Flying Aircraft of WWII

evangilder · 12-30-2004, 11:41 AM

That's probably not far off. They are very maintenance intensive airplanes. Plus the CAF is very meticulous at making sure that everything is just right. Any doubt at all and the plane stays on the ground.

Nonskimmer · 12-30-2004, 11:44 AM

It's a good thing they're meticulous. Priceless pieces of history should always be treated as such!

evangilder · 12-30-2004, 11:53 AM

Absolutely. Losing a rare warbird is terrible, but it is a bigger tragedy to lose one of your friends because someone missed something. Good example, our crew that works the Zero was noticing some brake wear, so they made the necessary hardware changes and adjustments. They taxi tested that plane probably 10-15 times to make sure that the brakes were working absolutely correct. Keep in mind that the braking system on the Zero is really small and really insufficient. Anyway, after all of that, they put the Zeek up on jacks, and ran through the full range of gear retraction tests, only to find that the original restorers had used paint instead of lock-tite to secure the gear release switches. So when they went to put the gear back down, one wheel stayed up!

Further inspection found that both gear release switches were bolted on with screws that were only finger tight! So I asked the crew chief how much is involved for pre-flight on that bird. His reply..."20 hours"!!! So for a typical air show flight of about an hour, there is 20 hours of inspection to make sure that EVERYTHING is in top shape or no go. That sure was an eye opener!

the lancaster kicks ass · 12-30-2004, 02:13 PM

the BBMF also keep good check on their aircraft, particularily on the lanc, for obvious reasons..............

evangilder · 12-30-2004, 09:33 PM

Yep, like I said, it's a shame to lose a rare warbird, but when you lose people it is an even bigger tragedy. Although we have a running joke in the CAF "If you're going to crash it, don't bother bailing out because if you do and we find you, we'll kill you."! When you think the amount of time, sweat, blood and cursing that went into the airplane just to get it into the sky, it's easy to see why they are so meticulous with them. Plus I heard that the Lancaster keel was never designed to last as long as the remaining aircraft have, so they have to watch that closely. It is very similar to the wing roots on the B-17. Seems they are always rechecking those.

the lancaster kicks ass · 12-31-2004, 01:31 PM

they've even put in a second fly-by-wire in PA474 incase the primary controlls fail

it really is impossible to put a price on either flying lanc, however PA474 will fetch more.................

Nonskimmer · 12-31-2004, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evangilder

...we have a running joke in the CAF "If you're going to crash it, don't bother bailing out because if you do and we find you, we'll kill you."!

Words to the wise, eh?

the lancaster kicks ass · 12-31-2004, 01:57 PM

yes that's rather funny.............

Concorde247 · 03-23-2005, 06:13 AM

IWM at Duxford have the only airworthy sea hurricane in existance,

They are also restoring a short sunderland, and an avro York to airworthyness.

They also have a lanc, but i think its static display only. they are also restoring a gloster Gladiator, Avro anson and a Sea Fury to airworthy condition!!

The BBMF Lancaster had its mainspar replaced a couple of years ago, so it should keep flying for many years to come. It doesnt suffer the same stresses as a wartime Lanc, due to not having to have a full crew, ammunition, bomb load and full fuel tanks.

the lancaster kicks ass · 03-23-2005, 12:46 PM

the main spar on the BBMF lanc is replaced every 6 years, and she's given a new paint scheme at the same time...........

and the shuttleworth collection has a airworthy sea hurricane also..........

Concorde247 · 03-23-2005, 01:13 PM

I think the Shuttleworth Hurricane & the one at Duxford are the same machine. Shuttleworth own it, but its kept mostly at Duxford.

i believe that if Shuttleworth ever want to sell it, then they must give duxford 1st refusal.

Do you know if the Lanc at duxford is being restored to flying condition, or is it for static display?

the lancaster kicks ass · 03-24-2005, 05:16 AM

just for static display, it'd be far to much work to get her to fly..........

mosquitoman · 03-24-2005, 11:11 AM

Definitly static, planes owned by the Imperial War Museum are Static, it's all the aircraft companies there who fly aircraft

Concorde247 · 03-25-2005, 01:26 PM

Pity! I'd love to see two or three lancs in the sky at once!!

The surviving Halifax in the RAF museum hendon has been left as it was after being brought up from the bottom of the Norwegian lake cos it would take far too much new metal, time & cost to restore.

the lancaster kicks ass · 03-25-2005, 02:31 PM

well i'm afraid that unless there's one found fully intact and in full working order in the bottom of a lake, the dream of seeing three lancs flying together will never happen, the only chance of seeing two together is this year with the VE day celebrations and even that's not confirmed.........