Lancaster VRA

[nikonbob]

She came in today for a visit. Apologies for the exposure, I always have a hard time with these.

Bob

[John Parry]

Ah! Canada's beauty queen! I regret not being able to get aboard in Hamilton, but she was having her toe nails cut (actually a tyre change).

One of the thingumajigs that won the war!

[daveh]

Bob, one of the great planes of all time.

The exposure is not that far off. Just putting the image through IrfanView and applying 'auto adjust colours' results in this:-

A little more playing round perhaps is needed for the best result.

Just had a further look and it seems to be pin-sharp.

[olroy2044]

Bob--WOW--I've never seen on of these in person. Wonderful airplane, and great shot! I'm jealous ;D Roy

[daveh]

This side of the pond we have the "Battle of Britain Memorial Flight" www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf with Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire (and a couple of others now). I tell you, Roy, you would love the sound of the engines as they go overhead: so much more pleasing than those whining jets.

[nikonbob]

John

No hangnails this noon hour, just some cackling from the merlins when they backed off the throttles on landing. Love the sound of those things.

Dave

Nice edit, I always second guess myself on exposures for this type of shot. I should have stayed with 125/11 and let the milky sky blow out.

Roy

There are only two airworthy Lancs in the world, the Mynarski Lanc from CWH in Hamilton and the BBMF Lanc in England. If you can get to Calgary Alberta shortly the Mynarski Lanc will be there and as a bonus you have the possibility of purchasing a ride in her. I was severely PO'd that this was not offered here nor will it be offered in Winnipeg. That should go over exceptionally well in WPG as it is Mynarski's home town.

There is a connection to Thunder Bay in this too. Mynarski won his Victoria Cross trying to save Pat Brophy the tail gunner who was trapped in his tail turret. Pat Brophy and another crew member Jack Friday were both from Port Arthur which is now part of Thunder Bay.

Bob

[daveh]

I met someone a few years ago who was a tail gunner (I'm not sure if he was in Lancasters or another type of plane). I suggested to him that he had done well to get through unscathed. "Well", he said "I only came in towards the end of the war, when we had air superiority, and I never fired my guns in anger."

Years ago I read a book by RC Rivaz, who was a tail gunner. A postscript was added that he had been killed on the next raid. He was there in the earlier days when Germany had a strong Luftwaffe.

I knew someone, now deceased, who was a Lancaster pilot. He piloted, for a few missions, Mickey the Moocher, the Lancaster which holds (I think) the record for the number of missions undertaken. He said Mickey flew like a dream. (It must be in the name.) It is this plane which is part of the Memorial Flight.

[photax]

Hi Bob !

I`ve also never seen one, very impressive plane, great picture !

MIK