On this day, yesterday in fact.
 

83rd ANNIVERSARY OF THE AVRO LANCASTER’S FIRST FLIGHT

Today, January 9th, marks the 83rd anniversary of one of the most significant events in the history of military aviation when the first prototype Avro Lancaster took off from Ringway now Manchester Airport on its maiden flight.
The Avro Lancaster is one of the most famous aircraft in the world designed by Avro chief designer Roy Chadwick and described by Arthur"Bomber" Harris as the finest Bomber he had at his disposal during the War.

7,377 of the Lancasters were built and as well as being responsible for famous raids such as the sinking of the German battleship Tirpitz and the famous Dams raid the Lancaster was responsible for dropping 2/3 of the total bombload dropped by Bomber Command.
A legend in aviation terms and still flying today in the capable hands of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and of course the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Canada.

It is a shame but perhaps understandable that there are not more air worth WWII planes about and that the pillbox's in the Channel Islands were stripped of German presence.

I think they are trying to get the Lancaster at East Kirkby Aviation Heritage Centre in Lincolnshire flying.

macafee2

This one Ian 😎https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7c833a0118.jpg

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That be the one. The place is well worth a visit. I think I forgot what forum I was on as the Blue Bird event is held there, so many members already know


macafee2

That's where we met at last years event Ian. This was taken then

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They are working towards it but its a long (and expensive!) process funded by donations only. When I was in the air cadets I had a 9 hour (operational) flight in the Lancaster's very close relative, a Shackleton out of Lossiemouth. Stank of leather, rubber and hydraulic fluid.

Join the East Kirkby "Rivet Club"to make a monthly donation towards the work to make a flying Lancaster.



You can also watch Youtube NE611 Lancaster