I've just watched a programme about the aircraft in the subject line. The PR9 is due to be retired from operations in 2006.
At this time the Canberra in all of it's types will have been in continuous operational service with the RAF for about 55 years.

Here's the poser ........ is this a record? ..... Is there any other aircraft out there that can match this service record?

cheers
eno

The Canberra is certainly an amazing aircraft & has given wonderful service. I remember having a discussion about this some time ago & the Canberra is certainly a candidate for length of service as far as the RAF goes. I think the Chipmunk also comes close as this entered service before the Canberra & there's a couple with the BBMF that are still on the RAF inventory. I think this also applies to the other BBMF aircraft like the Dakota & maybe the Spitfires & Hurricanes as some have been in continuous service - although these might not qualify as they've been purely display aircraft for some years now.

As for world records with other countries services I have no idea.

PS. The Canberra first entered service with 101 Squadron on 25 May 1951 as a medium bomber. http://news.mod.uk/news/press/news_headline_story.asp?newsItem_id=3478
The Chipmunk entered RAF service during the previous year (in 1950 although I don't know the date). I'm wondering if there are any plans to keep a Canberra airworthy. It seems a shame if they allow them to be scrapped as with so many of these famous types in the past.

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Both very simmilar in that sense. So effective that there is really nothing to replace it.

yeah, I believe the DC-3/C-47 probably holds the record.  If not only for military service definately for overall commercial services.

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That's what I was thinking Charlie it's the OPERATIONAL part that makes the Canberra unique ...... although I can't find any records confirming this.

Hawker Hurricane MkIIc LF363 was buit in January 1944, believed to be the last Hurricane delivered to the RAF, and it was in continual service with the RAF until it crashed in September 1991 making it the longest serving aircraft in the RAF.

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Ah, but was this operational service or partly as a display aircraft? I can't imagine any air force in the world still using the Hurricane as a front line fighter in 1991. This all depends on what you regard as 'operational' & 'continuous service' & whether a trainer like the Chipmunk is considered an operational type. The only model of Canberra now in RAF service is the PR9 as according to the MoD website the last remaining T4 was retired on 1 September 2005.
Both are somewhat different to the B2 that first entered service in May 1951 & the first PR9 was not delivered until 1959.

Sorry if this appears pedantic but the criteria for this sort of thing are very often not too clear.

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I'm not sure about the specifics but the BBMF is operated by the RAF which I assume means that the aircraft are still regarded as operational RAF types. At least some of these aircraft have been in 'continuous service' as they were never disposed of by the RAF. I don't know the history of the Chipmunks they still use for taildragger conversion.

My first encounted with the PR9 was at RAF Wyton on my first camp as an Air Cadet, I've liked them ever since 8)

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Thanks for clarifying that. In that case the Canberra seems to win the prize hands down.

PS. I'd forgotten about that Harvard but as it's a trainer it probably comes under the same category as the Chippie.

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Very interesting. Boscombe is a test establishment after all. You will know more about these things than most people.

A few more interesting factoids from memory. The Canberra broke a lot of records in its time which was a marvellous feat for its designer & a brand new company in the aircraft industry. The chief test pilot of English Electric was the late Roland Beamont who also tested the troublesome Hawker Typhoon & led the first operational squadron of them before the bugs had been properly ironed out. The pilots in the squadron were acting as test pilots during combat missions which was a risky business as if the engine didn't pack up the prop had a nasty habit of falling off or the tail could part company with the rest of the aircraft without warning. Meanwhile, the engine & prop manufacturers were squabbling about who was responsible for the faults, each blaming the other. This delayed anything being done to rectify the situation for about 6 months. On one occasion during a record attempt with the Canberra they ran out of the explosive bolts which held the big heavy canopy in place. Beamont insisted on them using ordinary bolts instead & went on to break the record but if something had gone wrong he couldn't have ejected. Beamont went on to test the English Electric Lightning & BAC TSR.2.

Let's just hope they keep the Canberras in one piece after retirement. Considering its long career, I would think it would be one of the types that the MoD will actually consider keeping safe from scrap. Unlike the Valiant or Victor (1 complete Valiant, and 5 complete Victors still remain).

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I'm guessing that would be a problem when the Jaguar goes out of service, too

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According to last months Flypast (or was it Aeroplane?) the T.4 was about to be put up for disposal. I hope it gets a good home. Looks rather nice in it’s prototype paint job.

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Good news too. Seems my suggestion wasn't too far out.