First flown more than 50 years ago, the Buccaneer XV344 eventually made its mark as a test aircraft , playing an important role in night trials. Peter Cooper profiles its fascinating career
Buccaneer S.2C XV344 sits inside the headquarters complex of defence firm QinetiQ at Farnborough, Hampshire. The colourful aircraft, resplendent in its ‘raspberry ripple’ livery, serves as an internal gate guard – but also celebrates its 15 years of extensive and highly valuable research flying.
In the beginning
This ‘Brick’, as the type was often known, began its life with Hawker Siddeley Aviation (HSA) at Brough, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, as an S.2. It made its maiden flight from nearby Holme-on-Spalding-Moor on May 20, 1967, before delivery to the Aircraft Holding Unit at Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, Moray, on June 9 that year. On May 3, 1968, it was issued to 809 Naval Air Squadron (NAS), being subsequently coded 325/LM, then passed to the Naval Aircraft Support Unit, followed by 800 NAS on October 8, 1970, where it became 105/LM, 105/E, and 113/E over the following 15 months.
Being lightered, possibly direct from HMS Eagle (RO5), to Royal Naval Air Yard (RNAY) Fleetlands, Hampshire, on January 28…
