English Electric Canberra PR.9
English Electric / Short Brothers · United Kingdom · first flew 1955 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Canberra PR.9 was the definitive high-altitude photographic reconnaissance variant, featuring a widened cranked wing, more powerful Avon 206 engines, and a redesigned raised cockpit for the pilot.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Long pointed nose with camera windows and no bomb-aimer glazing; longer fuselage than B.2 variants |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Wing span increased to 20.7 m with an extended leading-edge root section giving a distinctly kinked, cranked appearance compared to the B.2's straight leading edge
- Raised offset fighter-type cockpit canopy on the port side — pilot enters via a clamshell hatch rather than the B.2's nose entry
- Long pointed nose with camera windows and no bomb-aimer glazing; longer fuselage than B.2 variants
The cranked wing leading edge and raised port-side cockpit canopy are immediately visible against the B.2 or T.4 from any angle; the absence of a glazed nose further confirms the PR.9 identity.
Specifications
- The English Electric Canberra PR.9 has a length of 20.3 m (67 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 20.7 m (68 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 958 km/h (595 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Built by Short Brothers rather than English Electric, the PR.9 entered service in 1960 and flew reconnaissance missions over hotspots including the Falklands conflict and the Gulf War. Its ceiling of over 48,000 feet made it difficult to intercept, and it outlasted all other Canberra marks in RAF service, finally retiring in 2006.
Variants
The PR.9 had no direct sub-variants; it was preceded by the PR.7 which lacked the cranked wing and raised cockpit.
Where you'll see it
The Midland Air Museum at Coventry and the Newark Air Museum hold PR.9 airframes; a gate guardian example stands at RAF Wyton, the former home of the reconnaissance Canberra force.
Related aircraft
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