World’s Last Two Remaining Lancasters to Fly in Formation in 2014

The world's last remaining Lancaster bombers will fly together this summer.
The world’s last two remaining Lancaster bombers will fly together this summer. Photo courtesy the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Residents of England may think they’re seeing double this summer as the two last airworthy Avro Lancaster bombers on Earth come together for a month of commemorative flights throughout the United Kingdom.

The two, four-engine, heavy bombers will appear as part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), the Royal Air Force’s vintage war bird squadron that conducts fly-pasts at major events throughout the U.K.

The only remaining Canadian-built Lanc, will be joining the BBMF’s famous bomber known as PA474 beginning on Aug. 8.

The historic rendezvous will follow a four-day, 6,000 km (3,700 mile) transit flight for the North American aircraft that begins at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum near Toronto, Canada. The 69-year-old plane will reach Lincolnshire, England by way of the Canadian Forces base at Goose Bay, Labrador; Narsarsuaq, Greenland; and Keflavik, Iceland. It will then touch down at BBMF headquarters at RAF Corningsby.

After a period of post-flight maintenance on the Canadian machine, both aircraft will conduct a series of formation flights throughout Great Britain, along with a surviving Hurricane and Spitfire.

For more information check out the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s official announcement of the trip or BBMF’s own press release on the upcoming flights.

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