And the world welcomes a second taxiing Lancaster Bomber

[peter]

FM159 TAXIS FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!!!!

Mk X Lancaster FM 159 taxied under her own power last evening (April 22, 2014).
We had her out to test the repairs on the #2 engine. John Phillips and Greg Morrison discussed it and decided that to attempt it. With Brian Taylor as Engineer and Greg in the pilot's seat, we fired up 159, all four engines were eager to shake off the winter cob webs and all engines ran very well. With all four engines purring at 1000 RPM, the brakes were released and 159 began to roll... an immediate brake application and she came to a halt. Brakes released again, she rolled a total of about 20 ft with moderate brake applications. With the limited room, that's about all we can do with her! I would like to thank our Lanc Crew for making this possible.

I would also like to pass on a thank you to Craig Brookhouse of CWH for his help in answering all of my questions about taxing a Lanc.

A VERY BIG THANK YOU HAS TO GO OUT TO ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS, with out your support we would not be able to do any of this! THANK YOU!!!!

Yes, we will taxi her again, she won't taxi at every event this summer but we will do our best!
Greg Morrison,
Director BCMC

[sandiego89]

Great news, well done to all!

[Warbird Kid]

Great to hear! So now the next logical step would be to lease some land for a runway and start some high speed taxi passes right?

[Tony C]

Excellent news, can't have too many taxiable Lancasters!
Congratulations to all concerned.

Tony

[peter]

Hopefully someone takes video next time

[hang the expense]

That is really neat you guys.Kudos to you all.

[DH82EH]

Yes indeed, congratulations all around.

I've been to Nanton a few times and there is not a lot of spare real estate to move around in front of the hangar.

Well done!

Andy

[peter]

[Thomas_Mac]

That's outstanding! Are the wheels, tires and brakes still all Lancaster equipment?

[peter]

Yes Thomas they are but eventually when it comes time to replace the tires due to age, there will be some upgrading done.

[peter]

Video footage of her moving under her own power...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5mwF4t2SyQ

[peter]

Seeing her airworthy would be fantastic but it is not currently on the card's. The crew are busy getting her taxiiable and going through and restoring alot of the aircrafts systems to bring them back to life. She now has to date, operational bombdoors, flaps, wheel brakes landing and nav lights, interior lighting all four merlin engines and there are plans to red the interior in stages starting later this year..

[CoastieJohn]

That is pretty fascinating. Good job to the team slowly bringing it back to life. Maybe one day she'll get airborne.