Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA34701
English Electric Canberra B.Mk 2 Diecast Model
RAF No.10 Sqn, WH640 |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| English Electric Canberra B.Mk 2 | | 11" | | 11.25" |
In anticipation of hostilities, five squadrons of Canberras were deployed to Luqa, Malta, and a further seven to Cyprus, including No. 10 Squadron. The Israeli forces opened hostilities when they invaded Egypt on 28/29 October. This led the way for Canberra bombing operations to commence in order to neutralize the Egyptian Air Force. With so many aircraft in the area, it was important to identify friendly forces involved in the conflict, so all British, French and Israeli aircraft were hastily painted with black and yellow stripes on the wings and fuselages, much the same as was done for "D-Day, June 6th 1944." This was an afterthought and the RAF ran out of yellow paint, having to improvise with white paint as applied to WH640's stripes. The strike operations by the Canberras and Valiants were successful, with only the loss of one Canberra aircraft. "Operation Musketeer" as it was called, continued until 5th November 1956, when Allied forces regained control of Suez. WH640 was one of No. 10 Squadron's Canberra B.Mk.2s, which was based at RAF Honington, Suffolk in 1956 and deployed to Nicosia, Cyprus in October of that year to participate in "Operation Musketeer."
Designed s a successor to the de Havilland Mosquito, the English Electric Canberra was first flown on May 13, 1949. Like the Mosquito, this high-altitude, high-speed bomber had no defensive armament. Instead, it was designed with room only for a large bomb load and two powerful jet engines, and with a state-of-the-art aerodynamic shape and the speed to avoid airborne conflict altogether. Its design was so adaptable that its role was expanded to include tactical bombing and reconnaissance. It set a world altitude record in 1957 and served for an astonishing 57 years, retiring in 2006. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi's 1:72 scale Canberra is one of the largest of any jet models available in this scale, similar in size to a WWII heavy bomber. The massive wing with its long integrated engine nacelles features turbofan and exhaust details at the rear. The robust landing gear with actuator and is easy to install and locks into place for ground display. The nose has a transparent bomb-aimers window, a large bubble fighter-style canopy and a pilot figure. The series includes both early and late variants with a heavily offset tear drop canopy featured on the later variant.
© Copyright 2003-2013 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored.
Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
- Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
- Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
