An ex Royal Air Force Canberra aircraft arrived at Malta Freeport earlier this month on its very last trip.

The jet, previously carrying serial number WT483, is a T4 version that used to train pilots before becoming operational airmen. Malta used to be base to two squadrons of Canberras in the1960s and1970s, hosting the PR7, PR9 and T4 versions of this very successful aircraft built by English Electric.

The Canberra was brought over by Malta Air Traffic Services because the bomber, later becoming a reconnaissance platform, formed a very important part in RAF Luqa¹s history. In fact, it will be placed on grounds belonging to MATS.

For the time being, the Malta Canberra will sit on a site close to the pans where Canberras used to be parked till 1978. The jet will later be moved to the Malta Aviation Museum when parking space becomes available at Ta’ Qali.

WT483 was taken out of RAF service 25 years ago and was bought by a private ­collector and had been parked at Long Marston Proving Grounds, Warwickshire before it started its sea-journey to Malta on Nov 25, arriving here on December 9 in three con­tainers.

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