Flying the Buccaneer: Britain's Cold War Warrior

The Blackburn Buccaneer was a British carrier-born maritime attack aircraft developed in the 1960s. It featured innovative systems like Boundary Layer Control and a rotating bomb bay,and entered operational service with the Fleet Air Arm in 1961. The S Mk 2B,a land-based version,was introduced in 1969 and replaced the retired RN carrier fleet.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 06 February 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Originally envisioned as a carrier-born maritime attack aircraft, the Blackburn design featured numerous innovative elements, including Boundary Layer Control, a system that expelled hot air over the flying surfaces to enhance lift during landing. Another groundbreaking feature was the rotating bomb bay, which facilitated easier maintenance, accessibility, and reduced drag. The inaugural model, the S Mk 1, entered operational service with the Fleet Air Arm in 1961. The S Mk 2, which became operational in 1964, was powered by Rolls-Royce Spey engines, delivering significantly more thrust. These aircraft were equipped with rocket pods, carrying up to 1,000 lb free-fall bombs, Martel air-to-ship missiles, or the nuclear Red Beard system.

However, during the financial upheavals of the mid-1960s, the government decided to retire the RN carrier fleet, effectively removing the fixed-wing aircraft requirement. Simultaneously, the TSR2 development program was abandoned, leaving the RAF without a new attack aircraft. In response, the S Mk2B, a land-based Buccaneer, joined the RAF in 1969, boasting an extended range and payload. By the early 1970s, the ex-Fleet Air Arm aircraft also carried RAF markings, marking a significant transition in the RAF's attack aircraft capabilities.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399077361