Lancaster flight test

[theboywide]

Hi there
Was wondering if anyone knew who the main test pilots were on the Lancaster?
Are there any good books discussing the handling characteristics etc in flight test detail?
Thanks

[GeeRam]

Test pilot H.A. 'Bill' Thorn flew the maiden flight of a Lancaster on Jan 9th 1941.

[Wander00]

Blow, thought this was going to say the BBMF Lancaster was being test flown.......

[bobward]

Didn't Alex Henshaw fly a few as well,?

[DeepestSouth]

Alex Henshaw did fly Lancasters - quite a few - starting at Castle Bromwich in October 1943. Lots of information in 'Sigh for a Merlin' , including his unusual specification for the length of the tarmac runway at Castle Bromwich.

[oxenos]

Test pilot H.A. 'Bill' Thorn flew the maiden flight of a Lancaster on Jan 9th 1941.
He was subsequently killed flying the Tudor 2 prototype in 1947, together with Roy Chadwick, chief designer at Avro. The aileron controls had been cross connected.

[bosnich71]

Alex Henshaw did fly Lancasters - quite a few - starting at Castle Bromwich in October 1943. Lots of information in 'Sigh for a Merlin' , including his unusual specification for the length of the tarmac runway at Castle Bromwich.

I lived in Castle Bromwich village as a child .... the 1950's....and used to spend time on the "Pimple", as we called it,which was the remains of an old Roman fortification situated in the grounds of Castle Bromwich churchyard.This elevated position gave a good view over Castle Bromwich airfield from where we kids watched Tiger Moths and then Chipmunks operating. The odd length of the runway was very noticeable and I only discovered the reason for it on reading Henshaw' s book decades later.