Avro Lancastrian
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| Avro Lancastrian | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Description | ||
| Role | Passenger & mail transport | |
| Crew | 5 | |
| Passengers | 9 | |
| First flight | 1943 | |
| Entered service | ||
| Manufacturer | A. V. Roe | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 76 ft 10 in | 23.4 m |
| Wingspan | 102 ft 0 in | 31.1 m |
| Height | 19 ft 6 in | 5.9 m |
| Wing area | 1,297 ft² | 120.5 m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 30,426 lb | 13,800 kg |
| Loaded | 65,000 lb | 29,480 kg |
| Maximum takeoff | lb | kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engine | 4 × Rolls-Royce Merlin 24 | |
| Power (each) | 1,250 hp | 930 kW |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 310 mph @ 5,000 ft | 500 km/h @ 1,520 m |
| Combat range | 4,150 miles | 6,680 km |
| Ferry range | km | miles |
| Service ceiling | 23,000 ft | 7,000 m |
| Rate of climb | 750 ft/min | 230 m/min |
The Avro 691 Lancastrian was a British passenger and mail transport aircraft of the 1940s and 1950s.
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
In 1943, Avro through its wartime Victory Aircraft Canadian subsidiary converted a LancasterX bomber for civil transport duties with Trans-Canada Airlines. This conversion was a success and six additional Lancaster Xs were 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 500-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 use
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).
The Lancastrian had rather limited cubic capacity and, due to its speed and long range, 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, and with QANTAS and Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina.
Lancastrians were used during the Berlin Airlift to transport petrol, 15 aircraft made over 5,000 sorties.
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] Famous aeroplanes
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 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 mountains.
[edit] Variants
- Lancastrian 1 : Nine-seat transport aircraft for BOAC and Qantas. Royal Air Force designation Lancastrian C.Mk 1.
- Lancastrian C.Mk 2 : Nine-seat military transport aircraft for the RAF.
- Lancastrian 3 : 13-seat transport aircraft for British South American Airways.
- Lancastrian C.Mk 4 : 10 to 13-seat military transport aircraft for the RAF.
[edit] Civil Operators
- Alitalia.
- BOAC.
- British South American Airways.
- Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina.
- Qantas.
- Silver City (airline).
- Trans Canada Airlines.
[edit] Military Operators
[edit] See also
| Related content | |
|---|---|
| Related development | Avro Lancaster |
| Similar aircraft | |
| Designation series | |
| Related lists | |
