Price range: £95.00 through £300.00
The navigator strapped into his ejection seat in the nose compartment of a PR9 had no direct external visibility, only a periscopic Recce sight and two eyebrow windows. For survey work the downward looking Recce sight was superb but at low-level the view was severely restricted and the ride was uncomfortable; some navigators called it “The Black Hole”. Every PR9 pilot had the greatest respect and sympathy for his “front-seater” who endured many uncomfortable hours in the black hole on low level tactical reconnaissance sorties.
The PR9 was the ultimate high-performance big-wing RAF Canberra variant. It was powered by two Rolls Royce Avon 206 turbojets which gave it exceptional performance at extreme altitude and sparkling handling at low level. Michael Rondot flew Canberra PR9 aircraft in the low level tactical role as well as in the ultra-high level strategic reconnaissance role during four years with Number 39 Squadron at RAF Wyton. His intimate knowledge of the aircraft and its performance are evident in this fine study of a PR9 on a low level tactical reconnaissance sortie.
Underrated for many years as a strategic recce asset, the Canberra PR9 was to prove itself at the end of its career in the skies over Afghanistan where its suite of high resolution cameras and electro-optical sensors were unrivalled.
Signatures:
This striking limited edition print by Michael Rondot captures the English Electric Canberra PR9 in its element. The painting depicts the RAF’s ultimate high-performance, big-wing variant during a high-speed, low-level tactical reconnaissance sortie. Specifically, it highlights the unique challenges of the “front-seater”—the navigator stationed in the nose with no direct external visibility. This limited edition print serves as a tribute to the aircraft that served as the eyes of the RAF for over 50 years. You can find this and similar artwork in our Heritage Collection.
Developed as the jet-powered successor to the Mosquito, the Canberra became the RAF’s first jet bomber in 1951. Indeed, the type dominated the skies throughout the 1950s, flying higher than any other aircraft in the world. In 1957, a Canberra established a staggering world altitude record of 70,310 feet. This limited edition print showcases the PR9 variant, which utilized powerful Rolls Royce Avon 206 turbojets to achieve exceptional performance at extreme altitudes. Consequently, its ability to evade early jet interceptors made it a global success on the export market.
Navigators working in the PR9 nose compartment endured many uncomfortable hours with only a periscopic Recce sight and two tiny eyebrow windows. Notably, while the downward sight was superb for survey work, low-level missions offered a severely restricted and bumpy ride. This limited edition print reflects Michael Rondot’s intimate knowledge of the aircraft, gained during four years of flying with No. 39 Squadron at RAF Wyton. Moreover, the PR9 eventually proved its worth over Afghanistan, where its high-resolution cameras and electro-optical sensors remained unrivaled.
Michael Rondot’s background as a Canberra pilot allows him to capture the “sparkling handling” of the PR9 with total authenticity. Finally, this limited edition print preserves the memory of the RAF’s longest-serving jet, which only retired in 2006—57 years after its first flight. In fact, the Canberra remains so capable that NASA still operates the American-built B-57 variant for meteorological and re-entry tracking. Therefore, shop our gallery today to secure your own piece of Canberra history. It is an essential addition for any collector focused on Cold War reconnaissance and British aviation excellence. You can learn more about the early days of this versatile airframe by visiting the English Electric Collection at the RAF Museum.
| Dimensions | 70 × 50 cm |
|---|---|
| Print Type | Signed and Numbered, Artists Proof, Remarque, Double Remarque, Canvas Print |
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