Martin/General Dynamics RB-57F Canberra

The Martin/General Dynamics RB-57F Canberra was a high-altitude reconnaissance and weather-sampling aircraft rebuilt in the early 1960s from Martin B-57 Canberra bombers, which were themselves American licence-built versions of the English Electric Canberra. General Dynamics' Fort Worth Division carried out the conversion to an Air Force Big Safari requirement for something that could fly higher than the RB-57D. The rebuilt aircraft had a wingspan of more than 122 feet, an enlarged tail, Pratt and Whitney TF33 turbofans and detachable J60 turbojet pods for extra altitude, so little of the original bomber remained that all 21 conversions were given new serial numbers. The prototype first flew on 23 June 1963 at Edwards Air Force Base. Assigned to Air Weather Service units, the aircraft sampled the upper atmosphere for radiation to monitor nuclear tests, and four served as strategic reconnaissance aircraft in Japan and Germany; three were lost with their crews. Redesignated WB-57F in 1968, three still fly with NASA for high-altitude research.