Restored Lanc
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While it would be great for the Panton brothers to get Just Jane back into the air, I would be loath to see her compete for funds with the BBMF Lanc. Surely the best way of preserving flying hours on the two Lancs is to preserve Just Jane as the superb ground exhibit that she currently is and then to make her air-worthy should anything untoward happen to BBMF such as further budget cuts etc.
Having said that, to see the two Lancs flying in formation would be amazing - I just think that the cost of achieving that, both in terms of hard cash and flying hours, may be too much and by preserving Just Jane for now may give us a single flying Lanc in the skies of Lincolnshire for a longer period.
I will add that the museum that houses Just Jane at East Kirkby is well worth the visit and the work to support the memory of the crews of Bomber Command that the Panton brothers have already achieved is superb. Thanks, Chaps.
W
Having said that, to see the two Lancs flying in formation would be amazing - I just think that the cost of achieving that, both in terms of hard cash and flying hours, may be too much and by preserving Just Jane for now may give us a single flying Lanc in the skies of Lincolnshire for a longer period.
I will add that the museum that houses Just Jane at East Kirkby is well worth the visit and the work to support the memory of the crews of Bomber Command that the Panton brothers have already achieved is superb. Thanks, Chaps.
W
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The museum
I second the opinion on the museum having made several visits.
It is easy to find and well signposted
Turning in is safe
There are trees for dog shade in the FREE car park
Entry fees are reasonable
The site is well laid out with areas of special interest clearly marked.
There is a remembrance chapel for those who come as a relative memorial
In the hangar you can get close enough to touch real aeroplanes
If you time it right you can get to see the Lanc start and taxi
The staff are pleasant with no us/them tendancy
Prices for sale items are reasonable
The tea shop is excellent value
My only adverse comment is that the price for a taxi ride in the Lanc is a bit steep but I suppose they must charge what the traffic will pay and upkeep must be pricey. The rides are mostly booked up so others must think the prices are fair. It would make a fantastic old fogies gift
It is easy to find and well signposted
Turning in is safe
There are trees for dog shade in the FREE car park
Entry fees are reasonable
The site is well laid out with areas of special interest clearly marked.
There is a remembrance chapel for those who come as a relative memorial
In the hangar you can get close enough to touch real aeroplanes
If you time it right you can get to see the Lanc start and taxi
The staff are pleasant with no us/them tendancy
Prices for sale items are reasonable
The tea shop is excellent value
My only adverse comment is that the price for a taxi ride in the Lanc is a bit steep but I suppose they must charge what the traffic will pay and upkeep must be pricey. The rides are mostly booked up so others must think the prices are fair. It would make a fantastic old fogies gift
sua cuique voluptas
I agree totally with Wenslydale. Like many others I've had a taxy ride in Just Jane and if she returns to the air (and I'm torn on this) I doubt that the opportunity to experience a bit of what it would have felt like to start an operational flight would still be available to others. Amazed at how light the flight controls are for such a large non-servo aircraft. And sitting between 4 Merlins....
At the moment she is a unique experience: once airworthy the GP couldn't be allowed to freely roam around the airframe and try each position? If this airframe was flown and lost it would have so many repercussions for this museum.
Again, go and visit this museum. It's well worth the trip, huge value for money and a tribute to the dedication of the Panton brothers. I'm pretty sure that one of them was cutting the grass as we exited the Tower.
The experience will never be forgotten by either myself nor Mrs.Ripline. It was our 25th wedding present to each other.
Ripline
At the moment she is a unique experience: once airworthy the GP couldn't be allowed to freely roam around the airframe and try each position? If this airframe was flown and lost it would have so many repercussions for this museum. Again, go and visit this museum. It's well worth the trip, huge value for money and a tribute to the dedication of the Panton brothers. I'm pretty sure that one of them was cutting the grass as we exited the Tower.
The experience will never be forgotten by either myself nor Mrs.Ripline. It was our 25th wedding present to each other.
Ripline
Last edited by Ripline; 2nd Jan 2013 at 12:49. Reason: suppling
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Air Shows including RAF sponsored events (Cosford/Waddington/Leuchars) pay for the BBMF and the Red Arrows, and anything else the RAF provide. A flying display is less expensive than a static display; fiqure that one out!
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Despite the news item, Just Jane is a long way off being airworthy again. If she is ever restored I think that many will regret losing the opportunity to get close and enjoy the noise and smell. It will also add a considerable cost burden to the little museum to maintain her, fly her and provide air traffic, crash cover and maintenance and the GP will have to meet this one way or another. There might be a necessity to open on Sundays - that it is closed is a testament to the religious strength of the brothers views.
My visitors have enjoyed both BBMF and East Kirkby but most have enjoyed the latter more because they can get up close, feel the atmosphere, see plenty of memorabilia, visit a typical control tower and round it off with a snack or meal in the 'NAAFI'.
The flying Lanc should remain in the professional hands of BBMF - at least at the moment Just Jane would be within reach as a replacement should any misfortune strike the BBMF machine.
My visitors have enjoyed both BBMF and East Kirkby but most have enjoyed the latter more because they can get up close, feel the atmosphere, see plenty of memorabilia, visit a typical control tower and round it off with a snack or meal in the 'NAAFI'.
The flying Lanc should remain in the professional hands of BBMF - at least at the moment Just Jane would be within reach as a replacement should any misfortune strike the BBMF machine.
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My understanding is that this airplane is creeping towards a change of the main spar. A change is an expensive exercise and has been already done on the other airframe.
There is also the complexity that Jane would have to be registered as a private airplane with the other aircraft being held on charge by the RAF.
Would love to see it happen
Regards
Col
There is also the complexity that Jane would have to be registered as a private airplane with the other aircraft being held on charge by the RAF.
Would love to see it happen
Regards
Col
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Ahhh but there may be a chance to fly in a Civi one which with the RAF one there isn't, be nice if they could do what the Canadians and Collins Foundation does
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Superb museum - really can't say enough good things about the place, but it's not just the place, it's the whole atmosphere, the whole experience.
Really worth a day out. Hats off to all concerned. Long may it reign.
Whatever the outcome best of luck to everyone concerned, I really hope it works out for them.
Really worth a day out. Hats off to all concerned. Long may it reign.
Whatever the outcome best of luck to everyone concerned, I really hope it works out for them.
Red On, Green On
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For me there's not such a huge incremental benefit. We have one that's airworthy (as have the Canuks), so a second, while lovely to see isn't a game-changer.
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Is it not in the public domain that there is an intention for Just Jane to fly when PA474 can no longer do so?
I visited the East Kirkby Aviation Centre in the 1990s when the airfield lights were switched off during night runs. Complete darkness bar flames and glowing carbon blasting from the Merlin exhaust ejectors. Pyrotechnic events in years gone by were spectacular (like fireworks but better).
The very best of British to the Panton brothers, I hope Just Jane can fly again.
I visited the East Kirkby Aviation Centre in the 1990s when the airfield lights were switched off during night runs. Complete darkness bar flames and glowing carbon blasting from the Merlin exhaust ejectors. Pyrotechnic events in years gone by were spectacular (like fireworks but better).
The very best of British to the Panton brothers, I hope Just Jane can fly again.
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A little known fact I read somewhere, after the war they originally wanted to buy one of the last Halifax's as their brother flew in them, but their father vetoed it. So they later got the Lanc, sad fact was that no complete Halifax was preserved and those that are in museums now are either replicas, crashed item or crashed items restored.
Last edited by NutLoose; 2nd Jan 2013 at 17:59.
Originally Posted by NutLoose
Ahhh but there may be a chance to fly in a Civi one which with the RAF one there isn't, be nice if they could do what the Canadians and Collins Foundation does
Given that the DC-3/C-47's that were operating PAX flights stopped because of the need to comply, I can't see a Lanc being able to do PAX flights in the UK.
If this was feasable, or even currently for the past decades under CAA regs, the operators of B-17G 'Sally B' would have been doing this for years as a means of raising money (as happens in the USA)
I've also seen reported by someone that has connections with JJ, that they have enquired about continuing taxi rides in JJ once she is airworthy, and the CAA have said yes.
Last edited by GeeRam; 2nd Jan 2013 at 18:33.
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While it may be expensive to get JJ back in the air - after the Vulcan effort has raised a lot of money to keep that in the air and once in a museum there could be a beneficial effect for the Lanc - especially if they give them use of all the emails they have gathered over the years of people that have donated to the Vulcan - once they finally stop raising funds for that (and not competing for funds).
Just saw this on the News. Wonderful. I'd love to know just how much of the original instruments and avionics it is allowed to retain. The very first auto pilot I ever worked on was that of a Lancaster, which we maintained for an air museum. Mk 8 I think. The test rig took up half the instrument shop.