And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Monday, September 1, 2025
Avro Lancaster - last few of a legend. Tight in that cockpit.
Interesting, no co-pilot! When I visited Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection (Paine Field, Everett, WA circa 2013) on display was a Avro Lancaster B. Mark 1 nose section which had ONLY a pilot's seat as no co-pilot was a crew member of the bomber. One could walk up a platform and look into the nose section and see only one seat, for the pilot. I understand a Walmart billionaire owns the collection now that Paul Allen died.
With their relatively good performance they suffered a lower loss rate than the other British bombers but had a poor crew survival rate because they were had to escape from, even for the shorter guys.
There are only two airworthy Lancasters left. This is "Vera" (squadron VR aircraft A) that is flown by the Canadian Warplane Heritage. The RAF specified one set of controls for their bombers, the flight engineer could relieve the pilot if he needed to use the chemical toilet in the rear fuselage. Al_in_Ottawa
No co-pilot. Left seat was for the bomb aimer or navigator, I forget.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, no co-pilot! When I visited Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection (Paine Field, Everett, WA circa 2013) on display was a Avro Lancaster B. Mark 1 nose section which had ONLY a pilot's seat as no co-pilot was a crew member of the bomber. One could walk up a platform and look into the nose section and see only one seat, for the pilot. I understand a Walmart billionaire owns the collection now that Paul Allen died.
ReplyDeleteDan Kurt
RCAF flew in their Lancaster to Dulles Airport for the 100th Anniversary of the RAF. I crawled through it. It was NOT made for 6'6" Americans.
ReplyDeleteWith their relatively good performance they suffered a lower loss rate than the other British bombers but had a poor crew survival rate because they were had to escape from, even for the shorter guys.
DeleteThere are only two airworthy Lancasters left. This is "Vera" (squadron VR aircraft A) that is flown by the Canadian Warplane Heritage.
ReplyDeleteThe RAF specified one set of controls for their bombers, the flight engineer could relieve the pilot if he needed to use the chemical toilet in the rear fuselage.
Al_in_Ottawa
That is the Canadian one, all right.
ReplyDelete