Avro Lancastrian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lancastrian | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Passenger and mail transport |
| Manufacturer | Avro |
| Designed by | Roy Chadwick |
| Maiden flight | 1943 |
| Introduced | BOAC 1945 |
| Retired | 1960s |
| Primary users | BOAC Trans Canada Airlines Alitalia RAF |
| Produced | 1943-1945 |
| Number built | 91 (including conversions) |
| Developed from | Avro Lancaster |
The Avro 691 Lancastrian was a British passenger and mail transport aircraft of the 1940s and 1950s developed from the Avro Lancaster bomber.
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
In 1943, Avro through its wartime Victory Aircraft Canadian subsidiary converted a Lancaster X bomber for civil transport duties with Trans-Canada Airlines (TCQ). This conversion was a success resulting in six additional Lancaster Xs being converted. The "specials" were powered by Packard-built Merlin 38 engines and featured a lengthened, streamlined nose and tail cone. Range was enhanced by two 400-gallon Lancaster long-range fuel tanks fitted as standard in the bomb bay. These Lancastrians were used by TCA on its Montreal–Prestwick route.
[edit] Operational service
In 1945, deliveries commenced of 30 British-built Lancastrians for BOAC. On a demonstration flight on 23 April 1945, G-AGLF flew 13,500 miles (21,700 km) from England to Auckland, New Zealand in three days, 14 hours at an average speed of 220 mph (354 km/h).
Since the Lancastrian had rather limited cubic capacity yet had a "good turn of speed" and long range, it was most suited for transport of mail and VIP passengers. BOAC used it on England to Australia flights from 31 May 1945. It also served with the RAF, one of whose planes named Aries, completing the first airborne circumnavigation of the globe, as well as serving with QANTAS and Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina.
Lancastrians were also used during the Berlin Airlift to transport petrol; 15 aircraft made over 5,000 sorties.
In another role, Lancastrians were also used for tests of various turboprop and jet engines. One powered with Rolls-Royce Nene turbojets is credited with the first international passenger jet flight from London to Paris on 23 November 1946. The flight time was just 41 minutes.
[edit] Stardust
On 2 August 1947, Lancastrian G-AGWH Star Dust of British South American Airways crashed in the Argentinean Andes after sending a cryptic radio message, what became known as the "Stendec incident." The wreckage was found 50 years later but the radio message remains a puzzle. Stendec was later adopted as the name of a UFO magazine.
The probable cause of the crash was a navigation error due to the then unknown effect of fast-moving, high altitude airstreams. Headwinds meant that dead reckoning of their position was inaccurate and the pilot started the descent while the plane was still over and not past the crest of the Andes mountains.
[edit] Variants
- Avro 691: Nine built by converting Lancasters at Victory Aircraft Ltd Canada
- Lancastrian 1 : Nine-seat transport aircraft for BOAC and Qantas. Royal Air Force designation Lancastrian C.Mk 1 to Specification 16/44. A total of 23 built by Avro
- Lancastrian C.Mk 2 : Nine-seat military transport aircraft for the RAF. A total of 33 built by Avro
- Lancastrian 3 : 13-seat transport aircraft for British South American Airways. A total of 18 built by Avro
- Lancastrian C.Mk 4 : ten to 13-seat military transport aircraft for the RAF. Eight built by Avro
[edit] Operators
[edit] Civil Operators
Argentina
- Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina
Australia
Canada
Italy
United Kingdom
[edit] Military Operators
[edit] Specifications (Lancastrian 1)
General characteristics
- Crew: 5
- Capacity: 9 passengers
- Payload: 3,560 kg of mail ()
- Length: 76 ft 10 in (23.4 m)
- Wingspan: 102 ft (31.1 m)
- Height: 19 ft 6 in (5.9 m)
- Wing area: 1,297 ft² (120.5 m²)
- Empty weight: 30,426 lb (13,800 kg)
- Loaded weight: 65,000 lb (29,480 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× Rolls Royce Merlin 24 piston, 1,250 hp (930 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 310 mph at 5,000 ft (500 km/h at 1,520 m)
- Range: 4,150 miles (6,680 km)
- Service ceiling: 23,000 ft (7,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (230 m/min)
[edit] References
- Franks, Richard A. The Avro Lancaster, Manchester and Lincoln: A Comprehensive Guide for the Modeller. London: SAM Publications, 2000. ISBN 0-9533465-3-6.
- Holmes, Harry. Avro Lancaster (Combat Legend series). Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2002. ISBN 1-84037-376-8.
- Mackay, R.S.G. Lancaster in action. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1982. ISBN 0-89747-130-X.
- Milberry, Larry. The Canadair North Star. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1982. ISBN 0-07-549965-7.
- Taylor, John W. R. "Avro Lancaster." Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
[edit] External links
[edit] Related content
Related development
Designation sequence
685 - 688 and 689 Tudor - 691 - 693 Cadet - 694 Lincoln - Avro Athena - 696 Shackleton
See also
Timeline of aviation
Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines
Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft
Notable military accidents and incidents · Notable airline accidents and incidents · Famous aviation-related deaths
Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft
