Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Now fitted with one RR Merlin and three Packard Merlin engines. Should now be at Coningsby

Is that steering wheel an original signed one?

Great looking aircraft.

Tim

I take it that this is the aircraft that has been joining the other airworthy Lancaster that's part of the Battle of Britain flight at various air shows this year?

A stunning sight to see them both fly over my house on the coast a couple of weeks ago flanked by a Hurricane and Spitfire, before they assumed low level formation over the sea to approach Eastbourne for the Airbourne show. A very nice deep rumble from the Merlins as well.

It lives about 40 miles from me .I dont even have to get out from under the car when it flies over to know it the Mynarski Lanc Take off for the trip was delayed by engine problems ?..ed s

Perhaps the story may not be known ?.In WW2 Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarskis Lanc was hit and on fire . Mynarski was the last to jump after trying to free the rear gunner in his jammed turret . The gunner told him to save himself but unknown to all Mynarskls chute was on fire and he fell to his death . The plane crashed and the gunner escaped injury .For his bravery Mynarski was awarded the Victoria Cross and so when this Lanc was restored it was named after him ?.ed

That's a poignant tale, I didn't even know it was named after someone. We live close to East Kirkby where there's a non-flying Lancaster in residence which you can go round and get an impression of just what it was like to be in one of those things. Pretty grim is the answer, Health & Safety didn't feature too highly in those times !

I reckon the guys who've flown over here have done an amazing job and the tickets for the "3 together" day at East Kirkby have been sold out for ages. They've been in the local news and going on the bystander interviews, people have traveled some distance to see these events.

For anyone interested in similar things, this is the link for East Kirkby

http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/

Brian

Great story Ed.

Just heard tonight on our CBC National News that they are having engine problems and can't bring her back to Canada without a fund raiser and some work. Beautiful plane. They did a feature on her this summer before she hopped the pond. Would be great to see the two airworthy planes flying together.

We have a Lanc on static display south of town. They can fire an engine every so often, but too far gone to be flyable again.

Stu

There was a Lanc on static display at the CNE grounds about 40 feet off the ground on a pedestal until a homeless person was found living in it . He was discovered because when he went out he left the rope he used to gain entrance to the plane hanging out side . I don't know what happened to it after . I sure hope they can find an engine or repair the one they have . I'll have to see the news report . As much as we feel strongly for the mother country I'd like it back please ...... Ed

There is fellow living near the falls who sued Disney and got so much money he bought a grass landing strip left over from the 1940 unpleasentries and bought a Spit an me 109 a Mig 15 and a few other toys . I keep looking for him to screw himself into a smoking pit but he has survived so far even after an nasty neighbour put a 60 foot pole at the end of the runways and pranged the wing on the ME 109 . Didn't like the noise . Or the annual air show .....I think the Government is after the neighbor .I have a print of the Lanc ..Spit ..And the hurricane on the bedroom wall ....very romantic I think ..not so Her .... ..ed

They've got a replacement engine in now so it's back flying and the guys are pressing on with their schedule

I think the engine was sent up from Conningsby where the Battle of Britain fleet is, that would be the logical place to go for spares. Like you I don't know how bad the original engine is, just that it seemed to be on fire as they landed. Lots of reports in our local papers, they are making big news but then again Lincolnshire is often called "bomber county" from the WW2 days and a lot of our village shows have a WW2 plane flypast.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/lancaster-bomber-engine-trouble-after-7690149

Brian

Here's a good reason to visit Lincolnshire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJbUltGKp20&feature=player_embedded

One of the aspects that makes The Lincolnshire Aviation Avro Lancaster NX611 CockpitHeritage Centre and Lancaster NX611 'Just Jane' unique is that we offer you the opportunity to book a Taxy Ride.

The Taxy Ride gives you the chance to experience the Lancaster from a completely different point of view. You get to experience the vibrations, smells, sound and atmosphere of a real Lancaster Bomber operating on a real Bomber Command airfield in front of an original Control Tower providing you with the ultimate WW2 aviation experience. Your only dilemma is choosing which option to take!

We are set in the beautiful Lincolnshire countryside and there are many Bed and Breakfasts and Hotels available to stay at; click here for details.

VIP Day Taxy Ride Experience

The most exclusive way to experience the Lancaster bomber is as part of our VIP party on our whole day experience. The VIP day starts at 9am and finishes at around 3pm although you are welcome to stay at the Centre until closing time. The VIP day, taking place midweek, is a more leisurely day with the chance to chat to pilot and crew members and to appreciate the museum and the Lancaster to their full advantage. Please read more information about the VIP Lancaster Taxy Ride.

I note that the Mynarski Lanc has dual controls, the normal arrangement in my Dad's aircraft was single controls as there was just one pilot.



My Dad's RAF details here http://www.bombercrew.com/61/thomas.htm he was just 19 when the photo below was taken.





Obviously there were continuous changes and developments throughout the life of the Lancaster, dad used to tell me occasionally about the modified bomb bay doors they had fitted for "special" ordnance

My Dad was the RAF / BAE leason for the BBMF Lancaster until last year and has been involved in the Rebuild of the Panton Brothers Lancaster as well (the one in Linc's that isn't air worthy) there is talk of taking the Two Flying Lanc's to Pantons Place and having Three complete Lancasters Together which would be fun i know there was some concern about the runway there but may well happen.

It's sad that Fred Panton died recently so he never saw his memorial to his Brother Fly after the huge rebuild they Undertook in Christopher Panton's memory.

By all accounts the Canadian Lanc is supposed to be a little Scary (Cough....Wingtip fold up incident) as its Privately owned / Funded so not inspected in quite the same way and because of the distance it flys around Canada to air shows was fitted with a Aux fuel tank in the Bomb bay so it spends allot of its life "Loaded" unlike the UK one which because its run by the RAF has to abide by there rules (flown by hours between major Inspections/Overhauls) The BBMF Lancaster is one of the few truly no expense spared Aircraft in the RAF as was made very apparent when it was Re-spared.

As for Dodgy engines last time i was at BBMF there was six Merlin engines that had just come back from being Rebuilt in the US so ask Mr Blackah nicely

SPECTIONS????WE DON NEED NO STEEKIN SPECTIONS were flyin in the air ...Gringo ?ed

TBH the Lancaster is a plane that is fairly simple and designed for bits to get shot up/fail/fall off so not hard to maintain but at the same time allot of the structure is boxed in so can't be visually checked, i have some pictures some where of the Structure that collapsed in the end of the Canadian Lancaster's wing and the request for the drawings of our re-spar mod (which some eye brows where raised). Its all well and good Flying but its how you come down that the Inspections help with

We have a similar scenario at the moment but a bit more Dramatic due to its Complex nature. Planes are funny things they Fatigue and Crack etc so need to be kept in check by highly trained engineers with hugely expensive equipment. We have the Vulcan where they are flying it by raising money by donations and that's great but all that money goes in the form of Fuel, so now the RAF hours have run out making it due a Major overhaul which they can't afford so if it crashes into a housing estate because its not been kept properly maintained i think it will stop most privet owned Historic planes flying in the UK which would be sad. Some thing like the Vulcan was never designed to be flown on a shoe string its just way to complicated and i'm not sure they have the backing of the design authority.