Blackburn

Buccaneer

 

The Blackburn NA.39 was a rugged carrier-borne high speed low-level strike aircraft and in its production form it became famous as the 'Buccaneer'  The NA.39 prototype (XK486) was first flown at RAE Bedford on 30th April 1958, piloted by Derek Whitehead. 

 

Blackburn & General Aircraft were later absorbed into Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd (HSAL) during 1960 but the company continued to trade under its original identity until on 1st July 1963, a divisional structure was created and Blackburn became the Hawker Blackburn Division - from that date onward all Blackburn products were styled as 'Hawker Siddeley' types rather than under the name of their original parent firm.

The Buccaneer made use of boundary layer control on wings and tailplane to allow operation from the relatively small British aircraft carriers. The area ruled fuselage featured a rotating bomb bay and two jet engines integrated in the wing roots. The two crew were seated in tandem under a single sliding canopy with a search radar mounted in the nose. Air brakes were incorporated into a bullet fairing at the rear of the fuselage, opening laterally to provide its braking action.

Designed from the outset for low-level operation over land and sea, the Buccaneer had an immensely strong structure. Whilst production aircraft were assembled at Brough, they were then towed 18 miles on their own wheels to Holme-on-Spalding Moor for flight test.

 

On 26th January the first production Buccaneer S Mk1 (XN922) took off on 23rd January 1962 although the aircraft was later involved in a fatal crash on take-off at Boscombe Down on 5th July that same year.

The S Mk 1 entered service trials with the Royal Navy in 1961 although the design was later re-engineered to accommodate the more powerful Rolls-Royce Spey engine which was required for carrier take off.  It was  designated Buccaneer S Mk 2 (which is readily identified by its large elliptical engine air intakes) and the prototype S. Mk 2 (XK526) first flew on 17th May 1963.

 

Production comprised: 20 x NA.39 development aircraft, 40 x DH Gyron Junior-powered Buccaneer S. Mk 1, 84 x RR Spey-powered S. Mk 2.

 

 

The S Mk 50 was developed as a land-based strike aircraft for the South African AF, to whom 16 aircraft were sold. They featured the Bristol Siddeley BS.605 rocket assisted engines, specifically designed for 'hot and high' airfield operations although the rockets were rarely used and latterly removed.  The variant also saw the removal of the powered wing folding found on the Royal Navy marks.

 

After withdrawal from Royal Naval service upon the retirement of their carriers, 62 x S Mk 2 were transferred to the RAF with the fleet being augmented by another 49 'new-build' Buccaneer S Mk 2B's. These new aircraft featured an increased all-up weight, larger weapons bay, increased fuel capacity and 16,000 lb weapon load.

 

In RAF service, the type, equipped with laser designation equipment for Paveway laser-guided bombs, served with distinction in the First Gulf War in 1991.

 

The last Buccaneers were withdrawn from RAF service in 1994.