Garden Centre find.

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Member for

14 years 6 months

Posts: 2,536

A small garden center where I live has a strange cone standing in the corner.
When I asked the owner he said is was from a Canberra Bomber and if I knew anyone interested who wanted one let him know.

So, does anyone have a picture of a Canberra Bomber nose cone or does anyone need one?

I didn't have a camera but it's about 5 feet tall. I would guess 4-5 feet diameter at the bottom. The bottom has a metal band with screws about 4-5inches wide. Seems to be made of some fiber glass type material. This is just a guess. Could be weathered metal. It's coated in a cream colour but not paint.

Just seemed an interesting find and an unusual answer which sounded plausible.

Original post

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 10,647

Generally speaking, Canberra bomber noses are made of clear perspex and smaller than you describe.
The Canberra T.4 trainer has a short and curved metal nose cover, the PR.9 has a large metal nose section.
I'm wondering if it could possibly be a fibreglass radome from a T.11/19, seen here, http://www.flickr.com/photos/8782469@N05/4790025571/.
The T.22 features a fibreglass radome which is the same as a Buccaneers, but it is long.
There are of course countless modified Canberras, really need to see a pic of the said item.

Member for

14 years 6 months

Posts: 2,536

Doesn't look like that cone. It's rounded at the top and the taper is more gradual. Next time I'm passing I'll ask if I can take a pic and post it.

No, it's not the clear nose cone like a Lancaster. It's a solid, `not see through` cone.

To be honest it's more like a Vulcan nose, but don't get excited as it's probably not Vulcan, just looks more like that.

Member for

17 years 5 months

Posts: 803

A row of Canberra noses.

I'll leave it to Pagen and others to let you know which is which, 'cos I can't remember :o

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc106/pondskater/527.jpg

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 10,647

Nearest first, T.17, T.4, & T.19.
The other nose type that loosly fits your description is the more rounded noses that were fitted to some of the B.6s (and B.6 MOD used by RAE etc) used by Signals Command, similar in style to WT333 at Bruntingthorpe, http://www.andysimons.co.uk/Photos/Aircraft/Military/UK/English%20Electric/Canberra/WT333-03.jpg

Member for

14 years 10 months

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Does it have to be Canberra? A Meteor NF might fit.

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 10,647

Wouldn't 4-5ft diameter would be pretty big for a Meteor though?

Member for

17 years 4 months

Posts: 1,375

..... or does anyone need one?

PM sent hampden

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15 years 3 months

Posts: 170

Sean, Owner of Canberra B6 cockpit WJ775 is on the look out for a nose for his Canberra... I will pass this info on to him just in case he's not seen it..

Member for

13 years

Posts: 520

Alternatively, it could be the nose cone from the RAE DC3 Mayfly. The nose cone was sold a long while back when Booker Aircraft MUseum had a sell off

Member for

14 years 6 months

Posts: 2,536

I'll try and grab an image (with owners permission) Wednesday and post it here for you.

Member for

17 years 4 months

Posts: 1,375

Will you have a tape measure on your person to confirm the width etc please ?

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14 years 6 months

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http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g372/munnst/RAF%20Rescue/nose_cone.jpg

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13 years

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Well I am sure it is not a PR9

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24 years 2 months

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Too small for javelin??

Member for

14 years 6 months

Posts: 2,536

Will you have a tape measure on your person to confirm the width etc please ?

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I didn't have a measure to hand. It's 6 feet 2 inches tall approximately.
I'm 6 foot and it was a few inches higher than me.
Next time I visit I'll try and measure it.

Member for

18 years 3 months

Posts: 1,216

A B1 Vulcan tailcone!

Richard

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15 years 3 months

Posts: 170

A B1 Vulcan tailcone!

Richard

It's Looking like you might be right Richard...

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/901_cranwell4.jpg

It's Looking like you might be right Richard...

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/901_cranwell4.jpg

That looks like it has straight sides, whereas the garden centre one has distinctly curved sides.

Simon

Member for

16 years 2 months

Posts: 1,528

Its not a missile nose cone is it?

Member for

14 years 6 months

Posts: 2,536

Would the construction be useful. I'll post a close up.
Seems to be covered in a woven material type stuff. Could be fibre glass or carbon fibre? Just guessing.
The bit that interests me is the ring at the base. Looks a bit agricultural, heavy duty. But maybe that's normal for aircraft.
I was wondering if it might be a drop tank nose.

I have permission to turn it over and will have a go next time. It was wet, slippery and algified and I couldn't do it although it feels relatively light.