IT may be 50 years since the prototype first flew, but the Canberra bomber - designed in Lancashire - is still going strong.

Photo-reconnaisance versions of the aircraft are currently in the air over Kosovo and NASA still operate two in America.

Guests - including the original design team and pilots of the Canberra - were invited to a birthday celebration at Warton Aerodrome for a re-enactment of the first flight of the prototype.

The plane took off gracefully on May 13, 50 years to the minute after the prototype's maiden flight and, as happened then, was followed by a Vampire "chase" aircraft.

Gary Crosby, managing director of BAe Customer Support Services, said: "It was our intention for the birthday to assemble the original Canberra team, and it looks as though we have been successful.

"It was on this day in 1949 at 11.46am that the plane first flew and we should not underestimate its significance as one of military aviation's biggest success stories.

"Perhaps more important is the fact that the Canberra was the aircraft from which the Preston sites grew."

Roland "Bee" Beamont, test pilot of Canberra prototype VN799, added: "On May 13, 1949, we held our regular 9am meeting and VN799 was declared serviceable.

"We had already carried out three hops along the runway and all we had to do was find out what happened between take-off and landing!

"Because it was Friday the 13th, some people said that we shouldn't.

When I finally took the plane up and flew it was an incredibly smooth sensation."

Among the various guests attending the event were designers Ivan Clowes, Frank Monk, Paul Coonan and John Damp.

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