Once in a lifetime opportunity

[brucek]

Trust me folks - this is going to be completely awesome! A once in a lifetime opportunity to see both airworthy Lancaster bombers, together with Spitfire/Hurricane escorts in the UK skies this summer. As part of the Bomber Command celebrations the good ol' Canadians are FLYING their Lancaster via Greenland and Iceland to be based at Coningsby in Lincolnshire during August where they will be attending various events. Will keep you posted on details as they arise but for now, here's the story on the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-li ... e-26326805

[qwerty165]

Will keep you posted on details as they arise

Please do, I would love an opportunity to see such a sight, though I doubt it would beat the sight of an Avro Lancaster being Barrel Rolled. As preformed during the war by the test pilot Alex Henshaw whilst testing an aircraft from the Castle Bromwich factory. Not bad considering they have a wing span of 102ft and an unladened weigh of 36,900lb!

[simmitc]

There's also the report of an early Concorde being rolled (I think at Farnborough), before the pilot was taken to one side and reminded politely that passenger aircraft don't do that sort of thing.

[irmscher]

I would love to see the Lancaster .I watched Ewan Mcgregor last night on television fly various planes including the Spitfire

[ASL642]

As past members of the Lincolnshire Lancaster Association we were privileged to have a special Member's day each year in September after the Lanc had finished her flying duties.

We were able to get really close (even up the ladder to get a sight inside the fuselage) and walk amongst the Spitfires. Meet the crews for coffee/tea beforehand.

They then all took off and did several very low flypast over our heads - the Lancaster with her windows open and the crew waving madly so we could take photos.

Looking forward to seeing the 2 together.

[brucek]

There is a third (almost) airworthy Lancaster at the Aviation Heritage Centre about 5 miles from Coningsby. http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/ This plane is only allowed to do fast taxi runs but the brothers who own it are working very hard to get an airworthiness certificate so it too can fly. Who knows, one day we might see three in the air - WOW. Wonder if they could get a photo of the three together this summer? Keep watching this space folks

[ASL642]

Well they could always fly the 2 over the third. East Kirkby (home of the 3rd plane) isn't that far. A really good day out for any aviation enthusiast.

[brucek]

Absolutely we'll have a chat at our Lincs branch meeting on Monday to see if we can organise some sort of get together in conjunction with the BBMF/East Kirkby folks.

[ASL642]

Wonderful combination....Morris Minors & Lancaster bombers!

[brucek]

RAF BBMF TO HOST CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE MUSEUM LANCASTER DURING VISIT TO ENGLAND IN AUGUST 2014.

The last two Lancaster bombers still flying in the world will come together in a series of events this summer, in a meeting unlikely to happen ever again.

The Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (RAF BBMF) based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire will welcome the arrival of a very special guest during August 2014 when the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) fly their prized Avro Lancaster to the UK for a month long visit.

The Canadian Lancaster will join the only other airworthy Lancaster in the world, owned and operated by the RAF BBMF, and participate in several events and activities while overseas.

The CWHM Lancaster will depart from Hamilton, Ontario on August 4th with plans to arrive in England on August 8th. The North Atlantic crossing will include en-route stops at Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada, Narsarsuaq, Greenland, and Keflavik, Iceland, prior to arriving in the UK.

Shortly after arriving, the Lancaster will undergo a scheduled maintenance inspection. The CWHM crews will then complete a short training program with the BBMF in preparation to participate in several air displays and fly pasts with the BBMF Lancaster and fighters starting on August 14th. These displays will celebrate the exceptionally close British/Canadian relationship and to commemorate the sacrifice and dedication of Commonwealth Bomber crews and the professionalism of both nations’ air forces today. The CWHM Lancaster will also conduct a limited number of UK Bomber Membership flights from Humberside Airport, flying over historic Lincolnshire for those fortunate few who have obtained CWHM UK Bomber Memberships. Further information on the UK Bomber Memberships can be found at http://www.warplane.com.

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum President and CEO, Sqn Ldr (Ret.) David G. Rohrer C.D. who is a current Lancaster pilot, stated that this Trans Atlantic crossing and visit to the BBMF and England is a "Once in a Lanc Time" event as it will not happen again. Rohrer indicated that this year, "a rare window of opportunity was identified to bring the last two flying Lancasters in the world together as a special salute to all the veterans of Bomber Command, many of whom are in their late 80s or older now." It is also an opportunity for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum to fly together and showcase a flying display and tribute to all those who served in the time of need, in Canada, Britain, and the entire Commonwealth, that likely will never be seen again.

Officer Commanding the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Sqn Ldr Dunc Mason said “To see these two aircraft flying at events together will be a unique sight and also the opportunity to truly commemorate those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Lest We Forget.”

Information from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight website http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/

[philthehill]

My father used to tell me of the 1,000 bomber raids that he witnessed during WW2 as they passed overhead, He described the sky as blackened by them and the noise as something else!
A good video which I have and titled 'Lancaster Bombers, The Fascinating Story Of One Of The Icons Of British Aviation History'. stock code: 4 006408 827023 is available from Delta www.deltsmusic.co.uk and if I remember rightly the Lancaster at Coningsby is featured on that video.

[lambrettalad]

I was named after Alex Henshaw as my Dad knew him from when he worked at Castle Brom ,in the early part of the war.Before my Dad went off to India and Burma,Dad doesn't talk too much about those days but thought Alex Henshaw was a proper gentleman and a great bloke .

[brucek]

Information from the Canadian side http://www.warplane.com/lancaster-2014-uk-tour.aspx

[brucek]

Further update - VR-A (Vera) is on her way. The CWHM Lancaster took off bound for RAF Coningsby , Lincolnshire this afternoon and is due to arrive on Friday at 1.30pm.

Here is a pic from the CWHM facebook page of VR-A setting off. https://www.facebook.com/#!/CanadianWar ... =1&theater

Here also are the links to the full programme http://www.warplane.com/lancaster-2014-uk-tour.aspx

and the report from the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-li ... e-28657940

[TFM150K]

Glad to say that "Vera" came out of low cloud (at about 600 feet) and had a perfect landing at Coningsby at about ten past two this afternoon. OK, forty minutes late BUT she was a day late starting (thanks to having flooded one of the engines). Two of them in the air is going to be a wonderful (once in a lifetime) sight!!!!

[brucek]

Absolutely agree with that Here's the link to the BBC website with the story. Just seeing two on the airfield at Coningsby is enough to bring a lump to your throat. What a tremendous effort from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum staff to even consider allowing their priceless aircraft to travel 3,700miles to be here. The same must also be said of the guys who flew the plane over - what an experience that must have been. You guys really do deserve our admiration and respect. Also says a huge amount about those wonderfully awesome Rolls Royce Merlin engines too. Just shows what high quality those 70 year old engines really are doesn't it? So anyone worried about using their Minor on a regular basis or taking it on a jaunt abroad - think again

Pity the weather intervened and stopped the planned escort into Lincolnshire by the BBMF Lancaster, Hurricane, Spitfire and Red Arrows but really looking forward to seeing both planes flying over the next few weeks.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-li ... e-28703745

[brucek]

OH MY GOD - what a completely awesome evening I had on Wednesday !!! Mike Dean and I popped over to Coningsby to see if there was any sign of the two Lancasters - what greeted us was absolutely stunning. Probably well over 300 people lining both sides of the road by the BBMF hanger and Coningsby decked out in British and Canadian flags everywhere. As we parked up, the Spitfire, Hurricane and both Lancasters were just taking off to pratctice their display routine. We literally had our own personal air show display. Hearing and seeing both Lancasters IS a truly wonderful experience and one I will NEVER forget. Unfortunately my phone battery died so only have a few pics.

Best bit was yet to come. After all planes had landed, the Lancasters taxied onto the pan in front of the hanger. Once the engines were shut down, both crews came to the fence to talk to us. We had a brief chat with the Canadian pilot and crew AND got small memento canadian flag lapel badges too. It was a genuinely fantastic evening and both Mike and I were unbelievably pleased to have seen it cos' we almost talked ourselves out of going at all. Mike has uploaded the story, photos and videos here http://theminorsite.co.uk/bbmf-coningsb ... ers-flight but there is also some great video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAQ3lcA ... e=youtu.be

If you won't get a chance to see/hear the BBMF and CWHM Lancasters together with Spitfire and Hurricane this month (and I URGE you to do everything you can to go and see one of the displays if you can) , this video gives you a great flavour of the iconic and hair-raisingly beautiful sound of 10 Merlin engines in harmony. Video shot today over Eastbourne. I could NEVER tire of hearing that sound. A true engineering symphony

[Plin]

My Dad worked on Lancasters during the war. I did see the Lancasters in flight on BBC news but how wonderful that you managed to be there and capture your footage on the off chance. And how great to have an impromptu time with the crew across the fence. So jealous!!

Many thanks for the links and for sharing the footage you and Mike took, stunning stuff.

[TFM150K]

WOW!!! 7.30 this evening, playing with this silly machine and I hear - 8 Merlins in unison! Shot out of the house and there are the two Lancs heading back to Coningsby. I may not have been as close to them as Bruce and Mike, but at least I have seen them both, side by side, in the air, almost overhead, and although the sight of one of them is not unusual where I live (12 miles from where the English one lives) that was a sight that I shall almost certainly never see again. Who needs Eurofighters anyway. Thankyou very much to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum!

[brucek]

It's an awesome sight, Dave isn't it? - glad you managed to get a view.