The world's last two flying Lancasters are making a number of appearances over the next couple of months.

Anyone else heading down to Eastbourne for the Airbourne show on Saturday?

Never forget seeing the Lancaster over Derwent Water in the Peak District. Goose-bumps!

Slightly off topic, but there's an excellent story in Guy Martin's autobiography about a Lanc Merlin engine he bought (as you do).

It was mounted on a kind of gurney and could be started and run, but was fitted with a limiter. Naturally, Guy wanted to try it without. Did I mention that it was also fitted with a prop? You can guess what happens when he runs it unrestricted...

Made me laugh, anyway!

Both remaining airworthy Lancasters will be appearing at Wings and Wheels at Dunsfold on 23rd and 24th August.

edit http://www.wingsandwheels.net/whatson/wings.html

Not planning on going to a show, but hoping to see them fly over en route between some shows. I believe they are also at one in Northampton on Sunday.

On my birthday one of them flew over my house very low and did a few turns before heading back down south. Ofcourse my friends & family (at my BBQ) insisted they had arranged it but it was actually the one from the Queens birthday flypast

There was a modest air display at Bruntingthorpe this weekend, in the lunchtime break of the Adsa "on your marks" charity day. There was a gorgeous Spitfire displaying and it got me thinking about finding somewhere to see the two Lancasters flying together.

For some reason, tickets are sold out for the day at the Lincolnshire Aviation Museum, where the near-airworthy Lanc will be joined by the UK and Canadian Lancs

I have a tenuous affinity - my Uncle Noel (at age 21) was a radio operator on Lancaster NF918 - he did 30 sorties in late 1944 before being redeployed. The plane was shot down with the loss of all hands just a couple of months later - chilling stuff

On the subject of Lancasters.

http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/06/06/2014...ster-bomber.htm

My uncle was the tail gunner in a bomber but I think it was a Wellington (must check with my dad). He was shot down and was a PoW.

What a story!

One of the last 2 flying Lancasters is here in Canada and is supposed to meet up with the other one in the UK. Just had some engine problems that delayed the flight but apparently everything is fgixed now. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/n...-tour-1.2730376

I was lucky enough to board the last remaining Halifax a few years ago. Sadly, it is not a flyer. It is exhibited at the Trenton Air Force Museum in Trenton, Ontario.

My wife's Grandfather was a Wellington pilot. He was shot down over the Straits of Gibraltar in 1944. They were on 'search and destroy' U-boat duties but were shot down by an Me 109. 3 crew members died. Of the surviving 3, 2 were picked up by a British Navy vessel but he got picked up by a Moroccan fishing boat. He spent 10 days in Tangier before being repatriated.

He was then sent on survivors leave and during that time my wife's Mum was conceived

When he died we found all his logbooks. Made fascinating reading. We donated them to the Imperial War Museum.

My godfather was a ground mechanic for Lancs first in Canada and then at Scampton... when I was a kid the speed controller on my train set was the lighting dimmer panel from a Lancaster!

My father was a Lancaster navigator. He was shot down and killed on a Berlin raid before I was born.

The link Countrycruising gave is the same man who started the Lincolnshire Aviation Museum. I met him a couple of times. Unfortunately he died last year before he could see his Lanc take to the air.

As we spoke, Joe - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-28756779

Thanks Neil

Just for you... here is a pic I took of one which flew into Fairford at RIAT this year.

They are amazing aircraft, I remember a few months back the English Lancaster was due to fly in to Biggen hill and I managed to park up at the end of the field as she came in, a memory I will not forget in a hurry. Looking forward to seeing them both at the wings and wheels event!

they are both at Biggin Hill now. Should fly over my house on route to Eastbourne and Headcorn.. Should make an awesome sight and sound. I'm sure a ME109 flew over 2 weeks ago. Remember thinking 'Where's a Spitfire when you need one'

I'm certainly hoping to get out and see these tomorrow, although I'm not planning to actually attend either of the local shows. Someone has pointed me at this page which I'm hoping will give ETD/ETA for the SE flights tomorrow, so from there should be able to pick an approximate route out and go see.

ETA - Martin, that site suggests that on Sunday they will fly 2Lancs/Hurri/Spit/Dak - although sadly I will be in E Anglia then!

Great video and terrific to see though I wish she would shut up so we could hear them! I saw the BOB Memorial Flight one come up the River Dart for the Dartmouth regatta years ago. Spine-tingling - the whole valley shook so I can't imagine what a pair sound like! My Dads cousin was in 617 squadron (The Dambusters) and was on the raids on the Tirpitz in Lancasters. The squadron have an online flight log which list every detail

I went down to Lashenden (Headcorn) this afternoon and was treated to multiple flypasts of both the Lancs and the Spit and Hurricane accompanying them. No sign of the Dak posted on the BBMF page.

All 4 planes flew in to start, then the Lancs peeled off somewhere out of sight/hearing and the 2 fighters played around with some rolls and steep climbs for a little while. Then the Lancs came back around and made several low passes in formation, nothing too dramatic although they were fairly low (maybe 500ft?) so the visuals were fantastic! After that they all formed up again out to the east, overflew the runway and broke away north-ish, which would tie in with the Southend destination.

Just as I arrived the Vampire turned up, bloody hell that thing is quick, and after one circuit it took a pass over the runway at not much more than treetop height, so much so that where I was about 1/4 mile away you couldn't see it until it suddenly appeared above 10/28, screaming across the airfield.

All very impressive, and a lot of people turned out to watch too.

By pure chance I was in Canvey Island today and just as I was pulling into the car park I was treated to a low level flypast by both Lancs.

Fantastic sound and a beautiful sight, one that will probably never be repeated.

That was exactly my thought as they departed Headcorn...

Which is the reason I've bought tickets for Wings and Wheels for the Saturday

The Dakota was there at Eastbourne; about fifteen minutes behind the Lancasters, not in the same formation.

And yes, that Vampire was *quick*... but the Eurofighter is in a different league. It's very odd - it never quite looks as if it's flying aerodynamically but as if it's vectoring thrust. The Mach 0.95 flypast was *most* impressive!



(Sorry about the picture quality; I don't do enough of this sort of thing to make the bigger lens a sensible buy!)

Went down from Hemel to Eastbourne in the kit. Google maps said 'two hours five minutes in current traffic'. Four and a bit hours later we were watching the P51 Mustang from the traffic jam a mile away... the Red Arrows had started before we got in to park. Getting home, ambling, took an hour and fifty.

Superb!....(with the Vulcan)

Just noticed this thread. I went to Waddington to see the 2 Lancs and the Vulcan. The two Lancs taxiing in was quite a sight. A couple of pics if anyone is interested:

Vera arriving


Another of Vera


All three Avros

Blimey, I think a post from you is almost as rare as a Lancaster! Nice to see you back... Great pics too...

Saw the Vulcan and The Lancaster a few weeks ago at the Newcastle Festival of Flight, Co. Down, along with the Red Arrows, Canberra, Meteor & the Typhoon. No Hunter this year. Great day though.

The Red Arrows passed over our house about 10 times at less than 200 feet as they banked back towards the main promenade

Apart from Jimbo's rather special ones, those are the best Red Arrows pics I've seen on here. Nice!

Thanks!