Lancaster Restoration ‘Just Jane’ Update

Credit: www.lincsaviation.co.uk
Credit: www.lincsaviation.co.uk

Lancaster bomber NX611 ‘Just Jane. An update from the fantastic restoration work being undertaken of this historic plane.

We have removed three propellers from NX611. Number 1 has been removed, broken down and boxed up for long term storage.

Scroll down for images of the Lancaster restoration

Number 2 has been removed ready to move over on to number 3 and number 3 has been removed, broken down and boxed ready for shipping to Hope Aero in Canada for overhaul.

Next week we will hopefully place number 2’s prop onto number 3 and fit the newly overhauled propellers to number 1 and 2 engines.

Number 4 engine propeller will be removed and go through its 5 year service.

Lancaster bomber NX611 “Just Jane” taxiing
Lancaster bomber NX611 “Just Jane” taxiing

Jack has completed the work on the rear fuselage bulkhead and it’s now all ready for paint, hopefully next week.

Once this and the other parts from the rear fuselage have been painted we’re then reliant on the former returning from Cunningham Aero to then allow us to build the fuselage back up.

Kev and Keith have been working through all of the new skins for the wingtips and have worked as far as they can on new skins while we wait for some more material to be delivered.

Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ CC BY-SA 2.0 Richard Croft
Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ CC BY-SA 2.0 Richard Croft

They have been able to build up the stringers and their reinforcement strips which were painted last week and they are now ready for their final coat before they are ready to be fitted to the wingtip.

We made the short trip over to BBMF and worked with some of their team splitting our wheels down on their tyre removal equipment.

The main wheels will be cleaned, paint stripped and then sent on for NDT with Aerospace NDT at Doncaster to check for cracks in the hubs and flanges. We have also split our tailwheel of the Lancaster and spare for inspection and NDT.

We have another Restoration Tour arranged, this time for Saturday 7th March. Tickets are available HERE

Thanks for your support!  Andrew Panton – www.lincsaviation.co.uk

man drilling
John and Les riveting the shroud onto the aileron

 

plane wing
The aileron ready to be removed from the jig

 

rubber tire
The tyre remover at BBMF, a serious piece of kit. This is the team setting up the wheel on the equipment ready for tyre removal.

 

big rubber tire
Setting up the brace against the bead of the tyre.

 

metal sheet
The main bulkhead between the last fuselage former and the rear turret. The parts have all been trial fitted and are ready for cleaning and prepping for painting.

 

Two more Lancaster  wing tip skins being produced. You can see the scale of corrosion we’ve faced on the inside of these skins (Note the Mosquito in the background…).
Two more Lancaster  wing tip skins being produced. You can see the scale of corrosion we’ve faced on the inside of these skins (Note the Mosquito in the background…).

 

man drilling
Keith reproducing some of the reinforcing skins that stretch from the wingtip web up the longerons.

 

propeller
John and Gary breaking down number 1 propeller to be boxed up.

 

propeller
Lancaster number 4 propeller on a prop stand ready to be broken down for its 5 year check.

 

Longerons from the wingtips painted and ready to have their reinforcing strip riveted in place.
Longerons from the wingtips painted and ready to have their reinforcing strip riveted in place.

 

metal sheets
Wingtip and panel parts painted up and ready to be fitted

An absolutely fantastic and historic restoration and you can help this Lancaster back into the skies where she belongs. Please check out and follow and support www.lincsaviation.co.uk and sign up to their newsletter

Since 1988 NX611 has been lovingly cared for and restored at East Kirkby.  She was first taken  to engine running condition and then took her first ‘steps’ taxying for the public in 1995.

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The next logical step is to airworthy condition and this is our aim over the next few years.