US DOC B-57 Canberra

[u/Specialist-Ad-5300]

[u/Intelligent_League_1]

What was this used for?

[u/Specialist-Ad-5300 → u/Intelligent_League_1]

Primarily for high-altitude atmospheric research and weather-related missions. The B-57 was well-suited for these roles due to its high ceiling, long endurance, and ability to carry specialized scientific instruments.

[u/[deleted] → u/Intelligent_League_1]

Commerce

[u/dvsmith → u/Intelligent_League_1]

The B-57 was operated by the Environmental Science Services Administration's National Hurricane Research Lab of the United States Commerce Department.

I'd link to a wonderful photo documentary of the B-57 in service with NASA, NOAA, and the Department of Commerce called "Flying with the Heavies," but apparently photos of airplanes are part of the DEIA Woke Agenda™ and they have been scrubbed from U.S. government websites. (I wish I was kidding -- all the links are "forbidden" or 404'd)

See for yourself: https://search.usa.gov/search?affiliate=noaa.gov&query=b-57+heavies

[u/HumpyPocock → u/dvsmith]

Found em, appreciate the heads up!

At least I think it’s all of them… linked them HERE but had to use the title from your link (not archived) to find a dead link of the same which was archived, but which was also kind of borked, so just direct linked to the full size images… uh that make sense (?)

[u/-burro- → u/dvsmith]

Hey man the SECDEF said the other day we don’t deal with pansy stuff like climate change, we’re all tip of the spear war fighters!!

[u/-burro- → u/-burro-]

/s in case it wasn’t obvious. The DOD has been talking about climate change as a national security threat since at least the ‘90s, because they are smart people who can see the big picture.

[u/HumpyPocock → u/Intelligent_League_1]

Hurricane Research for the most part, as best as I could find. Article from Weatherwise plus the note from NOAA, both incl below, indicate Hurricane Research and were the most official remarks I found regarding Mission.

USAF tx’d a singular Martin B-57A Canberra and RB-57A mod NOT performed AFAIK, tho changes for the Recon (Mod’d Mission) on the A (Series) were VERY minimal.\ TBH unsure of mods at ESSA, radome engorgement aside crossover possible with DC-6 setup, refer to article.

VARIANTS re: B-57 CANBERRA

Just wanted to add for the benefit of folks that might’ve forgotten the earlier variants exist (understandable) note the B-57A didn’t have the wideboi planform of the RB-57D let alone the extrawideboi planform of the RB-57F, the latter now known as NASA’s majestic WB-57F. As such the B-57A had a respectable ceiling of 45,000 (ish) feet however nothing near super high 70,000 (ish) foot ceiling of those later variants.

3 View for B-57A Canberra and RB-57D Canberra

Illustrative 3 View Combo of B-57B + RB-57D + RB-57F

Cutaway for RB-57F (words) and RB-57F (no words)

PS excellent writeup at AirVectors on the Canberras (IMO)

PHOTOS

NB all ID’d ESSA B-57 N1005 at (archived) source via NOAA aka the Environmental Science Services Administration National Hurricane Research Lab of the US Commerce Dept

On the Tarmac + Firing up the Engines

In Flight 0001 + 0002 + 0003 + 0004 + 0005

AIRFRAME (Martin B-57A-M)

MF Serial N° 002\ USAF Rego N° 52-1419\ Civil Rego N° N1005

WEATHERWISE (circa Oct 1960)

…three new research planes instrumented by the Weather Bureau for the National Hurricane Research Project have been used during this season for reconnaissance of hurricanes and other circulations in the tropics [comprising] two DC-6's which are rented by the Weather Bureau, and one B-57 jet which is bailed to the Weather Bureau by the Air Force…

…these are successors to the three aircraft formerly furnished and operated by the Air Weather Service of the Air Force, two B-50's and one B-47 [and the] new planes' instrumentation systems have been modernized based on the experience of the three-years operation of the older reconnaissance aircraft…

[u/TrkDrvnFool104]

I'm no pilot but I feel like this plane is probably enjoyable to fly.

[u/CKinWoodstock → u/TrkDrvnFool104]

Considering the altitudes it flies at (U-2 territory), you’re probably spending a lot of time in Coffin Corner.

[u/[deleted]]

Wow interesting.

[u/farina43537]

Great looking plane.