Martin B-57 Canberra

[Il-28]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjsKdrfMUMY

The Martin B-57 Canberra was a 1950s twin jet engine, light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. Originally based on the British English Electric Canberra, the US-built B-57 had evolved into several unique variants. Both the US and Britain used them for for high altitude atmospheric sampling in support of nuclear weapon testing. Music: Jakatta - 'The Other World'.

[Elbs]

[2495]

Still going strong - the NASA variant has to be the damn ultimate in long life upgrades!

[Prowler129]

Great AC, got a lot of the "black" missions during VN

[Clockwinder]

In RAAF service the operational and max ceiling of the Canberra were Top Secret for the entire service life of the aircraft. There were some anecdotal stories of very high altitude pics taken of "secret" US sites by undetected British Canberras.
Aussie Canberras distinguished themselves in Vietnam.
http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-...m/canberra.htm

[willytee]

Interesting plane. Have never heard of it. Wiki says some belong to China and Pakistan, which is also interesting.

Why does NASA have 2? What do they do with them?

[domokun]

Originally Posted by willytee

Interesting plane. Have never heard of it. Wiki says some belong to China and Pakistan, which is also interesting.

Republic of China isn't same thing as Peoples Republic of China. Other used to be US regional ally other used to be communist. Pakistan was supported by US in same way as Soviets supported India, UK and France sold weaponry for both.

Originally Posted by willytee

Why does NASA have 2? What do they do with them?

Test equipment, observe high altitude tests of other planes and launches of spacecraft and make weather reports.

[Prowler129]

it has a very interesting bomb bay, rotating 180 degrees to release the weapons and then back for aerodynamic value.

[2495]

Originally Posted by willytee

Why does NASA have 2? What do they do with them?

Scan vaste swathes of land with some of the highest resolution sensors ever fitted into an airframe.

heres a high altitude pic from the WB-57 of a shuttle launch.

[willytee]

Originally Posted by domokun

Republic of China isn't same thing as Peoples Republic of China. Other used to be US regional ally other used to be communist.

So then who has them now?

Originally Posted by 2495

Scan vaste swathes of land with some of the highest resolution sensors ever fitted into an airframe.

heres a high altitude pic from the WB-57 of a shuttle launch.

Thank you for that great photo, and information.

[2495]

http://jsc-aircraft-ops.jsc.nasa.gov...1-03-18-02.pdf

download that if your interested in the WB-57. Its NASA's 'users guide'. Sh1t you not, its a great read.

[2495]

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/roundup/onli.../0705_p4_7.pdf

http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/l...chasejets.html

NASA's shuttle 'chase planes'. Great reads. Next link is NASA's own pictures in Hi-Res.

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall...sH-05-097.html

Last link - a whole gold mine of WB-57 pics.

http://www.aero-web.org/specs/martin/wb-57f.htm

[willytee]

Wow.. fantastic. Im browsing through the user guide. Thats impressive. Even more cooler pictures inside the .pdf.

Thanks again.

[Canadian Sig]

Originally Posted by willytee

Why does NASA have 2? What do they do with them?

Parked at Kandahar Air Field....http://www.spyflight.co.uk/images/JP...f/Kandahar.jpg

http://www.spyflight.co.uk/rb57.htm

I used to see them there all the time.......

[RFSU]

Are there any airmen on this site who have gone "REALLY" high? It must be a freaky feeling. The scope to meet such people is unfortunatly quite limited downunder.