Slightly off topic here but where do all these Merlin engines come from for restorations? Is there a cache of new unused ones siting in a Warehouse somewhere? Or are restorers manufacturing new parts and assembling them round a manufacturers data plate?

This talk of Lancasters takes me back to an early 1970s visit to Blackpool, when I saw NX611 parked behind the Air Navigation and Trading hangar (I think). I'm sure I took a photo (on my Kodak Instamatic-all I could afford as a young teenager, as I then was), but sad to say, it didn't show up two years ago when I trawled through all my photos going back to 1971, to scan in all the aircraft ones. If I ever find it, I'll post a link here to it.

Nearly as good however, here is a link to a photo I took of the Strathallan Lancaster in September 1976-I'd graduated to a decent viewfinder camera by then (a Ricoh 500G):

JetPhotos.Net Photo » G-BCOH (CN: 277) Private Avro Lancaster by Michael Blank

Where From?
 

I thought most of East Kirkby had been dug up. A couple of years ago I went for a taxy ride in JJ, with 'Jacko' driving, but is was 100 yards there and back.

Presumably she will be taken somewhere else (Coventry?) where she can be refurbished.

I just hope the survey has been done properly 'cause there are all sorts of gremlins that might be found and CAA are very cautious about old aircraft.

Just Jane
 

Good luck to them, I hope Jane flies again.
I believe Peter Jackson has received at least one of ten full scale replica Lancs. (made in China) for the remake of The Dam Busters.

We have NX622 on static display in Western Australia.
Last year I had the pleasure of showing Bill Kerr through it. He played Micky Martin in the original movie.

"Full scale replica Lancs?!" Hope we can see some pictures of these shortly. Inevitable tho, that they had to be made in China.

Proplinerman : Here is one photo that was released last year. I have not seen anything since.
Takeoff looms for Dambusters | Stuff.co.nz

Photos of "Just Jane" at Blackpool in 1973
 

Ref my post of August 2010, I've now found, scanned in both photos and uploaded them to Flickr. Here's the link to the first: Lancaster G-ASXX-NX611, Blackpool, 5-5-73e | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

And the second:

ScanImage 2e | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Fred Panton
 

From the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre website, Fred Panton sadly passed away on 9th June.

That's very sad. RIP

What a great shame, so sad at this late stage of activity.

Peter R-B
Lancashire

I hope this tragic news actually brings fresh impetus to the project in memory of someone who we all should look up to.

Time to redouble efforts and resolve. Time to fly!

SGC

I had the pleasure of meeting Fred on a couple of occasions. He was a true gent and very passionate about the Lanc and the Heritage centre. I asked him a while back if he would be going on Just Jane's first flight. 'No!' He replied. But he said with a chuckle and a twinkle in his eye, 'But I might go on the second!' I still laugh now when I think about it. Rest in peace Fred.