Operation Veritas - British Aircraft

© All images Crown Copyright

BAC Canberra PR9
Lockheed C-130 Hercules C1/C3
McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III (leased)
Nimrod MR2
Nimrod R1
AEW1 Sentry
Tristar
VC10

Canberra PR9
Powerplant	Two Rolls-Royce Avon 206 turbojets of 11,250lb static thrust
Wingspan	20.66m
Length	20.36m
Maximum Speed	876km/h
Crew	2
Notes	Developed from the Canberra jet bomber this is a specialist photographic reconnaissance aircraft.

C-130 HERCULES C1/C3
Powerplant	Four Allison T56-A-15 turboprops flat-rated at 4,910shp
Wingspan	40.41m
Length	C1 29.79m/C3 34.69m
Maximum Speed	602km/h
Crew	5 or 6
Payload	up to 92 troops, 64 paratroops, or 74 stretchers; a maximum payload of up to 43,399lb (19,685kg)
Notes	A STOL-capable tactical transport capable of operating from short, rough airstrips.

McDonnell Douglas C-17A Globemaster III (leased)
Powerplant	Four Pratt and Whitney F117 turbofans each rated at 41,700lb static thrust
Wingspan	50.29m
Length	53.04m
Maximum Speed	648 km/h
Crew	3
Payload	This aircraft can carry a maximum of 154 troops. Normal load is 102 fully-equipped troops or up to 172,200lb (78,108 kg) on up to 18 standard freight pallets or 48 litters in the medical evacuation role.
Notes	Four C-17A's are leased from Boeing to the Royal Air Force. All four aircraft are operated by 99 Squadron, RAF.

Nimrod MR2
Powerplant	Four Rolls-Royce RB168-20 Spey 250 turbofans of 12,140lb static thrust
Wingspan	35.00m
Length	38.63m
Maximum Speed	926km/h
Crew	13
Armament	Internal capacity of nine torpedoes, bombs and depth charges. Sidewinder air-to-air missiles can be mounted on underwing pylons for self-defence.
Notes	A maritime patrol aircraft developed from the De Havilland Comet

Nimrod R1
Powerplant	Four Rolls-Royce RB168-20 Spey 250 turbofans of 12,140lb static thrust.
Wingspan	35.00m
Length	36.19m
Maximum Speed	926km/h
Crew	12
Notes	Adapted form its original maritime warfare role, this variant of the Nimrod is equipped with extensive electronic warfare systems.

AEW1 Sentry
Powerplant	Four General Electric/SNECMA CFM56-2A-3 turbofans of 24,000lb static thrust
Wingspan	44.42m
Length	46.61m
Maximum Speed	531mph (855km/h) at 30,000ft.
Crew	17
Notes	A heavily adapted Boeing 707 with a AN/APY-2 surveillance radar mounted in a distinctive dish over the fuselage.

Lockheed Tristar
Powerplant	Three Rolls-Royce RB211-524B4 turbofans 50,000lb static thrust
Wingspan	50.17m
Length	50.09m
Maximum Speed	872km/h at 30,000ft
Crew	2
Payload	up to 265 passengers or 35,000lbs of freight
Notes	A dual role transport and tanker aircraft.

VC10 K3/4
Powerplant	Four Rolls-Royce Conway 301 turbofans of 22,500lb static thrust
Wingspan	44.55m
Length	52.32m excluding nose probe
Maximum Speed	928km/h at 38,000ft
Crew	4
Payload	120 passengers or freight in transport role
Notes	One of the RAF's Veteran tanker types, the VC-10 entered RAF service in 1966.

Back to top Return to The War on Terror Index