2. Aircraft

Once in a Lanc Time at Prestwick

6th September 2014 was the date of the Scottish Airshow at Ayr and the RAF Memorial Flight with the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's Lancaster was due to display but bad weather at RAF Coningsby prevented their attendance. The following day the weather had improved and they all departed for Prestwick Airport. After a short time on display on the tarmac, the Flight took off to display at Portrush, Northern Ireland with the Lancasters returning to do a fly past at Ayr afterwards. This is their departure and later flypast. 7/9/2014
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  • Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Search and Rescue Seaking ZA130 turns in to land at HMS Gannet located at Prestwick Airport. This was the only Fleet Air Arm SAR Flight located in Scotland. It closed in March 2016.

    Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Search and Rescue Seaking ZA130 turns in to land at HMS Gannet located at Prestwick Airport. This was the only Fleet Air Arm SAR Flight located in Scotland. It closed in March 2016.

  • The Loadmaster looks down at the gathered photographers waiting on the RAF Memorial Flight to depart later on.

    The Loadmaster looks down at the gathered photographers waiting on the RAF Memorial Flight to depart later on.

  • The RAF's basic training aircraft is the Shorts Tucano built under licence in Belfast and entered RAF service in December 1989 at RAF Church Fenton (a former base of mine) and replaced the BAC Jet Provost. The Tucano is a two seat in tandem turboprop with a 1,100shp Garrett TPE-331 engine, it was designed to handle like a jet aircraft.

    The RAF's basic training aircraft is the Shorts Tucano built under licence in Belfast and entered RAF service in December 1989 at RAF Church Fenton (a former base of mine) and replaced the BAC Jet Provost. The Tucano is a two seat in tandem turboprop with a 1,100shp Garrett TPE-331 engine, it was designed to handle like a jet aircraft.

  • ZF244 departs Prestwick to transit to Portrush to give its display. It wears the training black livery and carries poppies and the words "Lest We Forget" to remember The Fallen. The display pilot for the 2014 season is Fl Lt Dave Kirby.

    ZF244 departs Prestwick to transit to Portrush to give its display. It wears the training black livery and carries poppies and the words "Lest We Forget" to remember The Fallen. The display pilot for the 2014 season is Fl Lt Dave Kirby.

  • A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 EI-EFT climbs away from Prestwick, its destination is unknown.

    A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 EI-EFT climbs away from Prestwick, its destination is unknown.

  • RAF Memorial Flight Spitfire mkXVI TE311 gets away as the first of the four aircraft in the flight to head to Portrush.

    RAF Memorial Flight Spitfire mkXVI TE311 gets away as the first of the four aircraft in the flight to head to Portrush.

  • TE311 was built at the Castle Bromwich ‘shadow’ factory as a ‘low back’, ‘clipped wing’, Rolls-Royce Merlin 266 powered L.F.XVIe. It was taken on charge by the Air Ministry on 8th June 1945, exactly one month after VE Day. It was delivered from Castle Bromwich to No 39 Maintenance Unit at Colerne on 16th June 1945 and placed in storage. It was allocated to the Empire Central Flying School Handling Squadron on 5th October that year. In all, with spells on the ground and long periods in storage in between bouts of flying, TE311 flew for a total of only about 12 months. When it was transferred to non-effective stock in December 1954 it had only some 30 hours ‘on the clock’. It was brought into the BBMF ‘fold’ in 2000 intended to be used only for spare parts, but in 2002 a 10-year re-build to flying condition was commenced, led by Chief Technician Paul Blackah MBE. The Mk XVI took to the air for the first time in 58 years in October 2012 and then joined the BBMF’s fleet of airworthy Spitfires. Info from BBMF website.

    TE311 was built at the Castle Bromwich ‘shadow’ factory as a ‘low back’, ‘clipped wing’, Rolls-Royce Merlin 266 powered L.F.XVIe. It was taken on charge by the Air Ministry on 8th June 1945, exactly one month after VE Day. It was delivered from Castle Bromwich to No 39 Maintenance Unit at Colerne on 16th June 1945 and placed in storage. It was allocated to the Empire Central Flying School Handling Squadron on 5th October that year. In all, with spells on the ground and long periods in storage in between bouts of flying, TE311 flew for a total of only about 12 months. When it was transferred to non-effective stock in December 1954 it had only some 30 hours ‘on the clock’. It was brought into the BBMF ‘fold’ in 2000 intended to be used only for spare parts, but in 2002 a 10-year re-build to flying condition was commenced, led by Chief Technician Paul Blackah MBE. The Mk XVI took to the air for the first time in 58 years in October 2012 and then joined the BBMF’s fleet of airworthy Spitfires. Info from BBMF website.

  • The second fighter is not a Hurricane but another Spitfire, P7350 is a mkIIa and this airframe actually took part in the Battle of Britain in 1940.

    The second fighter is not a Hurricane but another Spitfire, P7350 is a mkIIa and this airframe actually took part in the Battle of Britain in 1940.

  • P7350 is the oldest airworthy Spitfire in the world and the only Spitfire still flying today to have actually fought in the Battle of Britain. She is believed to be the 14th aircraft of 11,989 built at the Castle Bromwich ‘shadow' factory, Birmingham. Entering service in the August of 1940, she flew in the Battle of Britain serving with 266 Squadron and 603 (City of Edinburgh ) Aux AF Squadron. Having survived the War, 'P7' was then sold for scrap to Messrs. John Dale Ltd in 1948 for the princely sum of £25; fortunately the historical significance of the aircraft was recognised and she was generously presented to the RAF museum at Colerne. Restored to flying condition in 1968 for the epic film 'The Battle of Britain', she was presented to the BBMF after filming was completed.

    P7350 is the oldest airworthy Spitfire in the world and the only Spitfire still flying today to have actually fought in the Battle of Britain. She is believed to be the 14th aircraft of 11,989 built at the Castle Bromwich ‘shadow' factory, Birmingham. Entering service in the August of 1940, she flew in the Battle of Britain serving with 266 Squadron and 603 (City of Edinburgh ) Aux AF Squadron. Having survived the War, 'P7' was then sold for scrap to Messrs. John Dale Ltd in 1948 for the princely sum of £25; fortunately the historical significance of the aircraft was recognised and she was generously presented to the RAF museum at Colerne. Restored to flying condition in 1968 for the epic film 'The Battle of Britain', she was presented to the BBMF after filming was completed.

  • Avro Lancaster PA474 is a mk B.I built by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd at its Broughton factory near Chester in 1945.

    Avro Lancaster PA474 is a mk B.I built by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd at its Broughton factory near Chester in 1945.

  • A glint shot of the Lancaster.

    A glint shot of the Lancaster.

  • The sound of four Rolls Royce Merlins is pure joy as PA474 passes by.

    The sound of four Rolls Royce Merlins is pure joy as PA474 passes by.

  • Next up is the undisputed star of the 2014 main Air Show season, CWHM Lancaster FM213 which flew across the Atlantic over several days from 4th August 2014 via Goose Bay and Iceland before landing in atrocious weather in the UK at RAF Coningsby on the 8th.

    Next up is the undisputed star of the 2014 main Air Show season, CWHM Lancaster FM213 which flew across the Atlantic over several days from 4th August 2014 via Goose Bay and Iceland before landing in atrocious weather in the UK at RAF Coningsby on the 8th.

  • FM213 is a Lancaster Mk. X and was built at Victory Aircraft, Malton, Ontario in July 1945. It was later used for Search and Rescue operations under Maritime Air Command before being retired from service on 6 November 1963 with 4,392 hours on the airframe.

    FM213 is a Lancaster Mk. X and was built at Victory Aircraft, Malton, Ontario in July 1945. It was later used for Search and Rescue operations under Maritime Air Command before being retired from service on 6 November 1963 with 4,392 hours on the airframe.

  • It was then displayed in Goderich, Ontario from 1964 to 1977 then stored at Dunnville, Ontario, when it was was acquired by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in 1978. Under their ownership it underwent a 10-year restoration, and has remained airworthy since 1988. Visible above the Lancaster is Spitfire TE311 coming round again.

    It was then displayed in Goderich, Ontario from 1964 to 1977 then stored at Dunnville, Ontario, when it was was acquired by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in 1978. Under their ownership it underwent a 10-year restoration, and has remained airworthy since 1988. Visible above the Lancaster is Spitfire TE311 coming round again.

  • As the Lancaster took off on full power the sound was very slightly different to that of PA474, this is because the Canadian Lancasters used Packard Merlin 224 power plants rather than Rolls Royce Merlin engines.

    As the Lancaster took off on full power the sound was very slightly different to that of PA474, this is because the Canadian Lancasters used Packard Merlin 224 power plants rather than Rolls Royce Merlin engines.

  • Between displays with the RAF, the Canadians were offering passenger flights for CWHM members out of Humberside Airport, formerly RAF Kirmington a Bomber Command base, and they also visited Durham Tees Valley Airport. During the War this was RAF Middleton St George and was home to 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force. On 29th August the aircraft was displaying at Middleton St George when a problem occurred with the No 4 engine, it was trailing smoke and was shut down and the propellor feathered prior to landing. A Bomber Command veteran who was looking on commented it looked like a "supercharger bearing failure". A replacement Rolls Royce Merlin was loaned by the BBMF and modified to fit and after four days she was airborne again. The damaged engine was stripped down for damage assessment and the cause was found........a supercharger bearing failure!!

    Between displays with the RAF, the Canadians were offering passenger flights for CWHM members out of Humberside Airport, formerly RAF Kirmington a Bomber Command base, and they also visited Durham Tees Valley Airport. During the War this was RAF Middleton St George and was home to 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force. On 29th August the aircraft was displaying at Middleton St George when a problem occurred with the No 4 engine, it was trailing smoke and was shut down and the propellor feathered prior to landing. A Bomber Command veteran who was looking on commented it looked like a "supercharger bearing failure". A replacement Rolls Royce Merlin was loaned by the BBMF and modified to fit and after four days she was airborne again. The damaged engine was stripped down for damage assessment and the cause was found........a supercharger bearing failure!!

  • Outside the former Officers Mess at Middleton St George, or Durham Tees Valley Airport is a statue of a member of 419 "Moose" Squadron, Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski VC. Andrew Mynarski was awarded the Victoria Cross, the Commonwealth’s highest award for military gallantry, posthumously for on June 13, 1944, his Lancaster was attacked and shot down in flames, by a German night fighter. As the bomber fell, he attempted to free the tail gunner trapped in the rear turret of the blazing and out of control aircraft. The tail gunner miraculously survived the crash and lived to tell the story, but sadly Andrew Mynarski died from his severe burns.

    Outside the former Officers Mess at Middleton St George, or Durham Tees Valley Airport is a statue of a member of 419 "Moose" Squadron, Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski VC. Andrew Mynarski was awarded the Victoria Cross, the Commonwealth’s highest award for military gallantry, posthumously for on June 13, 1944, his Lancaster was attacked and shot down in flames, by a German night fighter. As the bomber fell, he attempted to free the tail gunner trapped in the rear turret of the blazing and out of control aircraft. The tail gunner miraculously survived the crash and lived to tell the story, but sadly Andrew Mynarski died from his severe burns.

  • The aircraft is flown in the paint scheme of KB726 coded VR-A, depicting the aircraft of No. 419 Squadron RCAF in which Canadian Andrew Mynarski was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. It has thus been named the "Mynarski Memorial Lancaster" and carries as its nose art the Victoria Cross, but is known colloquially as "Vera".

    The aircraft is flown in the paint scheme of KB726 coded VR-A, depicting the aircraft of No. 419 Squadron RCAF in which Canadian Andrew Mynarski was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. It has thus been named the "Mynarski Memorial Lancaster" and carries as its nose art the Victoria Cross, but is known colloquially as "Vera".

  • It was an eye watering, throat lumping moment to watch this aircraft fly by in glorious sunshine. It was something I never thought I would see.

    It was an eye watering, throat lumping moment to watch this aircraft fly by in glorious sunshine. It was something I never thought I would see.

  • TE311 flies past again.

    TE311 flies past again.

  • The two Lancasters form up to head across the Irish Sea to display at Portrush, they will return in a couple of hours.

    The two Lancasters form up to head across the Irish Sea to display at Portrush, they will return in a couple of hours.

  • PA474 leads the way with FM213 in line astern at a lower altitude to avoid any turbulence from the Lancaster ahead.

    PA474 leads the way with FM213 in line astern at a lower altitude to avoid any turbulence from the Lancaster ahead.

  • And moving forward a couple of hours and here they are heading for Ayr Low Green, the location for the previous day's air show that they sadly missed.

    And moving forward a couple of hours and here they are heading for Ayr Low Green, the location for the previous day's air show that they sadly missed.

  • Turning in to fly along the coast. I never EVER thought I would get a photograph with two Lancasters in formation. When the Pantons at East Kirkby get NX611 up then this could be a more familiar sight. Then the Canadians will have to return to fly as a three ship. OMG!!

    Turning in to fly along the coast. I never EVER thought I would get a photograph with two Lancasters in formation. When the Pantons at East Kirkby get NX611 up then this could be a more familiar sight. Then the Canadians will have to return to fly as a three ship. OMG!!

  • In a salute to Bomber Command and the 55,573 men who never came home and are buried in a corner of a foreign field or are still on Ops (MIA), LEST WE FORGET.

    In a salute to Bomber Command and the 55,573 men who never came home and are buried in a corner of a foreign field or are still on Ops (MIA), LEST WE FORGET.

  • The sun glints off PA474 as she makes the gentle turn.

    The sun glints off PA474 as she makes the gentle turn.

  • The sun catches the tail fins of FM213.

    The sun catches the tail fins of FM213.

  • Bringing the lens out to capture both in the frame again.

    Bringing the lens out to capture both in the frame again.

  • In a cloudless blue sky the black (on the underside and fuselage side) Lancasters are almost silhouetted except for a few flashes of sunlight on a propeller or two.

    In a cloudless blue sky the black (on the underside and fuselage side) Lancasters are almost silhouetted except for a few flashes of sunlight on a propeller or two.

  • Still in the turn they are heading for Prestwick and a flypast.

    Still in the turn they are heading for Prestwick and a flypast.

  • FM213 is in line astern to PA474. She flew like this on all the joint trips except for the last day when she headed home. That day they did a formation flight of the Lincolnshire area with FM213 leading.

    FM213 is in line astern to PA474. She flew like this on all the joint trips except for the last day when she headed home. That day they did a formation flight of the Lincolnshire area with FM213 leading.

  • A close up of the pair as they turn in to flypast Prestwick.

    A close up of the pair as they turn in to flypast Prestwick.

  • The full size shot and final one of FM213. I saw them again a couple of weeks later when they were transiting to Liverpool for the Southport Air Show, I was driving on the M6 and pointed them out to everyone in the car. And I caught FM213 on CCTV in Fife as she headed for Iceland on the long trip home to Hamilton, Canada. To the CWHM, thank you SO much for coming, you have a whole Air Force of fans who want to see you come back, please do not leave it too long.

    The full size shot and final one of FM213. I saw them again a couple of weeks later when they were transiting to Liverpool for the Southport Air Show, I was driving on the M6 and pointed them out to everyone in the car. And I caught FM213 on CCTV in Fife as she headed for Iceland on the long trip home to Hamilton, Canada. To the CWHM, thank you SO much for coming, you have a whole Air Force of fans who want to see you come back, please do not leave it too long.

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    ZF244 departs Prestwick to transit to Portrush to give its display. It wears the training black livery and carries poppies and the words "Lest We Forget" to remember The Fallen. The display pilot for the 2014 season is Fl Lt Dave Kirby.
    A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 EI-EFT climbs away from Prestwick, its destination is unknown.
    RAF Memorial Flight Spitfire mkXVI TE311 gets away as the first of the four aircraft in the flight to head to Portrush.