Lancaster Bomber
- Thread starter Silverfox
- Start date
As a kid growing up in the 60's not far from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, I remember that there used to be an old Lancaster bomber parked up at the entrance to the base. Occasionally you would see airmen out washing and polishing it
The plane fascinated me back then, and still does. Would have been great to have a tour around one
The plane fascinated me back then, and still does. Would have been great to have a tour around one
My Grandad flew in these on active service.
He started in 1940 as a Wireless operator/air gunner in Hudson in 220 sqn (coastal command) when he took part in raids to Norway (Alesund famously) and against german shipping or U-boates if seen.
They converted to Lancasters later in the war which he learnt to fly and after a further 2 tours he went to the US to train Super-fortress crews.
He's gone now, bless him but he used to tell some tall tails. He even had photos to prove some of them, like masts embedded in wings, bombing whales by mistake and even the top turret blown out of a Hudson by flak.
Massive respect to anyone who flew anything in WW2 knowing the odds stacked against them every time they climbed the ladder.
He started in 1940 as a Wireless operator/air gunner in Hudson in 220 sqn (coastal command) when he took part in raids to Norway (Alesund famously) and against german shipping or U-boates if seen.
They converted to Lancasters later in the war which he learnt to fly and after a further 2 tours he went to the US to train Super-fortress crews.
He's gone now, bless him but he used to tell some tall tails. He even had photos to prove some of them, like masts embedded in wings, bombing whales by mistake and even the top turret blown out of a Hudson by flak.
Massive respect to anyone who flew anything in WW2 knowing the odds stacked against them every time they climbed the ladder.
GregZ4 said:
Small world, my dads brother also flew Hudsons in Coastal Command stationed at Iceland and went on to fly Wellingtons as a Sqn Leader, I always remember the story he told me of crash landing on beachy head, he was seriously hurt and his navigator was killed as one props sheared off and sliced through the cabin. He retired from the RAF in 1973. When you think average age was 19/20 they were all heroes. What do 19/20 year olds do today?
Tim.
mad4slalom
Senior member
it was mercedes who built the engines for the opposition, amazes me the technology both sides had inthe late 30's early 40's. the mescherschmit me109 had a 42 litre Inverted v12, dry sump supercharged lump. fuel injection too, and all this within less then 30years after the first powered flight 
We're starting to sound like uncle Albert off fools and horses!
Having said that I do have an old photo of my uncle being greeted as he returned his aircraft (Wellington LV937) after its (not his) 100th trip. I believe one of a very select number of aircraft! It ended its flying by being soc at the end of the war.
Having said that I do have an old photo of my uncle being greeted as he returned his aircraft (Wellington LV937) after its (not his) 100th trip. I believe one of a very select number of aircraft! It ended its flying by being soc at the end of the war.
mad4slalom
Senior member
oops I may have ment daimler benz , but youy know what i mean 
mad4slalom said:it was mercedes who built the engines for the opposition, amazes me the technology both sides had inthe late 30's early 40's. the mescherschmit me109 had a 42 litre Inverted v12, dry sump supercharged lump. fuel injection
Didn't BMW make aero engines? - I was always told that the blue and white segments symbolised a spinning prop :?
I do know that Mercedes three pointed star was to represent the motive force for Land, Sea and Air!
I've just checked and yes they did concentrate their efforts to produce aero engines!
mad4slalom
Senior member
unfortunately, no spitfire is permited to take fare paying passengers, the route to a spit is as someone said on here , learn to fly in a biplane, then a harvard then a spit , dont know how long or how much money it would cost. they say there are ways around it , they give you a free ride and you buy a t shirt for two grand ,maybe a myth. shows you how priviliged clarkson and the boys from top gear were to fly in such an iconic plane. talking of planes watched the red arrows from a boat at fowey regatta last night, absolutelt stunning, what a show and what skill
The wife and I went for a ride in a 3/4 size Boeing PT-17 biplane on floats in Puget sound a few years ago. The pilot got around the FAA regulations by selling a newsletter for $50. The 30 minute plane ride was free.
My Father (RIP) and I are both retired US Air Force. As a get well present for my father after recovering from losing a kidney to cancer. I bought the both of us a ride in a Boeing B-17 flying fortress. What an awesome experience that was. Makes one realize how brave those air crews were. That was a big plane by the standards of the day. But that thing is quite small when you climb inside. The view from the perspex nose cone bombardiers position is to die for. And sticking my head out of the top hatch just before the bomb bay was pretty cool as well. It was the best $500 I've ever spent. My dad was pretty excited and I'm grateful to have shared it with him.
Then to make a great day even better. Both my cousins in Portland Or. have built Vans rv 7's. One is the check ride/ test pilot for Van's. So. After the B-17 ride. My dad and I went for rides in the Van's. Imagine my excitement when my cousin asks if I wanted a good view of Mt. St. Helen's volcano. Apparently the best view is obtained by flying inverted over the crater. So that's what we did. Holy crap. That was scary and a blast at the same time.
My Father (RIP) and I are both retired US Air Force. As a get well present for my father after recovering from losing a kidney to cancer. I bought the both of us a ride in a Boeing B-17 flying fortress. What an awesome experience that was. Makes one realize how brave those air crews were. That was a big plane by the standards of the day. But that thing is quite small when you climb inside. The view from the perspex nose cone bombardiers position is to die for. And sticking my head out of the top hatch just before the bomb bay was pretty cool as well. It was the best $500 I've ever spent. My dad was pretty excited and I'm grateful to have shared it with him.
Then to make a great day even better. Both my cousins in Portland Or. have built Vans rv 7's. One is the check ride/ test pilot for Van's. So. After the B-17 ride. My dad and I went for rides in the Van's. Imagine my excitement when my cousin asks if I wanted a good view of Mt. St. Helen's volcano. Apparently the best view is obtained by flying inverted over the crater. So that's what we did. Holy crap. That was scary and a blast at the same time.
Was just outside my old junior school at Scampton. We were allowed to go in it on occasion - they're very crampedSwiftly said:
If anyone wants to go in one, closest you could probably get is at East Kirkby in Lincolnshire - you can book a taxi ride in their Lancaster. They are looking at getting it airworthy, so any profits go towards that. linky if you want further details (they have a piston and props event on Bank Holiday Monday ...)
ronk said:
That's a shame Ronk. The guys that fly the "aluminum overcast" have a great way to honor the vets. During the preflight safety brief. They asked if there were any vets from WWII. There were none. Korea? none. Vietnam? My father raised his hand. The crew then said to him. Your seat is in the cockpit just behind the pilot for take off and landing. And then they thanked both of us for our service. That was a very nice touch. They didn't need to do that. They however wanted to do that. Well done to the crew.