Canadian Lancaster Damaged in Flight
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Canadian Lancaster Damaged in Flight
[URL="http://m.torontosun.com/2012/04/17/historic-lancaster-sustains-wing-damage-in-noon-flight"]
Hope it's not too serious. A lot of disappointments for the upcoming airshow season then.
Hope it's not too serious. A lot of disappointments for the upcoming airshow season then.
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum hopes to have its Lancaster bomber flying again by June after the Second World War relic was grounded Tuesday.
Its right wing tip began vibrating 30 minutes into its “first flight of the season,” said museum CEO Dave Rohrer.
The four-engine bomber landed safely at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport despite a loose lower wing support bracket, Rohrer said.
“The wing began to move,” he explained. The four occupants “could feel it and see it.”
Rohrer said the chief pilot, the museum’s top pilot — both retired Air Canada captains — a flight engineer and a crewman took off at 11:30 a.m. for yearly refresher training.
“They were flying at about 5,000 feet, 20 miles south of Hamilton and declared an emergency,” which is a “standard precaution,” Rohrer said.
In addition to an internal investigation, Transport Canada was advised and a Transportation Safety Board of Canada inspector is expected on-site Wednesday.
Stored after annual Nov. 11 Remembrance Day flights, the Lancaster underwent maintenance and inspections long before takeoff, Rohrer said.
It resumed flying in 2009 after being grounded with propellor corrosion.
Investigators will search for metal fatigue, corrosion or other problems, and “we will come up with even more detailed inspections,” Rohrer said.
The museum hopes to have the bomber ready for its 40th anniversary air show on Father’s Day weekend — June 16-17.
Flights are available to members, but as one of the world’s only two fly-worthy “Lancs” of 7,300 built, advance bookings are required, Rohrer said.
The Lancaster is dedicated to RCAF Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski, 27.
The Winnipeger was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for trying in his burning suit to save the rear gunner before their shot-up bomber crashed in France after a 1944 mission. Mynarski bailed out but died of his injuries.
Its right wing tip began vibrating 30 minutes into its “first flight of the season,” said museum CEO Dave Rohrer.
The four-engine bomber landed safely at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport despite a loose lower wing support bracket, Rohrer said.
“The wing began to move,” he explained. The four occupants “could feel it and see it.”
Rohrer said the chief pilot, the museum’s top pilot — both retired Air Canada captains — a flight engineer and a crewman took off at 11:30 a.m. for yearly refresher training.
“They were flying at about 5,000 feet, 20 miles south of Hamilton and declared an emergency,” which is a “standard precaution,” Rohrer said.
In addition to an internal investigation, Transport Canada was advised and a Transportation Safety Board of Canada inspector is expected on-site Wednesday.
Stored after annual Nov. 11 Remembrance Day flights, the Lancaster underwent maintenance and inspections long before takeoff, Rohrer said.
It resumed flying in 2009 after being grounded with propellor corrosion.
Investigators will search for metal fatigue, corrosion or other problems, and “we will come up with even more detailed inspections,” Rohrer said.
The museum hopes to have the bomber ready for its 40th anniversary air show on Father’s Day weekend — June 16-17.
Flights are available to members, but as one of the world’s only two fly-worthy “Lancs” of 7,300 built, advance bookings are required, Rohrer said.
The Lancaster is dedicated to RCAF Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski, 27.
The Winnipeger was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for trying in his burning suit to save the rear gunner before their shot-up bomber crashed in France after a 1944 mission. Mynarski bailed out but died of his injuries.
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The early Lancasters were known for faulty wing-tips in 1942 - they would bend upwards through 90 degrees - in some cases causing the loss of the bomber. I trust that this aircraft is not from the early batches?
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No, very late wartime build, didn't see combat in the end. It was due to go to fight the Japanese, but they capitulated before it got there.
I had a good look around her last year and it was fantastic. The crew were a bunch of stars too, some ex-mil and some not.
Lovely aircraft, glad it is safe.
I had a good look around her last year and it was fantastic. The crew were a bunch of stars too, some ex-mil and some not.
Lovely aircraft, glad it is safe.
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I wonder if it's the same Lancaster that was flown over to Scampton in '58, to carry out the flypast, when the Queen Mum present 617 with the Sqdn. Colours? The RAF had none flying at the time.
As a 21 year old corporal I was given the task of hosting, along with a few other cpls. the 4 corporal aircrew. They were practically twice our age but we showed them a good time in downtown Lincoln!
As a 21 year old corporal I was given the task of hosting, along with a few other cpls. the 4 corporal aircrew. They were practically twice our age but we showed them a good time in downtown Lincoln!
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Oh balls. Hope the repair goes as planned. I love hearing that sound in a Toronto weekend afternoon, makes me run for the nearest door and squint skyward. Was hoping to introduce my 8 month old to said practice in the coming months.
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Checked my late father's Lancaster 'Instructional Course Handbook'
which shows a joint just outboard of the aileron. I think failures at
this joint were not unheard-off.
which shows a joint just outboard of the aileron. I think failures at
this joint were not unheard-off.
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Published on the Flypast forum
The below was just sent to me by CWH with the request that I post in here in the forum
"Thank you for the many kind comments on the safe landing of our Lancaster yesterday. Flying VR-A was our senior Lancaster pilot, Don Schofield, who has almost 800 hours of flying time on our Lancaster, and a total of 26,000 hours in his career.
In discussions with the Transportation Safety Board, we have proceeded with our internal investigation of the occurrence. Our preliminary examination indicates the outer right wing tip lower attachment bracket failed which allowed the outer wing tip to move in flight. At the present time, further examination to determine mode of failure of this bracket, the proper repair scheme and new inspection criteria for both outer wing tip attachments is ongoing. We have already shared all of our findings with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Our target date for returning our Lancaster to the skies is for the Hamilton Airshow on June 16 & 17."
Last edited by Fleet16b; 18th April 2012 at 21:21.
"Thank you for the many kind comments on the safe landing of our Lancaster yesterday. Flying VR-A was our senior Lancaster pilot, Don Schofield, who has almost 800 hours of flying time on our Lancaster, and a total of 26,000 hours in his career.
In discussions with the Transportation Safety Board, we have proceeded with our internal investigation of the occurrence. Our preliminary examination indicates the outer right wing tip lower attachment bracket failed which allowed the outer wing tip to move in flight. At the present time, further examination to determine mode of failure of this bracket, the proper repair scheme and new inspection criteria for both outer wing tip attachments is ongoing. We have already shared all of our findings with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Our target date for returning our Lancaster to the skies is for the Hamilton Airshow on June 16 & 17."
Last edited by Fleet16b; 18th April 2012 at 21:21.
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This link has a close-up pic of the damaged wing structure and a vid with commentary by the CWH Captain, Don Schofield:
TheSpec - Bomber should be back in the air by June
TheSpec - Bomber should be back in the air by June
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Interesting to see they were at 5000 feet. I don't recall ever going above 2000 feet or so and remaining VMC below. I suspect we were VFR only.
