Canadian Lanc looking at a $180,000 Cdn bill for the engine.
 

The one that failed, they have a loaner off the BBMF in at the moment and I think that's on power by the hour.

Details
Hamilton Lancaster engine repair to cost $180K - Hamilton - CBC News

If you are interested Lancaster Engine Overhaul Appeal

http://www.warplane.com/about-cwhm/d...tionsform.aspx

Me too :ok:

Also donated.

Thought the engine came from the set of 4 for "Just Jane"

Cant confirm that Dyson, but BBC news report that LAHC East Kirby have made a big donation for Vera's engine rebuild.

My understanding is that the team at East Kirby offered an engine but in the end the one actually used came from BBMF. I have also heard that the hire cost (per flying hour) is to whatever degree down to it being crown property and therefore under the eyes of beancounters. Ie No goodwill freebies.

There was a time not too long ago .............

Engine availability?
 

As a matter of interest does anyone know if the damaged engine is repairable? Also, is there a ready supply of Merlin engines available, I know that there are a number of companies restoring heritage aircraft, but one would assume that the engines are a dwindling resource?

Someone was working building brand new merlins I gather the main problem is the block itsself just about every other part is made already. ( it might be the type of metal used is nolonger about)

Want something to have a cry over?

Back in the late 50's in Aust a brand new Merlin, zero hours , straight off the test bench, inhibited and crated could be had for 10 Pounds !!

Actually saw a receipt from the Dept of Supply. Same file had a rec for 250 Pounds for 1 mustang. 900 hrs TT.

Emeritus:{

Vera is heading home
 

BLACKPOOL, United Kingdom – The pilot taking Canada’s last flying Second World War heavy bomber home across the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday has “absolute confidence” in the 69-year-old Avro Lancaster’s ability to make the journey after borrowing an engine from the Royal Air Force to replace one that had an oil leak that left the Canadian aircraft trailing smoke at the end of a flight earlier this month.

“If I was not 100 per cent confident, we would not attempt this. I don’t want anything happening to Vera,” the pilot, 68-year-old Leon Evans, said, referring to the four-engine propeller airplane by her nickname. “We are not going to put it into conditions that could compromise that safety. . . . We will not run the risk of landing on runways that are ice-covered or with severe crosswinds or low (cloud) ceilings.”

ttp://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Canadian+Lancaster+aircraft+prepares+journey+home+from+trium phal+trek/10225807/story.html

yesterday's D tel., in addition to all its many sins ["my wife has it for the crossword"] said Vera was "shipped" to UK.

And they pay these bastard reporters?

The supercharger broke - but bits went into the engine.

Superb departure flypasts this morning over Lincs bases complete with fighter escort. I guess that was the end on an (V)era. Apologies pun intended.......Nice to hear that the LincsLanc Assoc has donated some monies towards the engine rebuild; all we need now is a lottery fund donation to get Just Jane into the air.

Just the carriage to send the Merlins back to their owners will cost a bit.
Surely the RCAF or the RAF have a transport plane with space?
I believe Retro Track and Air (who rebuild the BBMF engines) are looking at
the damage.
mmitch.

Yep, which is probably in part why they went with the BBMF engine as opposed to the Just Jane ones, Retro assisted in the component change over to make it compatible with Vera, one would imagine as they already do the overhauls for the BBMF and probably did the spare, they wouldn't want to be disturbing engines that are overhauled by another party as in Just Janes, which I think were done by Maurice Hammonds Eye Tech Engineering.

I was talking with one of the Canadian team 2 weeks ago. He said there were 78 new Packard Merlins in the States.

The donation from Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association had a deeper meaning than just a donation. From the website:


"Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association has presented the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum - which brought the wartime plane over to England - with a cheque for 10,695 Canadian dollars.

Association Chairman, Ray Bainborough, said: "We wanted to say a fond farewell to the Canadian Lancaster and her crew, who have been hosted by the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at Coningsby, by presenting the Canadians with this donation.

"The figure of 10,695 is very significant. That is the number of Royal Canadian Air Force servicemen who died while flying with Bomber Command in the Second World War. It is extremely important that we remember them and their sacrifice."

Problem is it can't really be a NATO tasking :E:E:E:E

20ft container trans Atlantic about £5000. Barely even significant.

I'm just an old, ex RAF Airframe fitter, who had the honour to refurbish PA474 in the early 80s at Abingdon as gang boss on the team. There's no way that there should be any costs accrued in this venture? The historic tour by Vera has paid for itself in encouraging visitors wherever the two have appeared together. There must be media pay back for flights, stories etc. I offer one sense of indignity to all of this talk of cost. In the 80s/early 90s I was an Aircraft Ground Engineer on our C130K fleet. On many trips to the USA and Canada, any breakdown was given the best support we could dream of. On many occasions I was able to keep the aircraft going rather than wait for "flown in" spares. I'm sure a "Canada trainer" could be arranged for a suitably empty C130J, which might return with a reciprocal load. If not, then the treasury really has cocked up our military aviation.

Smudge:ok:

And quite a few of them are sitting in original crates in Kermit Weeks engine store.

You mean like these, there just his Alison's

http://www.khs.at/fantasy/112.htm

http://www.khs.at/fantasy/fantasy4.htm

The RAF fly Calgary trips with the Voyager. Plenty of payload there for the odd Merlin or two. A quick tech stop enroute shouldn't be a big deal.

Don't think a Merlin on a pallet will go into the lower hold of a Voyager Cessna; no freightdoor upstairs either so probably a J or C-17 load.

What keeps coming back to me is that surely with a little bit of corporate and government goodwill, the costs to the Canadians can be kept as low as possible.

The idea of them shelling out $180k seems a bit unfair. I'm not saying they should get it for free but I would imagine companies up and down the line can donate the freight, parts, some time etc. After all, it's a golden PR opportunity or is that wrong because it involves a machine of war, not orphans or kittens ?

Looks like four good engines right now. VERA is airborne out of KEF, eight hour leg to Goose Bay. Safe trip chaps.

motleyCallsign,

You obviously havn't been anywhere near the hold of an A330-200 (voyager) before then!

One Pallet could hold probably 10 Merlin Engines, and the A/C can carry at least 6 pallets plus a couple of Baggage Containers in the lower holds.

For size equivalence, you can fit a large car on one pallet! :O

She has dropped into Greenland for fuel due to high headwinds, quoted off a thread on Flypast

Oh good, I'll be able to pop home for some tea and crumpets before watching her come in.

:) I tell you what they have my respect, they are going to an airshow on Saturday on the way home..

Quote off the same thread


.

Knarfw,

You can get updates here

https://mobile.twitter.com/CWHM

Is she home yet?

She is due home Sunday their time, she is doing a display Saturday their time at Ottawa, she is back in Canada (Goose Bay), the long worrying sea legs behind her.

She has now left Goose Bay on her way to Ottawa. We were a bit worried last night as it was raining heavily and was dark when she eventually arrived.


Not the greatest photo but it really was quite miserable.https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/...fb&oe=54CBCE39

Is there really an "airshow" in CYND, no NOTAMS and not a sign of anything as we flew by, Vintage Wings doesnt seem to be doing much flying these days, will check to see if its meant to be on Sunday, if at all, mind you its perfect weather for an airshow today.

The weather cleared at Goose Bay overnight. Here's VeRA departing for Ottawa flying over the old WW2 hangar on the old RCAF side. The tower is not the original btw. Thanks to my good friend Norma for letting me share her pic.https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...7d771ba664895c

She is home!

https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=CWHM

https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=CWHM

And what a welcome home crowd!

Thank you all for an excellent visit.