HS Buccaneer S2B XW527 RAF No 12 Sqn Lossiemouth, Moray. Scotland. GAV 2190-220
Though originally criticized and unappreciated by its users, the Buccaneer eventually emerged as one of the best designed and most capable low-level attack aircraft of the Cold War. While most aircraft of the period stressed supersonic, high altitude flight, the Buccaneer was designed to a Royal Navy requirement for a bomber to fly subsonic, under-the-radar missions to penetrate enemy airspace without detection. In meeting these needs, the design team produced an aircraft with an advanced boundary layer control system for improved maximum lift, an area-rule shaped fuselage for reduced drag, and a large internal fuel capacity coupled with fuel efficient engines for superb range. The Buccaneer was also fitted with an internal bomb bay for up to four 1,000 lb bombs, thereby maintaining a clean exterior and allowing the aircraft to cruise at higher speeds and with lower fuel consumption than the Mirage III or F-4. Other advanced features incorporated in the design included splitting the rear fuselage in half to act as airbrakes, a rotating bomb bay door to reduce drag when dropping ordnance, powered controls, and very compact dimensions when wings and tailcone were folded. These features made the Buccaneer exceptionally well-suited to its primary roll as a carrier-based bomber on Britain's large aircraft carriers of the day. Early examples proved to be underpowered, but this problem was corrected in the definitive Buccaneer , fitted with powerful Rolls Royce Spey engines. Once the Royal Navy's large carriers began to be retired during the 1970s, these examples were progressively transferred to shore bases or to the Royal Air Force. Upgrades continued throughout the 1980s, most notably the ability to carry advanced missiles and laser-guided bombs. These improvements allowed the Buccaneer become one of the most popular aircraft in British service. Time eventually caught up with the Buccaneer, however, and all were retired from British service by 1994
Size: 6054px × 4029px
Location: RAF Lossiemouth, Moray. Grampian Region. Scotland. United Kingdom.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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