Three of the museum's five resident Canberra cockpits

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first flight of the English Electric Canberra Bomber the museum is holding a special Canberra weekend on the 16th and 17th May.

The first flight was piloted by Roly Beamont, celebrated WWII Typhoon pilot who was also test pilot on the English Electric Lightning and the TSR2.

The Canberra is well representated at the museum with no less than five Canberra cockpits of different marks, four of which are being specially restored for the weekend.

Many different types of Canberra were manufactured and the final PR9 version has only recently been retired from RAF active service.

The aircraft presented so far are:-

Canberra B2 Cockpit, WD935
Canberra T4 Cockpit, XH584
Canberra T17 Cockpit, WJ565
Canberra T19 Cockpit, WJ975
Canberra PR7 Cockpit, WT534

The Canberra cockpits will be open throughout the weekend allowing visitors to try out the different crew positions.

The weekend will also display the Avon jet engines used in the Canberra, it's ejector seats and we will also have a presentation of the aircraft's development through the different marks.

We would especially like to welcome anyone who served on Canberra's and anyone involved in their design and manufacture to the weekend

The weekend is the brainchild of museum stalwart Bill Fern.

If you would like to help out at the weekend, or bring along any further exhibits please email jim@aeroventure.org.uk or contact Bill on the main museum phone number.

Latest News as at 28th February 2009:-

Additional cockpits being brought to the museum for the weekend:-

Canberra B(I).6 Cockpit, WT319 (belonging to Tony Collins)


Bill is especially interested if anyone can bring along a Canberra PR3, PR7 or PR9 cockpit