Third lancaster 'may be airborne in 15 months'

Discussion in 'Barracks' started by David Layne, Jul 11, 2008.

  1. David Layne

    David Layne Active Member

    this is lincolnshire- news, entertainment, jobs, homes and cars




    The world's third airworthy Lancaster bomber could be up and flying within 15 months.

    Brothers Fred and Harold Panton, of Spilsby, own an Avro Lancaster bomber NX611 and are planning to get it flying again after 37 years on the ground.

    Called 'Just Jane', the Second World War bomber is kept at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre in East Kirkby.



    It will become the third airworthy Lancaster in the world and the second in Lincolnshire.

    Out of 7,377 Lancasters built in the 1940s, PA474 - which makes up part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby and another in Canada are the only remaining airworthy Lancasters.

    Fred Panton (77) said that after acquiring Just Jane in 1983 and painstakingly restoring her so that she can taxi around the East Kirkby airfield, getting her into the air again is their next challenge.

    Mr Panton said that after further consultations with engineers, they would make a decision next month whether to go ahead with the plan.

    "It will then take us 12 to 14 months to go through getting all the systems checked," he said.

    Just Jane still has all four working Merlin engines but does not have a flight safety certificate.

    For more on getting the Lancaster bomber airworthy, plus reaction from a veteran bomber navigator, see Friday's Lincolnshire Echo.
     
  2. Adrian Roberts

    Adrian Roberts Active Member

    I hope they succeed. Its a bold and expensive endeavour: a Lanc has four times as many Merlins and a lot more airframe to keep running than a Spitfire. But their problem is going to be getting the aircraft certified by the CAA, who have already decided that DC3s should no longer carry passengers and Lightnings (the English Electric jet, not the P38) are too complex for civilian operation.
     
  3. Kitty

    Kitty New Member

    As I understand it, the engineering work needed to get her to the state where she could taxi meant bringing her up to airworthiness - they then made the decision to keep her grounded as it was lower insurance and they could make money from the taxi rides.

    Will wait and see on this one.
     
  4. Nostalgair

    Nostalgair New Member

    Hi all,

    It's a big job, but full credit to them.

    Cheers

    Owen
     
  5. Antipodean Andy

    Antipodean Andy New Member

    Amazing. Good on them for keeping at it. I saw her static in '99 and have seen pics and video of her taxiing and doing tail up runs. Very exciting.
     
  6. Gage

    Gage New Member

    Kinda hope they don't get her in the air as it would be awful to see anything bad happen to her. The engines don't sound half as smooth as BofB Memorial Flight. Think it would cost too much.
    I haven't been to East Kirkby for a while but have been several times. East Kirkby has a vistor.
    Lancaster Bomber Museum Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
     
  7. Antipodean Andy

    Antipodean Andy New Member

    Anyone know the latest on the Hampden there? Good to see the Dak coming in for winter servicing. That'll be some good income for the museum.
     
  8. Alexander

    Alexander Member

  9. Watson

    Watson Member

    There's nothing like watching one of the old warbirds take flight, but the fact is that the rarity that makes them so unique also makes them irreplaceable. Here in the States the B24 Liberator is in the same position as your Lancaster, I believe that there are just two of them that are flying.
     
  10. Alexander

    Alexander Member

    Two Lancasters:

     
  11. Alexander

    Alexander Member

    When you look at the control column inputs on the Lancaster (two controls - the active service Lancaster had only one pilot) you begin to have respect for pilots formation flying - the yolk is hard over and yet she is still turning the opposite to the input - real anticipation flying - Captain Browne RN the worlds type flown record holder said ' the moment you sit in a Lancaster pilots seat you sense she wants to fly - few aircraft have that'.

     

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