The Avro Lancaster,Lincoln and Lancastrian at Blackbushe.
Feb 28, 2019 9:07:09 GMT
flyboy, rocky14, and 1 more like this
Post by flyboy on Feb 28, 2019 9:07:09 GMT
The Avro Lancaster, Lancastrian and mighty Lincoln. .
The Avro Lancaster:
During WWII the sight of a Lancaster on the ground at Blackbushe would have been a fairly regular occurrence as the mighty bomber's wheels found friendly tarmac after another mission over enemy lands. Although the Lancaster was never based at
RAF Hartford Bridge during the war, in those days the airfield provided a safe haven for wartime crews returning from combat operations when an urgent need for an early diversion dictated. Often return to their home base had not proved possible for a number of reasons such as aircraft damage, shortage of fuel ,weather diversion or all manner of aircraft serviceability problems.
After their active service there were many of the type still left guarding our skies in peace time and some of these found their way to Blackbushe on operational and more pleasurable pursuits such as transport to and from visits to the Farnborough Airshow and even in one case for home-based duty. That aircraft was Lancaster B.II NX739 which the Ministry of Supply placed in the charge of Eagle Airways to operate on their behalf as a photographic platform.
That mighty Lancaster would always catch my eye as I cycled up from my home in Basingstoke on another visit to watch the daily aircraft movements at the airfield as an avid aircraft enthusiast in the mid 1950's.
Having been designed by Avro's designer Roy Chadwick as a heavy bomber it first flew on January 9th 1941 having been developed from the earlier Avro Manchester. Powered by four Rolls Royce Merlin engines it first saw RAF service with Bomber Command and it was soon in action participating in the strategic bombing offensive throughout Europe. It became the principal RAF bomber being operated not only by the RAF but also Canadian squadrons and by Commonwealth and European crews serving within the RAF in the latter half of the war. It over-shadowed contemporaries such as the Halifax and Stirling and in total there were 7,377 Lancasters built of different marks. With the addition of USAAF B17's the allied bomber force proved too much for the enemy with huge damage being caused throughout Europe.
The Avro Lancastrian:
The civil Avro Lancastrian was developed as a fast long - range airliner to be used on trans - Atlantic passenger flights and for postal deliveries during the 1940s and 50's. A British South American Airlines Lancastrian made the first schedule flight out of London Heathrow Airport in March 1946.
Basically a much modified Lancaster, without armament and armour but having modified more streamlined nose and tail cone the Lancastrian started life as a conversion of the Lancaster X undertaken by Victory Aircraft in Canada ( later became Avro Canada ) and was used by Trans-Canadian Airlines. Having proved a success a further eight redundant Lancasters were converted and were used by TCA on their Montreal to Prestwick service.
British built deliveries from Avro were underway in 1945 with an order for thirty aircraft for BOAC who used them on the England to Australia route. Being fast with a cruise speed of about 220 mph (354 km/h) it still took three days plus to reach it's destination. Being a converted bomber space in the cabin was very restricted being available to transport only small numbers of VIP passengers. However, there was plenty of space in the redundant bomb bay for extra, long-range fuel tanks and some freight.
In addition to BOAC the aircraft were used by civil airlines; Qantas in Australia and by Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina as well as by TCA in Canada and Alitalia in Italy. In the UK British European Airways, British South American Airways, Silver City, Skyways and Flight Refuelling were all operators.
The RAF had a total of forty one comprising 33x nine seater C.2s and 8x ten to thirteen seat C.4s operated by 24Sqn,231 Sqn and232 Sqn some of which were converted as engine test beds.
The Avro Lincoln:
A British four engined heavy bomber the Avro Lincoln was to become the last piston-engined bomber operated by the RAF. Although WWII ended before the bomber was called into action production proceeded in numbers replacing it's predecessor the Avro Lancaster. The type saw saw service in operations against the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya and in joint operations with the Australian Air Force Lincolns during the Malayan Emergency. In addition the type also saw significant service with the RAAF and Argentine Air Force as well as for use in various engine tests and the 'Napier' icing trials.
Nearly 600 Lincolns were constructed following a successful first flight at Ringway Airport, Manchester on June 9th 1944 and in February 1945 following successful trials the first production Lincoln was completed.
Lincoln RF332 replaced the faithful Lancaster operated by Eagles at Blackbushe on 20.1.57 for aerial photography purposes.
Variants:
Lancaster Lincoln
B1 Produced with MerlinXX engines.Minor mods........../ 3x prototypes......................................................
.......made throughout production runs......................../ Lincoln.1 RAF long range bomber. 4x RR merlin 85.
B1 Special. 32 aircraft modified to take the 'Tall.........../ Lincoln.11 Built by Avro,Armstrong -Whitworth and
.......Boy' and 'Grand Slam' bombs plus other mods....../ Vickers-Metropolitan.
PR.1 Photo Reconnaissance version. No armament......../ Lincoln. 111 Maritime reconnaissance and anti- ......
.......and turrets removed........................................../ submarine version.
B1(FE) A tropicalised version for anticipated use.........../ Lincoln.1V Lincoln.11 converted to Merlin 85 power.
...........against the Japanese and in the Far East........../ Lincoln U.5 Lincoln.11 converted to drone aircraft,...
B11 300 produced with Bristol Hercules engines........./ only 2 converted.
.........and additional armament modifications............../ Lincoln Mk.15(B.XV) Only one aircraft built by.........
B111 Fitted with Packard Merlin engines...................../ Viceroy Aircraft in Canada.
B111 Special. 23 aircraft built to carry the 'Upkeep'..... / Lincoln Mk.30 Long range version for RAAF.............
........bouncing bomb................................................/ Lincoln Mk.30A For RAAF longer nose and Australian
ASR3 Air Sea Rescue version...................................../ produced Merlin 102 engines.
GR3/MR3. B111 modified for Air Sea Rescue............... / Lincoln Mk.31(GR.31) Reconnaissance version for....
RAAF of Mk.30 with longer nose.
B!V Increased wing span and longer fuselage........... / Lincoinian. Transport derivative similar to the..........
.........with engine variations..................................... / Avro Lancastrian using streamlined fairings.
B.V As B1V with 2 stage Merlin 85s......................... / Lincoln ASR.3 Initial designation for the..................
B.V1 Nine aircraft converted from B111s giving.......... / Avro Shackleton which was based on the Lincoln.
........improved high altitude performance................... / .........................................................................
B.V11 Final production version with improved ............. / .........................................................................
.........weapons........................................................ / .........................................................................
B.X Canadian built B.111 with own modifications....... / .........................................................................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Specification:
Lancaster 1 Lincoln1
Crew 7 ------------------------------------/---------------------- 7............................................
Length 69' 4'' (21.11m)---------------------- /----------------------78' 3'' (23.86m)...................
Span 102' 0'' (31.09m)---------------------- /----------------------120' 0'' (36.58m)...................
Height 20' 6'' (6.25m )-----------------------/----------------------17' 3.5'' (5.27m)....................
Weight Loaded 55,000 lb (24,948kg)-------------------/----------------------43,400lb (19,686kg)................
Weight Max t/o 68,000lb (30,844kg)-------------------/---------------------- 82,000lb (37,195kg)...............
Power 4x R.R Merlin XX V12 engines---------/---------------------- 4x R.R Merlin 85V engines..........
Speed Max 282mph (246kts) @ 63,000lb---------/---------------------- 319mph (513k/h) @ 18,800ft->
/ (5,730m).
Cruise 200mph (174kts)----------------------/-----------------------215mph (346k/h)....................
Range 2530mi (4073 km)--------------------/-----------------------2930mi 4714(km)..................
The Lancastrian
..................................................Crew 5........................................................................
..................................................Capacity 9 passengers........................................................
..................................................Payload Mail 3,560kg..............................................................
..................................................Length 76' 10'' (33.4m)...................................................
..................................................Wingspan 102' 0'' (31.1m)...................................................
..................................................Height 19' 6'' (5.9m)....................................................
..................................................Weight Empty 30,423lb (13,800kg)............................................
..................................................Weight Loaded 64,991lb (29,480kg)............................................
..................................................Power 4x RR Merlin12 piston engines..............................
..................................................Max Speed 310 mph(499km/h)@5000ft(1,524m)...................
..................................................Range 4,150m (6677 km).............................................
..................................................Ceiling 23,000ft (7,010m)..............................................
..................................................Rate of Climb 750ft min230 (m/min).........................................
Continued
The Avro Lancaster:
During WWII the sight of a Lancaster on the ground at Blackbushe would have been a fairly regular occurrence as the mighty bomber's wheels found friendly tarmac after another mission over enemy lands. Although the Lancaster was never based at
RAF Hartford Bridge during the war, in those days the airfield provided a safe haven for wartime crews returning from combat operations when an urgent need for an early diversion dictated. Often return to their home base had not proved possible for a number of reasons such as aircraft damage, shortage of fuel ,weather diversion or all manner of aircraft serviceability problems.
After their active service there were many of the type still left guarding our skies in peace time and some of these found their way to Blackbushe on operational and more pleasurable pursuits such as transport to and from visits to the Farnborough Airshow and even in one case for home-based duty. That aircraft was Lancaster B.II NX739 which the Ministry of Supply placed in the charge of Eagle Airways to operate on their behalf as a photographic platform.
That mighty Lancaster would always catch my eye as I cycled up from my home in Basingstoke on another visit to watch the daily aircraft movements at the airfield as an avid aircraft enthusiast in the mid 1950's.
Having been designed by Avro's designer Roy Chadwick as a heavy bomber it first flew on January 9th 1941 having been developed from the earlier Avro Manchester. Powered by four Rolls Royce Merlin engines it first saw RAF service with Bomber Command and it was soon in action participating in the strategic bombing offensive throughout Europe. It became the principal RAF bomber being operated not only by the RAF but also Canadian squadrons and by Commonwealth and European crews serving within the RAF in the latter half of the war. It over-shadowed contemporaries such as the Halifax and Stirling and in total there were 7,377 Lancasters built of different marks. With the addition of USAAF B17's the allied bomber force proved too much for the enemy with huge damage being caused throughout Europe.
The Avro Lancastrian:
The civil Avro Lancastrian was developed as a fast long - range airliner to be used on trans - Atlantic passenger flights and for postal deliveries during the 1940s and 50's. A British South American Airlines Lancastrian made the first schedule flight out of London Heathrow Airport in March 1946.
Basically a much modified Lancaster, without armament and armour but having modified more streamlined nose and tail cone the Lancastrian started life as a conversion of the Lancaster X undertaken by Victory Aircraft in Canada ( later became Avro Canada ) and was used by Trans-Canadian Airlines. Having proved a success a further eight redundant Lancasters were converted and were used by TCA on their Montreal to Prestwick service.
British built deliveries from Avro were underway in 1945 with an order for thirty aircraft for BOAC who used them on the England to Australia route. Being fast with a cruise speed of about 220 mph (354 km/h) it still took three days plus to reach it's destination. Being a converted bomber space in the cabin was very restricted being available to transport only small numbers of VIP passengers. However, there was plenty of space in the redundant bomb bay for extra, long-range fuel tanks and some freight.
In addition to BOAC the aircraft were used by civil airlines; Qantas in Australia and by Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina as well as by TCA in Canada and Alitalia in Italy. In the UK British European Airways, British South American Airways, Silver City, Skyways and Flight Refuelling were all operators.
The RAF had a total of forty one comprising 33x nine seater C.2s and 8x ten to thirteen seat C.4s operated by 24Sqn,231 Sqn and232 Sqn some of which were converted as engine test beds.
The Avro Lincoln:
A British four engined heavy bomber the Avro Lincoln was to become the last piston-engined bomber operated by the RAF. Although WWII ended before the bomber was called into action production proceeded in numbers replacing it's predecessor the Avro Lancaster. The type saw saw service in operations against the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya and in joint operations with the Australian Air Force Lincolns during the Malayan Emergency. In addition the type also saw significant service with the RAAF and Argentine Air Force as well as for use in various engine tests and the 'Napier' icing trials.
Nearly 600 Lincolns were constructed following a successful first flight at Ringway Airport, Manchester on June 9th 1944 and in February 1945 following successful trials the first production Lincoln was completed.
Lincoln RF332 replaced the faithful Lancaster operated by Eagles at Blackbushe on 20.1.57 for aerial photography purposes.
Variants:
Lancaster Lincoln
B1 Produced with MerlinXX engines.Minor mods........../ 3x prototypes......................................................
.......made throughout production runs......................../ Lincoln.1 RAF long range bomber. 4x RR merlin 85.
B1 Special. 32 aircraft modified to take the 'Tall.........../ Lincoln.11 Built by Avro,Armstrong -Whitworth and
.......Boy' and 'Grand Slam' bombs plus other mods....../ Vickers-Metropolitan.
PR.1 Photo Reconnaissance version. No armament......../ Lincoln. 111 Maritime reconnaissance and anti- ......
.......and turrets removed........................................../ submarine version.
B1(FE) A tropicalised version for anticipated use.........../ Lincoln.1V Lincoln.11 converted to Merlin 85 power.
...........against the Japanese and in the Far East........../ Lincoln U.5 Lincoln.11 converted to drone aircraft,...
B11 300 produced with Bristol Hercules engines........./ only 2 converted.
.........and additional armament modifications............../ Lincoln Mk.15(B.XV) Only one aircraft built by.........
B111 Fitted with Packard Merlin engines...................../ Viceroy Aircraft in Canada.
B111 Special. 23 aircraft built to carry the 'Upkeep'..... / Lincoln Mk.30 Long range version for RAAF.............
........bouncing bomb................................................/ Lincoln Mk.30A For RAAF longer nose and Australian
ASR3 Air Sea Rescue version...................................../ produced Merlin 102 engines.
GR3/MR3. B111 modified for Air Sea Rescue............... / Lincoln Mk.31(GR.31) Reconnaissance version for....
RAAF of Mk.30 with longer nose.
B!V Increased wing span and longer fuselage........... / Lincoinian. Transport derivative similar to the..........
.........with engine variations..................................... / Avro Lancastrian using streamlined fairings.
B.V As B1V with 2 stage Merlin 85s......................... / Lincoln ASR.3 Initial designation for the..................
B.V1 Nine aircraft converted from B111s giving.......... / Avro Shackleton which was based on the Lincoln.
........improved high altitude performance................... / .........................................................................
B.V11 Final production version with improved ............. / .........................................................................
.........weapons........................................................ / .........................................................................
B.X Canadian built B.111 with own modifications....... / .........................................................................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Specification:
Lancaster 1 Lincoln1
Crew 7 ------------------------------------/---------------------- 7............................................
Length 69' 4'' (21.11m)---------------------- /----------------------78' 3'' (23.86m)...................
Span 102' 0'' (31.09m)---------------------- /----------------------120' 0'' (36.58m)...................
Height 20' 6'' (6.25m )-----------------------/----------------------17' 3.5'' (5.27m)....................
Weight Loaded 55,000 lb (24,948kg)-------------------/----------------------43,400lb (19,686kg)................
Weight Max t/o 68,000lb (30,844kg)-------------------/---------------------- 82,000lb (37,195kg)...............
Power 4x R.R Merlin XX V12 engines---------/---------------------- 4x R.R Merlin 85V engines..........
Speed Max 282mph (246kts) @ 63,000lb---------/---------------------- 319mph (513k/h) @ 18,800ft->
/ (5,730m).
Cruise 200mph (174kts)----------------------/-----------------------215mph (346k/h)....................
Range 2530mi (4073 km)--------------------/-----------------------2930mi 4714(km)..................
The Lancastrian
..................................................Crew 5........................................................................
..................................................Capacity 9 passengers........................................................
..................................................Payload Mail 3,560kg..............................................................
..................................................Length 76' 10'' (33.4m)...................................................
..................................................Wingspan 102' 0'' (31.1m)...................................................
..................................................Height 19' 6'' (5.9m)....................................................
..................................................Weight Empty 30,423lb (13,800kg)............................................
..................................................Weight Loaded 64,991lb (29,480kg)............................................
..................................................Power 4x RR Merlin12 piston engines..............................
..................................................Max Speed 310 mph(499km/h)@5000ft(1,524m)...................
..................................................Range 4,150m (6677 km).............................................
..................................................Ceiling 23,000ft (7,010m)..............................................
..................................................Rate of Climb 750ft min230 (m/min).........................................
Continued
