Black Box Canberras

摘要

Given the English Electric Canberra's extensive use by British military test and trials organisations between 1951 and 1994, it is perhaps surprising that no book on the subject has emerged until now. The result, however, is well worth the wait. Dave Forster's extensive research has led to a volume of great quality, very well produced in traditional Hikoki fashion. Each chapter covers a different trials area, the overriding impression being the sheer range of programmes on which Canberras were used and the contribution the type made to new capabilities in a wide variety of fields. Especially interesting is the section on early 'stealth' experiments using radar-absorbent material on the Royal Aircraft Establishment's Canberra B2 WK161, this following earlier efforts that employed, of all things, a Boulton Paul Balliol. And the work done with Canberras continues to pay dividends even more than 20 years after the last example in trials use was pensioned off. After all, the ASTOR (Airborne Stand-Off Radar) system that has proved so valuable in the RAF's Bombardier Sentinel R1 fleet during numerous overseas operations was first tested aboard Canberra B(l)8 WT327 in the 1980s and'90s.