Lancaster Taxy Rides

[c7xlg]

Has anyone done one of these Lancaster Taxy (taxi?) experiences?

http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/lancaster-taxy-ride...

Thinking about buying one as a birthday present and wondered if they are considered 'good' or not?

[IanMorewood]

I've seen JJ doing taxi rides on a couple of occasion and personally wouldn't bother, yes she's a fine sight, makes a great noise and is cared for by a nice bunch of folks but never looks like she's planning to slip the bounds of the earth and quickly has to slow to turn and repeat before coming back to her dispersal point.

[ecsrobin]

The biggest problem you'll have is the waiting list. I'm led to believe it is quite a long wait.

[scubadude]

They have the word "taxy" about 100 times on the home page alone, am I naive of a aeronautical term or are they muppets without a spellchecker?

[Shar2]

I believe JJ is actually being readied to take to the air again, now that they have managed to get hold of some certified flightworthy engines.

[IanMorewood]

They need more than the engines! Would love JJ to fly but it's going to need millions of quid, years of work and probably a larger air strip to make it happen.

[V8LM]

IanMorewood said:

They need more than the engines! Would love JJ to fly but it's going to need millions of quid, years of work and probably a larger air strip to make it happen.

And would be a terrible waste of an original Lancaster as it was in the good oil' days and would harm the future of the BBMF's. And a lot of other negatives.

[Eric Mc]

Just Jane is in pretty much pristine WW2 configuration - unlike PA474. She would lose that if she was made airworthy.

[Yertis]

Eric Mc said:

Just Jane is in pretty much pristine WW2 configuration - unlike PA474. She would lose that if she was made airworthy.

Well, hang on a minute. Assuming the engines, airframe and flight controls are all 'in ticket' she'd be perfectly airworthy. What you mean is 'buggered about to meet modern comms and navaid requirements'.

I imagine.

I'll get back to me Mac.

[Mr_B]

I did this a while back, see thread. Even going along as just a visitor is great, you can really get quite close and stand right in front as they run all 4 engines and cruising RPMs and hold her on the brakes - amazing sight and sound.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

She is being rebuilt and some work has been done already and they are busy buying parts, fundraising and getting things slowly sorted. They have also said she will be available for taxy rides when airworthy too, so no loss there.
I don't get the criticism, what's going to substantially change that makes having a second Lanc airworthy so bad ?

[Eric Mc]

Yertis said:

Well, hang on a minute. Assuming the engines, airframe and flight controls are all 'in ticket' she'd be perfectly airworthy. What you mean is 'buggered about to meet modern comms and navaid requirements'.

I imagine.

I'll get back to me Mac.

The main (and very obvious) change would be the requirement to convert her for two pilot operation. WW2 Lancs were single pilot only (with very few exceptions). Just Jane is still in single pilot config - and is therefore excellent for use in WW2 docs and dramas.

[lufbramatt]

Eric Mc said:

Just Jane is in pretty much pristine WW2 configuration - unlike PA474. She would lose that if she was made airworthy.

Not really- Just Jane is a B.Mk.VII so doesn't really represent a WWII era lanc, plus she served with the French air force in a maritime role in the 50's with all the mods that entailed. She has the martin upper turret which is in a different position to a B.MkI/III and the 2x .50 cal rear turret, as well as the larger radiators for tropical use. I've been inside both and PA474 is remarkably complete inside and actually very authentic in terms of representing a WWII Lancaster with much of the equipment like ammo belts, flare racks etc. still in place. The most obvious mods are the Lincoln rudders and twin controls, although the twin controls are actually a wartime mod for training use.

If you want a taxi ride then keep an eye on what the Shackleton preservation group are doing with WR963- she should be ready to taxi next year and it will be much easier+cheaper to get a ride in her. Plus at Coventry they have much more runway available to them

Edited by lufbramatt on Wednesday 4th December 16:12

[Shar2]

Well, sorry to dissapoint you Eric. This from their own website.

http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/news/lancaster-nx61...

[RDMcG]

if you are ever in Canada, you can get a flight...here is a short video of mine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu_MC7EyZ2o

[Eric Mc]

lufbramatt said:

Eric Mc said:

Just Jane is in pretty much pristine WW2 configuration - unlike PA474. She would lose that if she was made airworthy.

Not really- Just Jane is a B.Mk.VII so doesn't really represent a WWII era lanc, plus she served with the French air force in a maritime role in the 50's with all the mods that entailed. She has the martin upper turret which is in a different position to a B.MkI/III and the 2x .50 cal rear turret, as well as the larger radiators for tropical use. I've been inside both and PA474 is remarkably complete inside and actually very authentic in terms of representing a WWII Lancaster with much of the equipment like ammo belts, flare racks etc. still in place. The most obvious mods are the Lincoln rudders and twin controls, although the twin controls are actually a wartime mod for training use.

If you want a taxi ride then keep an eye on what the Shackleton preservation group are doing with WR963- she should be ready to taxi next year and it will be much easier+cheaper to get a ride in her. Plus at Coventry they have much more runway available to them

Edited by lufbramatt on Wednesday 4th December 16:12

She is single pilot, isn't she?

[skeggysteve]

scubadude said:

They have the word "taxy" about 100 times on the home page alone, am I naive of a aeronautical term or are they muppets without a spellchecker?

I thought the same thing but on this page on their website

They say:

"Taxi or Taxy?- Many people ask us what is the correct spelling of Taxy. The answer is both or either! They can both be used to describe the ground movement of an aircraft under its own power."

[lufbramatt]

Eric Mc said:

She is single pilot, isn't she?

Just Jane is still single pilot, yes. The dual controls in PA474 consist of a horizontal extension to the existing control column with a second yoke, almost looks like a simple bolt on job but I'm sure it's more involved than that. It is the same system as illustrated in the 1940's A.P. for the Lanc. The second pilot sits on the existing fold down flight engineer's seat. You couldn't put anything too permanent there as it would block access to the bomb aimer's compartment in the nose.

[Eric Mc]

The set up on PA474 does look a little "Heath Robinsonish", I admit.

[richw_82]

lufbramatt said:

If you want a taxi ride then keep an eye on what the Shackleton preservation group are doing with WR963- she should be ready to taxi next year and it will be much easier+cheaper to get a ride in her. Plus at Coventry they have much more runway available to them

Thanks for the mention! WR963 nearly did this year, but went unserviceable with a fuel leak. We're taking steps to ensure the problem won't reoccur, and we will try again after the bad weather's come and gone. The trick is not just to taxy WR963, but to taxy her regularly and reliably!

East Kirkby were talking about opening up some dates in 2015 for Lancaster taxy rides, due to the demand. Its also worth looking at the winter service updates in their website's 'News' section. They are certainly putting a hell of a lot of effort and money into getting NX611 back in the air.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

The main (and very obvious) change would be the requirement to convert her for two pilot operation. WW2 Lancs were single pilot only (with very few exceptions). Just Jane is still in single pilot config - and is therefore excellent for use in WW2 docs and dramas.

I've posted this before but still relevant I think: www.pitstonemuseum.co.uk/myweb/index.htm

As a passing day tripper it was quite a 'barn find'! (Pitstone Musuem)