FAMOUS AIRCRAFT HAS NEW TASK

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27990, 9 June 1956, Page 11

FAMOUS AIRCRAFT HAS NEW TASK

(From the London Correspondent of “The Press”) LONDON, June 1. A Canberra jet aircraft which came into the news nine months ago when it flew from London to New York and back in 14 hours 22 minutes and set three world records for Britain, is to be used by the Royal Air Force Flying College for world-wide training flights. On June 14 it will be christened Aries V by Lady Boyle, wife of the Chief of the Air Staff, at a ceremony at the Royal Air Force Flying College, Manby, Lincolnshire. It will replace Aries IV, another Canberra which has been used by the Flying College for training exercises since 1953.

The new Aries V is a Canberra Mark 7 photographic reconnaissance aircraft with a higher performance and range than its predecessor. It was in this aircraft that Captain John Hackett and Mr Peter Money penny set three, world records on August 23 last year—from London to New York at 461 m.p.h., from New York ’to London at 550 m.p.h., and from London to New York and back at an average speed of 481 m.p.h., including half an hour spent on the ground at New York.

A small plaque commemorating the records was placed in the aircraft by the makers, English Electric, before the aircraft was handed over to the Royal Air Force.

Long-range tanks fitted in the aircraft for the New York records will enable the Flying College to carry out exercises over 4000 miles.

Captain Hackett and Mr Moneypenny are now delivering the first of eight Canberra Mark 8 bombers to Peru.