Avro Lancaster

The Avro Lancaster entered service during World War II as a four-engine heavy bomber. Designed for long-range strategic missions, it became the backbone of the Royal Air Force’s bombing operations. The aircraft was capable of carrying exceptionally large payloads.

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Avro Lancaster
Avro Lancaster – © airwolfhound

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Overview

Avro United Kingdom 1941–1946 $45,000 (1943)

Avro Lancaster — four-engine heavy bomberThe Lancaster first flew in 1941 and entered service in 1942. It evolved from earlier twin-engine designs and incorporated a larger wing and expanded bomb bay. The aircraft was optimized for nighttime strategic missions.Four Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engines, each producing over 1,200 horsepower, powered the bomber. Cruise speed exceeded 210 knots (389 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight surpassed 68,000 pounds (30,844 kg).The Lancaster participated in numerous major operations, including long-range raids and specialized missions. Its large bomb capacity distinguished it from contemporaries. The aircraft remains a symbol of Britain’s wartime air effort.

Specifications

Units
Engine
4 × Rolls-Royce Merlin XX
Engine type
Piston
Power
4 × 1,280 hp · 954 kW
Avionics
H2S Radar
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
7
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
69 ft 4 in  ·  21.13 m
Tail height
20 ft 6 in  ·  6.25 m
Fuselage diameter
5 ft 11 in  ·  1.80 m
Wing span
102 ft 0 in  ·  31.09 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
68,000 lb  ·  30,800 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
22,000 lb  ·  10,000 kg
Fuel capacity
2,950 gal · 11,200 L · 8,000 kg (AvGas)
Max cruise speed
249 kt  ·  287 mph  ·  461 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
82 kt  ·  94 mph  ·  152 km/h
Range
2,200 nm  ·  2,530 mi  ·  4,070 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
24,500 ft  ·  7,500 m
Rate of climb
720 ft/min  ·  4 m/s
Takeoff distance
3,250 ft  ·  990 m
Landing distance
3,200 ft  ·  980 m
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Avro Lancaster

Operational Context

The Lancaster can accommodate seven crew members including a pilot, flight engineer, navigator, bomb aimer/nose gunner, wireless operator, and mid-upper and rear gunners. It has an external length of 21.3 meters, an external height of 5.1 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 1.8 meters. It has a tail height of 6.25 meters and a wheelbase of 12.2 meters. The wingspan is 31.09 meters and the wing area is 120.5 square meters. It has an empty weight of 16,738 kg, a gross weight of 24,948 kg, and a maximum takeoff weight of 30,844 kg. The maximum payload is 10,000 kg and the fuel tank capacity is 2,950 US gal.

The aircraft is powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engines. It is a twelve-cylinder supercharged liquid-cooled piston engine with an overhead camshaft, two intakes and two exhaust per cylinder, and sodium-cooled exhaust valve stems. It also has a two-speed two-stage supercharger, a twin-choke updraught carburetor with automatic mixture control, a dry-sump with one pressure pump and two scavenge pumps and a pressurized cooling system. Each engine produces a maximum takeoff thrust of 1,280 hp and drives a three-bladed propeller. The Lancaster has a maximum speed of 245 knots at 28,576 kg and 13,000 feet altitude. It has a cruise speed of 170 knots. The travel range is 2,200 nautical miles. It can fly up to 21,400 feet at 29,000 kg and can climb at a rate of 720 feet per minute at 29,000 kg and 9,200 feet altitude.

The Avro Lancaster was armed with two 7.62 mm Browning Mark II machine guns in the nose turret, two in the upper turret, and four in the rear turret. Initial models featured two machine guns in a ventral turret aimed from within the aircraft through a periscope. The Lancaster was also armed with a maximum normal bomb load of 6,400 kg.