the Vickers Valiant. Operational history The engine entered production in 1950 as the RA.3/Mk.101 with 6,500 lbf (29 kN) thrust in the English Electric Canberra B.2. Similar versions were used in the Canberra B.6, Hawker Hunter and Supermarine Swift. Uprated versions followed, the RA.7/Mk.114 with thrust in the de Havilland Comet C.2, the RA.14/Mk.201, 9,500 lbf (42 kN) in the Vickers Valiant and the RA.26, 10,000 lbf (44 kN) used in the Comet C.3 and Hawker Hunter F.6. An Avon-powered de Havilland Comet 4 flew the first scheduled transatlantic jet service in 1958. The highest thrust version was the RA.29 Mk.301/2 (RB.146) used in later versions of the English Electric Lightning. It produced 12,690 lbf (56,450 N) and 17,110 lbf (72,770 N) with afterburning. Other aircraft to use the Avon included the de Havilland Sea Vixen, Supermarine Scimitar and Fairey Delta2. The RA.3/Mk.109 was produced under licence by Svenska Flygmotor as the RM5, and an uprated RA.29 as the RM6 with 17,110 lbf (76,110 N) thrust. The RM5 powered the Saab 32 Lansen and the RM6 powered the Saab 35 Draken and all-weather fighter version of the Lansen (J 32B). 300 Avon 113s, and a larger number of Avon 203s were produced under licence in Belgium by Fabrique Nationale. In the US the RA.28-49 was used in the VTOL Ryan X-13 Vertijet aircraft. In Australia, the Avon was used by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in the CA-27 Avon-Sabre. The Avon continued in production for the Sud Aviation Caravelle and English Electric (BAC) Lightning until 1974, by which time over 11,000 had been built. It remained in operational service with the RAF until 23 June 2006 in the English Electric Canberra PR.9. Initial design work was done on the 2-spool RB.106/RB.128 as an Avon successor for large supersonic fighters. Variants and designations AJ65The original designation, standing for Axial Jet 6,500 lbf thrust RA.1Prototype engines for testing and development. RA.2Pre-production engines for testing – RA.3Civil designation for the first Avon production mark. First avon with a two-stage turbine. – RA.7Civil designation for the uprated version of the Avon RA.3. Electrically started. – RA.7RRA.7 with reheat. Meant for use with an afterburner. Explosive-cartridge started. – without afterburner, with afterburner. RA.14Civil designation for the uprated version of the Avon with can-annular combustion chamber and Sapphire style compressor – RA.19 RA.19RRA.19 with reheat. – with afterburner. RA.21Production engine developed from the RA.7 – RA.21RProduction engine developed