Avro Lancaster. Photo. Characteristics.

United Kingdom

A type: chetyrehdvigatelny heavy bomber

Crew: seven people

Excellent heavy bomber of AVRo was speaking literary language, "phoenix rise from the ashes" adversity airplane program "Manchester» (Manchester) 1040-1941 years. Last machine was equipped with two engines, "Valchev» (Vulture) of "Rolls Royce" and different layout almost identical to the aircraft Lancaster, but she began to suffer from the low reliability of the engine.

Company AVRo, however, understood that the design of its airframe is basically correct, so the company turned to the engines, "Rolls-Royce" and formally requested proven powerplants "Merlin» (Merlin). The plane "Manchester" is also chronically lacking engine power, so the company's chief designer Roy Chadwick AVRo (Roy Chadwick) thought that his replacement aircraft "Lancaster" four engines "Merlin» X under the wing will not suffer such diseases.

The prototype (converted airframe "Manchester") first flew in January 9 1941 years, and soon in the process of intensive flight test its potential have been identified. In the middle of the year 1941 the company AVRo was quickly placed an order for bombers 1070, and the first production aircraft began to appear in October of the same year. The squadron number 44 performed the first operation on this type of aircraft in March 1942 years, and even parts of the Command 58 bombers were fighting on the "Lancaster" aircraft performing 56 thousand. Sorties and dropping 60 8612 tons of high-explosive bombs and incendiary bombs 51 million.

At six plants, translated into the production of aircraft "Lancaster", it was released about 7377 glider aircraft. This number includes five different versions. After the war and the end of 1950-ies number of bombers preserved as maritime patrol, transport and testing aircraft. Today, some flying specimens maintained in Canada and the UK.

Basic data

Dimensions:

• Length: 21,18 m
• Wingspan: 31,09 m
• Height: 6,1 m

Range of flight: 4072 km

Power point: four engine "Merlin» 24 of "Rolls-Royce"

Power: 5120 l. from. (3849,6 kW)

Aircraft performance characteristics:

Maximum speed: 462 km / h

The weight:

• BLANK: 16 738 kg
• Maximum take-off: 31 751 kg

Date of first flight:

• January 9, 1941

The surviving airworthy modifications:

• The I and B 10MR