Blackburn (BAE) Buccaneer

[Weaver]

The Nimrod MRA.4 not only has bigger engine bays, but a complete new wing with fundamentally different spar structure to accomodate the BR.715's bigger intakes and exhausts. Having said that, that's because the engines sit between the wing spars, whereas on the Bucc they sit in front of the front spar: most of the Bucc's "pod" is just jetpipe and undercarriage. So in theory, it would be relatively straight forward to replace the Bucc's engines, as indeed the change from Gyron Juniors to Speys showed, but the problem with much more mass-flow would be in finding space for a bigger jetpipe. The jetpipe does run through the spars, and is already flattened in the middle to make spare for the undercarriage.

The Buccaneer was partly supported by the US MWDP (Mutual Weapons Development Program) which funded promising developments by US allies in the name of helping them to defend themselves. The Bucc was the last aircraft to receive such aid because, unsurprisingly, the idea of the US government funding competing foreign products went down like a lead ballon with the US defence industry, and their lobbying finally got the program cancelled. Brough's integral skin-milling machines (US made) were one item funded via this route.

Re the Brits at Red Flag, a tape allegedly exists of a conversation between an Aggressor F-5E and his controller, just after he's realised that the Brit aircraft he's after (can't recall if they were Buccs or Jags) are flying down a canyon. The controller tells him to go after them, there's a pause, the the pilot replies "you go after them: this is a fighter plane, not a f***ing rattlesnake!" 

[DarrenP]

Thats like the alledged tape of them over Lebanon in the 1980's Nav to pilot Straight past the power station at the roundabout turn left! I think that deployment was Op Pulsator

[Weaver]

Couple of mistakes in my last post:

1. The Bucc's jetpipe isn't flattened to get past the u/c bay, rather it has a subtle bend in it.

2. It was stretch-presses that were bought from the US with MWDP money. They wanted to buy skin millers but the delivery times were unacceptable, so Blackburn ended up designing and building their own instead.

Here's a thought: the bomb door fuel tank held 425 gals, which is quite a lot of volume. I wonder if it would be possible to fit two ADEN cannons plus ammo in there instead of fuel?. That would add a gun option at no cost in pylon or bomb-bay space that was also removeable when not needed. The only question marks would be vibration and recoil issues, given that the door is only attached the airframe at a couple of points.

[Aircav]

She'd look cool with four ADEN's as on the Canberra 

[Geoff]

Would it be better to fit the Adens to the roof of the bomb bay and have a fairing over them the shape of the fuel tank so as not to change the aerodynamics, and use the rear of the bay left for a fuel tank as for the F-105's? Problem is you loose the use of the bomb bay and only have the wing pylons for ordinance. Might work for a fighter version thought.

[Brian]

Does anyone have a photo, or a link to one, of the open bomb-bay door on a Bucc please?

I've tried Google Images and Airliners.net with no success (there are 563 photos on airliners!) and the only even vague showing is one of the recce pack, and that's not really 'open' as such. 

In the 70s the FAA Buccs used to fly over display airfields low and fast with the door rotated open and 'Fly Navy' painted on the inside. I'd have thought there was at least ONE photo of this, but it seems not.

This photo of an open bomb bay door is small but clearly illustrates the inside face of the bomb door seconds after a Red Beard weapon was released. Note the fairings clipped onto the inside face that give an impression of a semi-recessed weapons bay. And of course seconds later the recessed bits will rotate 180°.

http://nuclear-weapons.info/images/buccaneer_red_beard_tcmb_1425.jpg

[Brian]

Deepest apologies for the duff link. I'll give my hands a hard slapping later. Correction here should work.

http://nuclear-weapons.info/images/buccaneer_red_beard_tcm6-1425.jpg

[Aircav]

This any good?

[Mossie]

Unusual source for detail pics, but there are full instructions on Hannants for the Czechmaster S.2A & S.2B.  There's a page that shows the bomb bay detail, seems to match up with Steve's pic.
http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=CMR1156&PIC_NO=4
http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=CMR1143&PIC_NO=2

[GTX]

Lift jet assisted ESTOL Bucc anyone?



Regards,

Greg

[MAD]

Lift jet assisted ESTOL Bucc anyone?



Regards,

Greg

Hey Greg
With your obsession of lift jets, I was wondering if you have Russian in you?

M.A.D

[GTX]

Lift jet assisted ESTOL Bucc anyone?



Regards,

Greg

Hey Greg
With your obsession of lift jets, I was wondering if you have Russian in you?

M.A.D

Prussian yes, Russian No.

Regards,

Greg

[DarrenP]

Buccaneer was meant to get an avionics upgrade which was meant to get many elements of the Jaguar Nav/Attack systems but when the Tonka ame into service it was canned.  However when Gulf war 1 came along the RAF realised it had no aircraft who could designate for LGB's so the old Buccs had to go to war!

[PR19_Kit]

......so the old Buccs had to go to war!

And my daughter went with them, for s short while anyway. Came back with lots of tales of silly temperatures, lots of sand and Bucc pilots tee'd off because they weren't allowed to fly under any camels........... 

[GTX]

Has anyone actually done (either model or profile) an Israeli Bucc?

Regards,

Greg