Skip over navigation

Avro Lancaster X

View of the Avro Lancaster X cockpit The Avro Lancaster X

The “Lanc” was arguably the best heavy bomber used in Europe in Second World War. Although somewhat vulnerable to fighter attack, it was relatively fast, had a high ceiling, and could carry enormous loads for its size. Victory Aircraft at Malton, Ontario, produced the first Canadian-built Lancaster, a Mark X, first flown August 1, 1943. Many Canadian-built Mark Xs served overseas with No.6 Group. The Lancaster continued in the RCAF until 1965 for maritime patrol, photo survey, search and rescue, and navigator training.

Wartime crew was a pilot, flight engineer, navigator, bomb aimer, radio operator and two gunners. Peacetime maritime patrol crew was two pilots, flight engineer, two navigators, and three radio officers. A late Mark X, the museum aircraft has a Martin upper turret with two 50-calibre guns. Maritime patrol versions had no top turret, and only the front turret was armed with two .303-calibre machine guns. Drafty, noisy, and uncomfortable on long flights, the Lancaster was nevertheless strong, reliable, and a delight to fly. Pilot Officer A.C. Mynarski won a posthumous Victoria Cross for bravery in a Canadian Lancaster during an attack on Cambrai, France.

Museum Example

Built in Canada in 1945, this Lancaster went overseas briefly, before entering long-term storage in Canada later the same year. It spent most of the following years in stored reserve, except for a brief period with 404 Maritime Patrol Squadron at Greenwood, Nova Scotia in 1952. In 1964 the RCAF refurbished this aircraft and placed it in the Force’s historical aircraft collection.

Specifications

Wing Span:
31.1 m (102 ft)
Length:
21.1 m (69 ft 6 in)
Height:
6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
Weight, Empty:
15,985 kg (35,240 lb)
Weight, Gross:
29,484 kg (65,000 lb)
Cruising Speed:
322 km/h (200 mph)
Max Speed:
438 km/h (272 mph)
Rate of Climb:
277 m (910 ft) /min
Service Ceiling:
7,530 m (24,700 ft)
Range:
2,671 km (1,660 mi )
Crew:
seven (wartime)
Power Plant:
four Rolls-Royce (Packard) Merlin 224, 1,620-hp, 12 cylinder Vee engines

Additional Photographs

The Canada Aviation Museum’s Image Bank contains additional photographs of this aircraft. Images are provided for non-commercial study or research purposes only and may not be reproduced or published without the prior consent of the Canada Aviation Museum.

Find out more about our Image bank here.