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Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 7:22 pm
by jamesg23
I heard today that the next servicing on the lancaster would be a major service. My question is where would this be done and how long would it take? Would it be possible to do it over the winter period?
Re: Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 7:29 pm
by Vulcanone
The last I heard was they are flying it to Duxford after the 2015 season ends and doing it there.
Not sure if that's still the plan
Tim S
Re: Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 9:15 pm
by jamesg23
Vulcanone wrote:The last I heard was they are flying it to Duxford after the 2015 season ends and doing it there.
Not sure if that's still the plan
Tim S
Thanks for info. Do you have an idea of time frame for a major?
Re: Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 9:44 pm
by Vulcanone
I think the RAF serviced it over the winter of 1994/95 adding a new wings spar from memory in the process. so I would guess September - April maybe??
Tim S
Re: Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:09 am
by Agent K
Vulcanone wrote:I think the RAF serviced it over the winter of 1994/95 adding a new wings spar from memory in the process. so I would guess September - April maybe??
Tim S
Wasn't this done by Atlantic Airways/Air Atlantique in the Hangars at Coventry if memory serves me correctly?
Re: Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:23 pm
by Richard B
Pretty sure a major was done at Coventry about 4 years ago.
Re: Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:33 pm
by Andy_99
Or was it the paint job was last done in Coventry ?
Re: Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 1:25 pm
by Sparts99
From memory the wing spar replacement was the first time a Lanc had had a main spar replaced, it was a modified Shackleton one, I think they did it at Coningsby but I could be wrong. I doubt they'll be going as deep as that at the next service.
Re: Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 2:32 pm
by Bushpilot
Lincs Lanc Association were selling bits of the spar - there's a piece sitting on my shelf
Re: Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 2:50 pm
by Stug
Sparts99 wrote:From memory the wing spar replacement was the first time a Lanc had had a main spar replaced, it was a modified Shackleton one, I think they did it at Coningsby but I could be wrong. I doubt they'll be going as deep as that at the next service.
The spar and major overhaul was done by Air Atlantique, Coventry winter 2006.
Re: Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:26 pm
by Vulcanone
Thanks Stug,
That was possibly the tailplane spars from memory, but I can say that my late former colleague at The Key Publishing archive Robert Rudhall wrote an article on the re-spar work the RAF did in the years I mention earlier.
I have the article somewhere, in amongst many piles of aircraft reference....
Tim S
Re: Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 5:33 pm
by RJ51
About 20 years ago the main spar of PA474 was replaced by BAe / BAE Systems at there Chaderton facility north of Manchester. The work since has been painting and various levels of overhaul and smaller replacement work. Another new main spar is not required for an aircraft that does so few hours / sorties.
Re: Lancaster servicing.
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 8:14 pm
by ColintheCaterpillar
Vulcanone wrote:I think the RAF serviced it over the winter of 1994/95 adding a new wings spar from memory in the process. so I would guess September - April maybe??
Tim S
To consolidate and tidy up dates:
1995/96 - major at St Athan but wing re-spar done at Chadderton (since bulldozed...)
2006/07 - major at Air Atlantique.
Next wing re-spar due in about 20 years time (unless aircraft reverts to wartime role...).