CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE LANCASTER - 2014 UK TOUR

[CWH Museum]

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWH) is pleased to announce that they will be flying their prized Avro Lancaster to England this August for a month long visit. The Lancaster will join the only other airworthy Lancaster in the world, owned and operated by the Royal Air Force's renowned Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), and participate in several events and activities while overseas.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Lancaster will depart from Hamilton, Ontario on August 4th and plan to arrive in England on August 8th. The North Atlantic crossing will include en-route stops at Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada, Narsarsuaq, Greenland, and Keflavik, Iceland, prior to arriving at the BBMF, RAF Coningsby. Shortly after arriving, the Lancaster will undergo a scheduled maintenance inspection and then the CWH crews will complete a short training program with the BBMF in preparation to participate in several air displays and fly pasts with the BBMF Lancaster and fighters starting on August 14th.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's Lancaster will also conduct a limited number of UK Bomber Membership flights from Humberside Airport while in England. This all inclusive membership includes the opportunity to be a crew member for a 30 minute flight in the Lancaster over selected historic airfields and bases of Lincolnshire, which is often referred to as Bomber County because of the number of Bomber Command Squadrons based there during the Second World War. The membership flights are limited to only 75 (that's 15 flights with 5 UK Bomber Membership crew on board each trip). This is a "Once in a Lanc Time” opportunity and will not be available again.

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum President and CEO, Sqn Ldr (Ret.) David G. Rohrer C.D. who is a current Lancaster pilot, indicated that this year, "a rare window of opportunity was identified to bring the last two flying Lancasters in the world together as a special salute to all the veterans of Bomber Command, many of whom are in their late 80's or older now." It is also an opportunity for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum to fly together and showcase a flying display and tribute to all those who served in the time of need, in Canada, England, and the entire Commonwealth that likely will never be seen again.

Further details and information on the UK Bomber Memberships can be found at http://www.warplane.com. A schedule of the entire trip will be finalized in the near future and released.

[JDK]

Glad to see this is now official. It'll be a great effort.

[Fleet16b]

Wonderful News
I am glad to to hear confirmation of what was a highly anticipated event
Such a rare opportunity for the world to see two Lancasters flying together
It would have been great if Just Jane could join them but perhaps we will see three Lancs run up and or taxi together
Lets hope that arrangements can be made in the UK to help as many vets as possible see the pair together
Well done !!!!
A big thank you to all that are involved in making this historic event possible

[Warbird Kid]

I thought about this idea for awhile. Glad to see it actually happening!

[Thomas_Mac]

I really hope there is going to be a documentary made for this trip!

[peter]

Something that has been wished and hoped for on both sides of the pond since she took her first tentative leap into the air back in 1988. I wish her a safe journey to the UK and look forward to seeing two lanc's back in the air together!!

[Warbird Kid]

Maybe in a few years the BBMF will repay the favor and visit North America?

[CWH Museum]

Canadian Warplane Heritage CEO & President Dave Rohrer speaks about the 2014 UK Tour:

http://www.chch.com/museums-lancaster-tour-u-k/

[Mike]

What is the planned duration of the visit?

[Warbird Kid]

Would be neat if they took the Dakota along as the support ship.

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Dan K]

Maybe in a few years the BBMF will repay the favor and visit North America?

No doubt about it, since we (The Correct Side of the Pond) will simply hold the Typhoon hostage until both Lancs arrive.

[Thomas_Mac]

Would be neat if they took the Dakota along as the support craft.

Which one though?

[Grikka]

fantastic news...now to pick a dAte in august to go and see these beauties in the air together....and if someone can wave a magic wand and get "just jane" up too we will make it 3

not sure the missus will let me part with £3,500 for a ride though..darn it!

well done and thankyou to all behind this great piece of news

This is exciting news and I wish the CWHM great success with the planned ferry flights and the tour of the UK in August. Seeing two Lancasters in the air together will be quite an event.

It is too bad though, that they couldn't have scheduled this for July instead of August this year. July is the big air show month in the UK this year with Flying Legends Duxford, RIAT and Farnborough (among others) all scheduled that month.

I had thought about going to the UK in July for these shows and possibly the RNAS Yeovilton show in late July, but probably will not be able to make it. But a friend of mine from Pennsylvania is making the trip over in July for the 3 first mentioned shows, and I suspect that more out of country aviation enthusiasts are planning on visiting the UK this year in July than in August.

But whatever the reason, it is great to see this event planned. As someone said maybe in some future year the UK Lancaster could be ferried to North America and we can see two fly here.

Also totally off topic - but maybe (I know very remote - who would pay for that one?!) the Vulcan over in the UK could be ferried to a few shows in Canada and the U.S. in 2015. Haven't seen that one in 40 years +or - and would be great to see again.

In any case congratulations on this historic event and I hope we see a lot of great photos of the two classic airplanes together.

[Big Daddy]

Fantastic news! Wish old FM212 was ready to make the trip too!