The English Electric Canberra pr9 first flew on 8 July 1955 and was a conversion of the Canberra B1 bomber design for Photo-reconnaissance and tactical reconnaissance use fitted with seven cameras, the fuselage was stretched to 68 ft (27.72 m) and was fitted with twin 11,250 lbf (51.03 kN) thrust Avon 208 turbojets, each wing was increased by 2ft, the increased power and wing area allowed an increased operational ceiling in excess of 60,000ft where it was beyond possible fighter interception like the American Lockheed U-2. The Canberra pr9 was fitted with an off-set fighter cockpit and required the navigator to sit in a forward facing ejection seat in the Canberra pr9's hinged nose, this gave the pilot improved visibility but left the navigator "in the dark" and in a rather claustrophobic position compared to earlier pr Canberras. A total of twenty Three Canberra pr9's were built by Short Brothers at Belfast for English Electric between 1958 and 1962, half of these were still operational with the RAF until June 2006. English Electric Canberra pr9 Specifications: - Crew: Pilot and navigator
- Length: 68 ft (27.72 m)
- Wingspan: 68 ft (27.72 m)
- Height: 15 ft 8 in (4.77 m)
- Max takeoff weight: 55,000 lb (25,000 kg)
- Engines: Twin 11,250 lbf (51.03 kN) thrust Avon 208 turbojets
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.88 (580 mph, 933 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m)
- Service ceiling: 75,000 ft (22,860 m)
- Rate of climb: 3,400 ft/min (17 m/s)
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