Avro Lancaster C-GVRA
Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:22 pm
I received this in an email today, and thought that I'd pass it along:
Here's today's shots from the Saskatoon control tower as they gave us acouple of passes, then went to Winnipeg.
There's only two of them still flying in the world and today one of them will fly over Saskatoon.
The Avro Lancaster, one of the most famous bombers of World War 2 will
enter Saskatoon air space around 11am this morning, with a low fly past at
the Airport and then circle around and above the city before leaving for Ontario.
Thousands of Canadian aircrew served with the RCAF and the Lancaster Squadrons.
Over 4 hundred Lancaster MK X's were built in Canada and shipped overseas for flying duty.
And throughout the entire world, only two still fly today, one in England and one in Canada.
The bomber is one hundred and two feet long and just under 70 feet wide.
It can reach top speeds of 2 hundred and 87 miles and hour and has four Rolls Royce Merlin Engines.
The fly past is a tribute pass to our veterans and a farewell salute tothe Cameco Canada Remembers Airshow.
Here's today's shots from the Saskatoon control tower as they gave us acouple of passes, then went to Winnipeg.
There's only two of them still flying in the world and today one of them will fly over Saskatoon.
The Avro Lancaster, one of the most famous bombers of World War 2 will
enter Saskatoon air space around 11am this morning, with a low fly past at
the Airport and then circle around and above the city before leaving for Ontario.
Thousands of Canadian aircrew served with the RCAF and the Lancaster Squadrons.
Over 4 hundred Lancaster MK X's were built in Canada and shipped overseas for flying duty.
And throughout the entire world, only two still fly today, one in England and one in Canada.
The bomber is one hundred and two feet long and just under 70 feet wide.
It can reach top speeds of 2 hundred and 87 miles and hour and has four Rolls Royce Merlin Engines.
The fly past is a tribute pass to our veterans and a farewell salute tothe Cameco Canada Remembers Airshow.
Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:29 pm
fantastic pictures! Thank you for sharing them.
I love seeing that old bird fly. Too bad she wasn't able to visit British Columbia on her nearly all the way across the country trip this summer.
She must have sounded wonderful going by, eh?
Cheers,
David
I love seeing that old bird fly. Too bad she wasn't able to visit British Columbia on her nearly all the way across the country trip this summer.
She must have sounded wonderful going by, eh?
Cheers,
David
Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:31 pm
Great shots, thanks for sharing them. 
I am happy to say I have seen 50% of the worlds flying lancs
Saw her in Reading PA a few years back.
I am happy to say I have seen 50% of the worlds flying lancs
Saw her in Reading PA a few years back.
Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:23 pm
Is that a... no wait... couldn't be... it sure looks like it... dare I say it... a Shell Oil sticker???? Oh my god somebody call the label-nazis quick before the public starts thinking that Lancasters went to war with Shell stickers on the tail. Don't even get me started on that Victoria Cross sticker on the nose.
Oh wait, we can overlook that because the airplane doesn't belong to the CAF.
Seriously, kidding aside, I love the Lanc and thanks for sharing the pics.
- Warbirdcrew the pot-stirrer
Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:45 pm
If it's 102' long and just under 70' wide (sic) they put it back together wrong, should be t'other way round. 
Great photos.
Great photos.
Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:59 pm
Terrific photos, thanks for posting!
Looks like a LOT of dihedral for a not-heavily laden Lanc. Guess that's just the compression effect of the modern telephoto.
Very good dhFan. Maybe they just fly it sideways?
Seriously though, the press coverage in Canada of the Lanc tour, Hawk One, and the many other events across the Great White North (TM) in their Centenary year is a lesson for all of us on how to raise the profile of aviation history and heritage and take the aircraft to the public.
Well done the Canucks! (Where's the Poutine emoticon?
)
Looks like a LOT of dihedral for a not-heavily laden Lanc. Guess that's just the compression effect of the modern telephoto.
Very good dhFan. Maybe they just fly it sideways?
Seriously though, the press coverage in Canada of the Lanc tour, Hawk One, and the many other events across the Great White North (TM) in their Centenary year is a lesson for all of us on how to raise the profile of aviation history and heritage and take the aircraft to the public.
Well done the Canucks! (Where's the Poutine emoticon?
)
Last edited by JDK on Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:22 am
Good gosh, those are fantastic photos of a beautiful machine!
Thanks,
Scott
Thanks,
Scott
Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:22 am
I hadn't noticed the dihedral but since you've mentioned it, it does look like a lot.
Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:33 am
JDK wrote:Terrific photos, thanks for posting!
Looks like a LOT of dihedral for a not-heavily laden Lanc.
Maybe the shot was taken at the bottom of her LOOP???!!!! HAH!!!!
I absolutely love the LANCASTER.., one of my top three favorite aircraft!!
Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:55 am
speaking of dihedral because of load..,
look at curve on these poor Hamiltons on this fully loaded -29 heading for the Empire!!!
look at curve on these poor Hamiltons on this fully loaded -29 heading for the Empire!!!
Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:40 am
Nice Pics! Tower, this is Ghost Rider requesting a flyby!!!
Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:05 pm
i like how the photographer stuck his name and date on those.., you have to look hard!!!!
Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:19 pm
Very subtle! Easy to smudge out IF you notice it, but if a lazy, internet, photo-pirate, you might not notice or bother!!! 
Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:06 pm
From my Canadian friend who flew Halifaxes...
You'll notice the Squadron letters on the a/c; - VR - A.
Those were the letters on the a/c in which Andrew Mynarski, VC, served. Andrew was a Winnipeg boy and, briefly as poss., this is his story.
On a night raid (target I've forgotten) they were attacked and severely damaged by a Night Fighter. Andrew was the Mid-Upper Gunner on that aircraft.
When told to 'Bail Out" he climbed down out of his turret and made for the Escape Hatch. As he was about to exit he saw that his Rear Gunner was trapped in his turret. With the engines out, he'd lost the ability to rotate his Turret and when he'd tried to rotate it using the Crank, the crank had broken so he was "Trapped".
There was Hydraulic Fluid all over the a/c floor and On Fire. Andrew, his clothing also soaked in Hyd. Fluid, went back to try to get his friend out of that turret. He used the Axe and everything he could to try to get him free and finally, his friend said "Get out! Save yourself! I'm stuck!" - or words to that effect.
Finally, Andrew, his clothing aflame, went to the Escape Hatch,
turned around, snapped to Attention and Saluted his friend.
Then, he bailed out.
I needn't try to tell you what would happen if you left an aircraft, doing 140 to 160 mph and dived, flaming, into the night skies. I cannot imagine the torment he endured on that downward fall... but it must have been terrible.
His descent was seen by French folk and they ran to rescue him but he died of his burns about two days later. There's a very important kicker to this story........
This flaming aircraft continued on its way, on a fairly steady downward course and eventually crashed. However, the Rear Turret broke away from the fuselage and tumbled along the ground with Art Brophy, the Rear Gunner, trapped inside.
Art was, eventually, found and released from his turret, alive and well > > more or less......... and of course, told the story of Andrew's selfless attempt to save him.
Accordingly, Andrew was awarded, Posthumously, the Victoria Cross. Now you know the rest of the story and the reason the Canadian Warplane Heritage has marked their Lanc with Andrew's aircrft insignia..
There's one last kicker to this story and it is TRUE.
When Art Brophy removed his leather helmet, after crashing in his Rear Turret,
every hair on his head came off with his helmet.
It has since grown back and I believe he's still alive but am not certain of that. Quite a story - Eh?
I thought you'd enjoy readng about that - and it's all absolutely true. Slainte
You'll notice the Squadron letters on the a/c; - VR - A.
Those were the letters on the a/c in which Andrew Mynarski, VC, served. Andrew was a Winnipeg boy and, briefly as poss., this is his story.
On a night raid (target I've forgotten) they were attacked and severely damaged by a Night Fighter. Andrew was the Mid-Upper Gunner on that aircraft.
When told to 'Bail Out" he climbed down out of his turret and made for the Escape Hatch. As he was about to exit he saw that his Rear Gunner was trapped in his turret. With the engines out, he'd lost the ability to rotate his Turret and when he'd tried to rotate it using the Crank, the crank had broken so he was "Trapped".
There was Hydraulic Fluid all over the a/c floor and On Fire. Andrew, his clothing also soaked in Hyd. Fluid, went back to try to get his friend out of that turret. He used the Axe and everything he could to try to get him free and finally, his friend said "Get out! Save yourself! I'm stuck!" - or words to that effect.
Finally, Andrew, his clothing aflame, went to the Escape Hatch,
turned around, snapped to Attention and Saluted his friend.
Then, he bailed out.
I needn't try to tell you what would happen if you left an aircraft, doing 140 to 160 mph and dived, flaming, into the night skies. I cannot imagine the torment he endured on that downward fall... but it must have been terrible.
His descent was seen by French folk and they ran to rescue him but he died of his burns about two days later. There's a very important kicker to this story........
This flaming aircraft continued on its way, on a fairly steady downward course and eventually crashed. However, the Rear Turret broke away from the fuselage and tumbled along the ground with Art Brophy, the Rear Gunner, trapped inside.
Art was, eventually, found and released from his turret, alive and well > > more or less......... and of course, told the story of Andrew's selfless attempt to save him.
Accordingly, Andrew was awarded, Posthumously, the Victoria Cross. Now you know the rest of the story and the reason the Canadian Warplane Heritage has marked their Lanc with Andrew's aircrft insignia..
There's one last kicker to this story and it is TRUE.
When Art Brophy removed his leather helmet, after crashing in his Rear Turret,
every hair on his head came off with his helmet.
It has since grown back and I believe he's still alive but am not certain of that. Quite a story - Eh?
I thought you'd enjoy readng about that - and it's all absolutely true. Slainte
Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:06 pm
warbirdcrew wrote:
Is that a... no wait... couldn't be... it sure looks like it... dare I say it... a Shell Oil sticker???? Oh my god somebody call the label-nazis quick before the public starts thinking that Lancasters went to war with Shell stickers on the tail. Don't even get me started on that Victoria Cross sticker on the nose.
Oh wait, we can overlook that because the airplane doesn't belong to the CAF.
Seriously, kidding aside, I love the Lanc and thanks for sharing the pics.
- Warbirdcrew the pot-stirrer
They ran it by Ober.......