Tales from the RAF

[Guest Canberra Man]

A Canberra is detailed for a Nav ex and I'm out front controlloing start up. I point to the port engine, there is a bang from the turbo starter, the usual clouds of black smoke and the engine settles down to idle. I point to the starboard engine and all hell is let loose. The turbo starter explodes, sending broken turbine blades through the fuselage wall and into nuimber one fuel tank, the kerosene pours out onto the still burning cartridge and the whole lot ignites. A phone call to the fire section had their brand new (Just out of the box) Rolls powered fire engine coming round the peri - track. It screeched to a halt at the blaze and an erk in gents natty asbestos suiting, complete with hemet, jumped down and pointed a huge pipe at the bonfire and shouted. "Send it froo". The trouble was "noffink came froo". They had been so busy polishing their new toy, nobody had thought to fill the tank with foam! Then the wheel hubs and cockpit coaming which are magnesium alloy, went up with bright flash. Someone muttered. "What about the ejector seats?" We all backed off a bit further and sure enough, there was a tripple explosion and three steel tubes with the remains of the seats still attached soared a couple of hundred feet into the air. The next morning, there was a perfect silhouette of a Canberra burnt into the tarmc with two Rolls Royce Avons still in situ. There were new faces at the fire section within a very few days.

 

Ken

 

 

[Tomo]

That would be frustrating.

 

Did you end up doing the Nav after that?

 

 

[facthunter]

further.

 

Not in that aircraft. Nev