XH131

XH131 was the third Canberra PR.9 built by Shorts in Belfast and is the oldest surviving example. It was awaiting collection in March 1959. For about five years it shuttled between English Electric at Warton and Shorts on flight checks and engineering trials, including tropical trials in Bahrain over the winter of 1959–60.

It reached 15 Maintenance Unit for acceptance in February 1964 and came on charge to Air Headquarters Malta that June, with a short loan to Akrotiri in November. It then joined 13 Squadron, probably from September 1965, and later 39 Squadron, serving from Wyton and finally Marham.

The PR.9 left RAF service in 2006. XH131 made its last operational landing at Marham on 23 June 2006. Bought by Midair, it was flown to Kemble with XH134 and XH135 for preservation, its final flight being dated 31 July 2006.

After four years with private owners at Kemble, the Ulster Aviation Society bought it in 2010 with Heritage Lottery Fund support. Volunteers dismantled it and moved it to Maze Long Kesh in December 2010, where a crane set it down outside Hangar 1. They later removed its temporary grey paint, which had protected the original hemp finish while it stood outside.

Indoors in Hangar 1 at Maze Long Kesh, in hemp colours. Volunteers often open the navigator's position to visitors.