Rare Lancaster Bomber Latest Addition To AirVenture 2006 | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.06.24

Airborne-NextGen-04.30.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.01.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers--05.02.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.03.24

Tue, May 09, 2006

Rare Lancaster Bomber Latest Addition To AirVenture 2006

Gulp! Only 76 Days To Go!!

All the ANN'ers are already counting the days before AirVenture 2006 gets underway in Oshkosh, WI. As is tradition, we're all looking forward to it with our usual mix of childlike wonderment and anticipation... along with a gulp-inducing "to-do" list that seems to double hourly... especially this year! (More on that to come -- a grinning Ed.)

Of course, the folks at the EAA can relate to that, a hundred times over... and they continue to whet appetites of aero-enthusiasts all over with the latest announcement of another rare aircraft that will be on display at Wittman Field.

EAA told Aero-News Monday that one of just two Lancaster bombers left flying anywhere in world will be part of EAA AirVenture 2006. This World War II bomber, from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, will be in Oshkosh for the 54th annual EAA fly-in convention, The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration, on July 24-30.

The Lancaster bomber -- which has not been seen at Oshkosh since 1989 -- combines with the Commemorative Air Force's B-29 "FIFI" and B-24 "Diamond Lil," and up to five B-17s to create an unprecedented "Big Bomber Reunion" at this year's event. 

"The legendary World War II warbirds are always among the favorites of AirVenture visitors, and you will not see these great airplanes together anywhere but Oshkosh," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman. "With the confirmed appearance of the Lancaster from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, all the great Allied bombers will be on display at AeroShell Square this year. It's another reason you've got to be here this year."

The bombers will be on display throughout AirVenture week on the showcase AeroShell Square and participate in the expanded Warbirds air shows during the week. The "Big Bomber Reunion" will be an extraordinary part of these shows, as these aircraft have not been flying in the same location for decades.

The Lancaster, C-GVRA, was one of the 422 Mk X models built at Victory Aircraft in Canada between 1943 and 1945. It saw service with the No. 107 Rescue Unit at Torbay, Newfoundland as a maritime patrol/search and rescue aircraft until retired by the RCAF in 1964.

Lancasters were powered by four Rolls Royce or Packard-built Merlin engines and was the only aircraft capable of carrying the 22,000-lb. "Grand Slam" bomb. Between 1942 and VE Day (May 8, 1945), Lancasters participated in 156,000 sorties and delivered two-thirds of Bomber Command's total bomb weight. The Lancaster won a place for itself in history with the daring and precise bombing raids on the Mohne and Eder dams in May 1943 and with the sinking of the German battleship Tirpitz, in a well-defended Norwegian fjord. Of the 7,366 Lancasters built during World War II, only two are still flying today.

The Lancaster was acquired from the Goderich Legion in 1977, with assistance from the Sully Foundation. Following a lengthy restoration, it flew again on September 24, 1988. The aircraft is painted in the wartime Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) markings of the 419 Squadron, unit code VR-A aircraft in which P/O Andrew Mynarski of Winnipeg was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for attempting to rescue the trapped rear gunner from his blazing turret.

The Lancaster's appearance at Oshkosh was made possible through the assistance and participation of EAA's Canadian members, led by EAA Chapter 1410 of High River, Alberta.

FMI: www.airventure.org, www.warplane.com, www.eaa.org

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.05.24): Omnidirectional Approach Lighting System

Omnidirectional Approach Lighting System ODALS consists of seven omnidirectional flashing lights located in the approach area of a nonprecision runway. Five lights are located on t>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.05.24)

"Polaris Dawn, the first of the program’s three human spaceflight missions, is targeted to launch to orbit no earlier than summer 2024. During the five-day mission, the crew >[...]

Airborne 05.06.24: Gone West-Dick Rutan, ICON BK Update, SpaceX EVA Suit

Also: 1800th E-Jet, Uncle Sam Sues For Landing Gear, Embraer Ag Plane, Textron Parts A friend of the family reported that Lt. Col. (Ret.) Richard Glenn Rutan flew west on Friday, M>[...]

Airborne 05.03.24: Advanced Powerplant Solutions, PRA Runway Woes, Drone Racing

Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.06xx.24)

“Our aircrews are trained and capable of rapidly shifting from operational missions to humanitarian roles. We planned to demonstrate how we, and our BORSTAR partners, respond>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC