Lancaster Bomber

Hello all.

The following posts are my tribute to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight BBMF.  The flight, based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire are the guardians of our old war horses from WW2.  From the spirited Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane they have the majestic Lancaster and the workhorse of the troop carrier command, the Dakota.

These planes are maintained and flown to remind future generations of the sacrifices made by 'the few' so we may enjoy our liberty today.  They also bring a lump to the throat to the older generation, including myself, when you hear the roar of the Merlins and see these wonderful icons fly overhead.

Living now in Lincolnshire I am privileged to be able to see the flight quite often.  During the summer display months they are a regular and welcome sight over my house as they transit to and from the various displays.  I also pop down to BBMF display and museum at Coningsby and enjoy a casual tour around the BBMF Hangar.  If you are lucky you can see them test flying !

I have no favourite, they are all special and a pleasure to photograph.  Here are a few of my photo's..

Todays post is all about the magnificent Avro Lancaster...

I love this picture.  My Son and my Father.
Dad is teaching Ollie about the famous Lancaster
This is actually 'Just Jane', the Lancaster housed at East kirkby airfield but i felt she belonged to the Lancaster thread.

'Just Jane' on the apron at East Kirkby
Looking skywards...where many had gone before

'Just Jane' hangared.

How many rivets ?

The BBMF Lancaster PA 474
This year she is wearing the colour scheme of 'Thumper Mk III' which flew
with No 617 Squadron from late 1943 until the end of the Second World War.
Here I've caught her on a murky grey day!

Here she is again captured on a test flight over Coningsby

You can almost hear the roar of those Merlins in this shot

Here it is the start of the display season and the BBMF are doing a test display to get their 'Display air worthiness certificate'.  'Thumper Mk III is just leaving the runway as the Dakota prepares for take off in the background

The Lancaster awaits taxying permission as the Dakota flys down the centre line

...permission granted she taxys to the end of the runway...the Dakota making another pass

The old and the new.
PA 474 Thumper MkIII parked infront of the ulta modern high tech Euro Fighter, the Typhoon

1944..?

Summer is here and she is wowing the crowds with low level passes

another display...another pass

The colour scheme is clearly visable in this shot as she fly's in a cloudless sky

Just Jane beginning a taxy run for 8 lucky passengers..

Just Jane inward bound at East Kirkby

The nose art on Just jane

Side profile

Cockpit window open on 'Thumper Mk III' with Pilot controls visible
This shot is taken at Coningsby