Two Blackburn Buccaneer strike aircraft (XW544 and XX894) are featured in the excellent pictures in this post, which were captured at the former Royal Air Force (RAF) Kemble base (now known as the Cotswold airport) by Andrew Timmerman from Finn Aviation Photography
The amazing pictures in this post, taken recently at the former Royal Air Force (RAF) Kemble base (now known as the Cotswold airport) by Andrew Timmerman from Finn Aviation Photography, include two Blackburn Buccaneer strike aircraft (XW544 and XX894).
Timmerman explained:
“The event was organized by Threshold.aero. The day started with an anti-deterioration run on both engines on the Buccaneer XW544. After sunset, XX894 was used for the wing folding shoot.”
Threshold.aero Aero often performs photo shoots at various UK locations with the express purpose of helping aviation photographers capture that unique moment.
Both XW544 and XX894 are Buccaneer S.2Bs, and they served with the RAF, according to the Buccaneer Aviation Group (TBAG). A few weeks before its retirement, XX894 was painted to represent Fleet Air Arm Buccaneer XV869 “020” in honor of the Buccaneers’ service in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.
Following the Buccaneers’ retirement, Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground acquired both XW544 and XX894. At almost every Cold War Jet and TBAG event, both aircraft participated in fast taxi runs.
As previously reported, Bruntingthorpe’s days of watching historic Cold War aircraft fast taxi down the 2-mile runway regretfully came to an end in 2020. After much discussion, The Buccaneer Aviation Group elected to move both XX894 and XW544 to Cotswold Airport as this prospering location allows both aircraft to continue doing what they do best…. blasting down the runway!
During its time in the Royal Navy and later the RAF, the Blackburn Buccaneer proved to be a reliable carrier-borne strike aircraft. The Buccaneer’s extremely robust build was intended from the beginning for low-level operations over land and sea. In 1961, the Royal Navy began the Buccaneer’s service trials.
With the withdrawal from the Royal Naval service (with the retirement of their carriers), 62 Buccaneers were assigned to the RAF, and an additional 49 “new-build” Buccaneers were added to the fleet. These new aircraft had a 16,000 lb weapon load, a larger weapons bay, more fuel capacity, and a greater all-up weight. 16 Buccaneers were sold to the Air Force of South Africa.
When the type was in service with the RAF, it was fitted with laser designation equipment for “Paveway” laser-guided bombs and performed excellently in the 1991 First Gulf War. In 1994, the remaining Buccaneers were removed from the RAF.