Lanc and Vulcan news - XH558

 

 

9th January 1941 – The maiden flight of the Avro Lancaster

 

Saturday 9th January - 75th anniversary of maiden flight.     XH558 with the BBMF Lancaster ‘Thumper’ at RAF Waddington in 2014. Just 11 years separates the Lancaster’s maiden flight in 1941 to that of the Vulcan in 1952. Picture courtesy of Neil Cave.     With the outbreak of WWII, Britain’s aircraft industry stepped up development work to provide faster and more capable fighters and bombers. The Battle of Britain had just been won over the south-eastern approaches, but the war raged on. Developed from the Avro Manchester, adding a longer wingspan and four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines under the design-lead of Roy Chadwick, Avro were able to fly the first Lancaster by 9th January 1941; production aircraft entering active RAF service and the war effort by March the following year - proving just how successful the design was.   Today, only two Avro Lancaster’s are airworthy. One in Britain and one in Canada, although another based at East Kirkby, ‘Just Jane’ is subject to plans for a return-to-flight providing all technical issues are overcome and sufficient funding is found. We wish them well and are following their progress with huge admiration and interest.     FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ‘JUST JANE’ NX611 & THE EAST KIRKBY EXPERIENCE HERE       Roy Chadwick – 1893-1947   As Chief Designer and then Technical Director for Avro, by early 1946, Roy Chadwick had already sketched the initial concept drawings for what would become the Avro Vulcan, an aircraft unlike anything seen before, utilising the very latest jet engine technology in an untried Delta wing configuration, that would first take flight in 1952. Roy Chadwick and his team were ‘innovators’ - the same type of inspirational thinking XH558 will help promote moving forward as we develop plans for her future and The ETNA Centre. Find out more about Roy Chadwick and Avro as a company in our  AVRO VULCAN BOOK – AVAILABLE HERE

 

 

Why a Mosquito return-to-flight will be important for the U.K.     Another aircraft with only a handful of airworthy examples is the De Havilland Mosquito, which a few weeks ago in late November, marked its own 75th anniversary of first flight.   Right now, there is the chance that one example may return to flight in the UK and, as mentioned last year, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust is working with the team at ‘The Peoples Mosquito’ in helping them progress their own project.     “To see one flying again will be a gift to our heritage,” says Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown as he talks about the vital role the Mosquito played in the war and his experience of landing one on an aircraft carrier in this fascinating video produced by The People’s Mosquito.     FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ‘THE PEOPLES MOSQUITO’ HERE

The Red Arrows and XH558 formation at Southport from a different angle

 

Taken from the rear seat of one of the Red Arrows, this video gives a totally different and fascinating perspective to the final meeting of XH558 and The Red Arrows which took place at Southport Air Festival towards the end of last season. Our thanks to the RAF display team for allowing us to show you this footage, which also shows a superb view of the Hawks breaking formation to the downwind position ahead of their landing later that day.

Forgive ne for this, but I just had to add this private picture of mine taken at Farnborough, July 2010. Per Gram Blog editor

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