Avro Lancaster history

In 1940, Winston Churchill wanted to equip Britain with new bombers. The Lancaster was born at that time.

Very resistant and able to take off despite an important weight, the Lancaster heavy bomber appeared as being the most efficient aircraft of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. That is why 64% of British bombs dropped on enemy targets were dropped by the Lancaster bombers.

The Lancaster bombers were also built under license in the United States and in Canada. Armed with 8 machine guns to ensure its self defense, the Lancaster accomplished during the Second World War a total of 156,000 missions. 608,612 tons of bombs were dropped and on the 7,377 bombers built, nearly half were destroyed: 55,000 crew members were killed.

The Lancaster was on of the only bombers able of carrying a ten ton bomb. It was used in order to destroy dams. Hence one of the nicknames of the crew members: the "dam busters".

Avro Lancaster sheet

Country creator/user: Great Britain
Name: Avro Lancaster Mk I

Length: 21,10 m
Wingspan: 31,10 m
Height: 5,97 m
Curb weight : 16,705 kg
Maximum speed: 462 km/h
Range: 2,670 kilometers
Ceiling: 7,500 m

Armament: eight 7,7 mm Browning machine guns

Transport : 6,350 kg of bombs

Engine: four Rolls-Royce Merlin XX in line of 1,460 hp each

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