Avr oL ancas t erNX611' J us t' J ane'hasl ongbeen t he cent r epi ece of t he L i ncol ns hi r e Avi at i on Her i t age Cent r e atEas tKi r kby,L i ncol ns hi r e.F or s ever alyear s ,t heL ancas t er ' sowner shavebeen wor ki ngt owar dsr es t or i ngt heai r cr af tt of l i ght ,a maj orunder t aki ngwhi chwoul dmake' J us tJ ane' onl yt he t hi r d ai r wor t hyL ancas t eri nt he wor l d. El l i ot tMar s h metwi t h Andr ew Pant on atEas t Ki r kby t o s hed s ome l i ght on t hi s hi s t or i cal r es t or at i onpr oj ect .I magesaut horunl es ss t at ed.
n t he eveni ng of 30 Mar ch 1944,near l y800 ai r cr af t f r om RAF Bomber Command – L ancas t er s , Hal i f ax es and Mos qui t os – depar t ed f r om ai r f i el dsi nt he Uni t ed Ki ngdom and headed eas t f or Nur ember g, Ger many. T he 68mi l e l ong bomber s t r eam wasi nt er cept ed en r out e by L uf t waf f e ni ghtf i ght er s ,whi ch i nf l i ct eddevas t at i ngcas ual t i es i nas us t ai nedas s aul t .
Amongs tt he 545 ai r men who di d notr et ur nf r om t he s or t i e was Chr i s t opher Pant on, a young F l i ghtEngi neers er vi ng on433S quadr on.Chr i s t opher ’ s Hal i f axwasoneof96bomber s t hat wer es hot down i nt he Nur ember gr ai d and he was oneoft hos ewhol os tt hei rl i ves overGer many t hatni ght ;t he s i ngl e hi ghes tl os si n Bomber Command hi s t or y.Ashor r i f i ca f i gur e as t hat i s t o cont empl at e,i ti sbutaf r act i on
oft he55, 573ai r menofBomber Command ki l l ed i n oper at i ons overoccupi edEur ope.
Chr i s t opher ’ s br ot her s , F r ed and Har ol d, wer e deepl y af f ect edbyhi sl os s .T heymade i tt hei r ambi t i on t o f or m a l as t i ng memor i al t o t hei r br ot her ,and t he t hous andsof ot her s whos es acr i f i ces wer e r el egat ed t o a mer e pas s i ng ment i on i nt he annal soft i me. Ni ght l y t hey had depar t ed
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f r om t hei rhomel and and f l ew i nt ot he t wi l i ght ,knowi ng not whet hert heywoul dmeett hei r f at ei nt he empt i nes s oft he ni ghts ky.T heyl ef tbehi ndt hei r hopes ,dr eams ,l i vesand l oves t o engage t he enemy over t hei r home t ur f .T hos e who s ur vi ved t he t r auma of mount i ng l os s esand l ongt er m combat s t r es s f or med a br et hr en bound by cour age and r es ol ve t hatwas t es t ed wi t h each pas s i ng day.T he
ast er :t hebeaut i f ulbeastoft heni ght
s hat t er i ng cos tofwarwasf el t byt hos ewhower el ef tbehi nd – mot her s ,f at her s , br ot her s , s i s t er s , wi ves , chi l dr en and count l es s f r i ends and comr ades .T hos e who gave t hei rl i ves ,bot h phys i cal l yand ot her wi s e, have never r ecei ved t he nat i onal r ecogni t i ont hat ,s ay,t he‘ F ew’ ofF i ght erCommandhavehad bes t owedupont hem. T o t hat end, t he Pant ons pur chas ed Avr oL ancas t er B Mk. VI I‘ J us tJ ane’ ,s er i alNX611 – an ai r cr af t wi t ha s t or i ed
hi s t or yt hatcoul d eas i l yf i l la s epar at e ar t i cl e –i n 1983and acqui r edl andont hes i t eoft he f or mer RAF Eas t Ki r kby i n L i ncol ns hi r e on whi ch t o bas e t he ai r cr af t .S i nce t hen,‘ J us t J ane’ has f or med t he cent r epi ece of t he Pant ons ’ L i ncol ns hi r e Avi at i on Her i t age Cent r e,whi chhas ,upunt i lt he cons t r uct i on of t he Bomber Command memor i ali n Gr een Par k,L ondon,been t he onl y maj or s t andi ng, nat i onal l y r ecogni s ed memor i al t o BomberCommand.
ABr i efHi s t or yofAv r oLanc as t erNX611 Av r oL anc as t erBMk . VI I NX611wasr ol l edouti nApr i l 1945, j us tt oo l at et os eeac t i v es er v i c ei nWor l dWarTwo.I n1952,t heL anc as t er wasac qui r edbyt heF r enc hGov er nment , f l ownt oNewCal edoni aand oper at ed i nt he mar i t i me r ec onnai s s anc er ol e.Att hatt i me,t he Hi s t or i cAi r c r af tPr es er v at i onSoc i et y( “ HAPS” )wass eek i ngas ui t abl e ai r c r af tt of l yont heBr i t i s hai r s howc i r c ui tandagr eedt er mswi t ht he F r enc hGov er nmentt opur c has et heL anc as t erf r om t hem,ont he pr ov i s ot hatt heyc oul ds hi pi tbac kt ot heUK. TheF r enc hf l ewt heL anc as t erasf arasmai nl andAus t r al i aand, dur i ng i t st enur ei nSy dney , HAPSov er haul edt heai r c r af tandr ai s edt hef unds t obr i ngt heai r c r af tbac kt ot heUK. Ar r i v i ngon13May1965, NX611 r emai nedgr oundedf ort woy ear sbef or emak i ngal i mi t ednumberof ai r s howappear anc esov eranumberofy ear sunt i l HAPSwasbought outbyRef l ec t ai r . Bas i ngt heai r c r af tatBi ggi nHi l l t hei nt ent i ont omak e i tt hef or mat i v eex hi bi tofamus eum ul t i mat el ynev erc amet of r ui t i on, l eav i ngt heai r c r af t ’ sf ut ur es omewhati ndoubt . NX611wasputupf ors al ei n1972and, asar es ul t , r egi s t er edont he Pant onbr ot her s ’ r adarf ort hef i r s tt i me. TheL anc as t erwasauc t i oned atBl ac k pool buti tnev err eac hedt her es er v ev al ues etatt heauc t i on, r emai ni nguns ol dunt i lt heRtHonL or dL i l f or dac qui r edt heai r c r af t . NX611t henbec ameat empor ar ygat eguar di anatRAFSc ampt on; whi l et her e,L i l f or ds ol dt heai r c r af tt ot hePant ons ,whoev ent ual l y mov edi tt oE as tKi r k bybyr oadi n1987.F ol l owi ngr eas s embl y ,‘ Jus t Jane’enj oy ed s ome l ongawai t ed deep mai nt enanc e and,af t era l engt hy per i od ofr es t or at i on,was r et ur ned t o gr oundr unni ng c ondi t i on.I tf or med t he c ent r epi ec e oft he L i nc ol ns hi r e Av i at i on Her i t ageCent r e, wher ei tr emai nst ot hi sday .
I n F ebr uar y 2010, f ol l owi ng year s of ex t ens i ve pl anni ng and di s cus s i ons wi t h t he r el evant aut hor i t at i ve bodi es ,t he Pant onsannounced t hei r i nt ent i on t or et ur n‘ J us tJ ane’t of l i ghti n a bi dt o cr eat eanai r wor t hymonumentt ot hecour ageand s acr i f i cesofBomberCommand’ sf or got t en‘ Many’ . Andr ew Pant on, Chr i s t opher ’ s nephew and manager of t he L i ncol ns hi r e Avi at i on Her i t age Cent r e,s poke t o GAM t o di s cus st he pr ogr es st hi s mas s i ve under t aki ng hashad s of ar ,and t ot ake a l ookatt hewor kt hats t i l lneedst obedonebef or ea s econdL ancas t ergr acest hes ki esabovet heUK. “We’ ve had t he f eas i bi l i t ys t udydone byt he Ci vi l Avi at i on Aut hor i t y( “CAA” )and we know whatwe needt odot omakei tai r wor t hy,f oras t ar t ” ,Andr ew t el l sGAM.“T hemai nt hi ngnow i st omakes ur ewe’ ve got ever yt hi ng on t he s hel fs o t hat when we ef f ect i vel y‘ pr es st he but t on’t os t ar tt he pr oces sof r es t or i ngi tt oai r wor t hi nes s ,wehaveever yt hi ng–or near l yever yt hi ng;we’ l lneverbe abl et o coveral l bas es–weneed. ” T hePant onsant i ci pat eat i mes cal eofappr ox i mat el y 18mont hsf ort her es t or at i oni t s el f ,f r om t heundoi ng oft he f i r s tbol tt ot he f i nalr eas s embl y.Col l at i ng a s t ockpi l e ofs par es and equi pmentwi l lhopef ul l y cont r i but et owar dat i mel yr et ur nt of l i ght ,ands houl d hel pt he t eam ci r cumventt he need t o putt he r es t or at i ononhol dwhi l s ts our ci ngaddi t i onal par t s ,as Andr ew ex pl ai ns .“T hewor s tt hi ngwecoul d doi st o s t ar ts t r i ppi ng i t apar ts o t hat i t ’ s no l onger a compl et eai r cr af tt hatcant ax i ,and t hens pend 12 mont hst r yi ngt of i nd a par t .T hatwoul ds etusback anddur i ngt hatt i mewe’ dbet r yi ngt opaypeopl e’ s wageswi t hi ncomet hatwoul dn’ tbecomi ngi n.I t ’ sa bi gpr oces s ,andweneedt ober eadyt odoi t . ” I ndeed,s i nce t he f or malannouncement of t he Pant ons ’i nt ent i ont or et ur nt hei rL ancas t ert of l i ght , t heyhavebeens pear headi ng anongoi ng dr i vet o l ayt hegr oundwor kf oraf ut ur er es t or at i on,whenever t hatmaybe.Whi l et her ei sl i t t l e awar enes soft he pr oj ect ’ scur r ents t at usi nt hepubl i cdomai n,Andr ew conf i r mst hatt hepr er es t or at i onpr epar at i onsar ei n f ul lef f ectand cer t ai nl y,pl ent y hasal r eady been done i n advance ofr ecei vi ng t he goahead f r om F r edandHar ol dPant on.
I tcoul dal mostbe1944. . .NX611sur r oundedb
“T he f our t h and f i nalai r wor t hy Mer l i n en L ancas t er–al t houghwe’ l l haves par es ,ofc J une oft hi s yearand i s wel lon i t s wa under car r i ages etaswel l ,whi chi sbei ng w T hemai npr obl em we’ r ehavi ngwi t ht heun gott or epl ace s ome oft he met alt ubi ng, s amemet alast heyus edt odur i ngt hewar cal cul at i onsand ot hert es t sdonet opr ove wi l l dot hej ob.
“Peopl emayhaves eent hatt heL ancas t e ci vi lr egi s t erasGAS XX.T hat ’ spur el yi nor d cal cul at i ons ,becaus e we can’ twor k on wi t houti tbei ngont heci vi l r egi s t er . T hemai n i st ohaveoneort wos par es et sont hes hel f
byper i odRAFvehi cl esatEastKi r kby' sSpeci alPhot ogr aphyEvent2012( Huw Hopki ns)
engi ne r equi r ed t of l yt he cour s e–i scomi ngi nar ound ay.We’ ve s entaway an wor ked onatt hemoment . under car r i agei st hatwe’ ve ,and t heydon’ tmake t he ar .We’ vegott ohaves t r es s et hata new t ypeofmet al
t erwaspl aced backont he r dert o per f or mt hes es t r es s n an ai r cr af tf ort he CAA i nai mf ort heunder car r i age el fs ot hatt heycanbef i t t ed
t ot heai r cr af twheni t ’ sai r wor t hy,andt hes ett hati soni tnow canbe s entof ff orover haul . ” “We’ vegott wonew t yr esoutofa bat cht hatDunl op madef ort he Bat t l eofBr i t ai nMemor i al F l i ght ’ sL ancas t erPA474.T hemi duppert ur r et t hatwe’ l l f i twhent heL ancas t eri sf l yi ngi sgoi ngqui t ewel l ,t oo.Wej us t boughts ome new bear i ngsf ort hat ;t he t r oubl ei s ,f i ndi ng par t sf or war t i meai r cr af ti s n’ tpar t i cul ar l yeas ywhenyou’ r el ooki ngf orobs cur e bear i ngsand t hi ngsl i ke t hat !T he t ur r eti t s el fwasi mpor t ed f r om Amer i ca.T hePer s pexbl i s t erf ori ti sanew onet hatwasbl ownf ort he ai r cr af tandaddi t i onal l y,wehaveal ongl i s toft hi ngswe’ r el ooki ngf or i n or dert o compl et ei t .We’ r el ooki ng f orpar t si n Amer i ca and a companyi nL i ncol nhasj us tpr oduceds omebear i ngsf orus ,whi chwe r ecei vedon30Mar ch2012. ”
J ustt woexampl esoft heor dnancecar r i edbyt heLancast eri noper at i onalser vi ce
Al l oft hi swor kwi l l nat ur al l ybef ul l ycer t i f i edand account ed f ori ns of araspaper wor k goes ,i n or dert os at i s f yt he CAA t hatever yt hi ng has been compl et ed t o t he r equi s i t e s t andar d whi ch,asAndr ew des cr i bes ,f al l ss t r i ct l yi nl i ne wi t ht hes t andar dss etbyt heBBMFdur i ng t hei r oper at i onofPA474.“T he CAA hast ol d ust hat becaus et heRAFi sf l yi ngaL ancas t er ,anyt hi ng we do wi l lhave t o be ofan equalorbet t er qual i t yt hant heRAFpr oces s es ,becaus et hey’ r e ef f ect i vel yt hebenchmar k.T heor i gi nalt hought wast hatt hewi ngswoul dhavet ocomeof fand t hi ngsl i ket hat ,butbecaus ewe’ vegott of ol l ow t heRAF ’ swayofdoi ngt hi ngs ,t her ear ecer t ai n pr oces s esand pr ocedur esi npl ace t hatmean we won’ t have t o r emove component s , pr ovi dedwecanvi s ual l yi ns pectt hem. “Oneex ampl ei st het r ans por t at i onj oi nt si nt he f us el age,wher ebi t sar ebol t edt oget hert of or m t he f us el age.T he t houghtwast hatt hey’ d al l need t o be t aken apar tatt hos e poi nt sand ever yt hi ng woul d have t o go t hr ough
nondes t r uct i vet es t i ng( “NDT ” ) ,butnow t her e’ s apr oces si npl acet hatmeanswecanNDTt he j oi ntoni t sownands eei ft her e’ sanycor r os i oni n t hej oi n,andt henr epl acet hebol t sar oundt he j oi nt ,whi chs at i s f i esal lt heCAA r egul at i ons ,but i tmeanswe don’ thave t o phys i cal l yt ake t he ai r cr af tapar t . ” S uppl ement ar yt ot he es s ent i alcomponent s and pr oces s esneeded t o make t he L ancas t er ai r wor t hy,s t epsar e bei ng t aken t o make t he ai r cr af t mor e aut hent i c t o i t s war t i me s peci f i cat i ons . T he Pant ons have al s o commi s s i oned t he manuf act ur i ng ofa s etof 250I bs bombs , whi ch wi l l be hung i n t he L ancas t er ’ sbomb bay once t he bomb r acks have been r ei ns t al l ed. I ti s al s o Andr ew’ s i nt ent i ont oi ns t al l or i gi nal ox ygenbot t l ehol der s , ox ygen bot t l esand myr i ad ot hercomponent s t o make ‘ J us tJ ane’ascl os et o aut hent i c as pos s i bl e,i n or derf ori tt o become a t r ue and accur at e r ef l ect i on of an oper at i onal L ancas t er .
T hedeci s i ont or et ur n‘ J us tJ ane’t oi t sWor l d War T wo s peci f i cat i on pl ays i nt o a mus eumwi de s t r at egy t hatwi l laf f ectt he ent i r eL i ncol ns hi r e Avi at i onHer i t age Cent r e s i t e.“WhatI ’ dl i ket odowi t ht hemus eum i s t ot ake i tasf arbackt o bei ng a Bomber Commandai r f i el daswecan.I ’ dl i ket os ee t he ai r f i el d havi ng bi t soni tt hata Bomber Command ai r f i el d had –whet heri t ’ sa L i nk t r ai nerr oom,a bombi ng t r ai nerand t hat ki ndoft hi ng–s ot hati t ’ sl i keyou’ r es t eppi ng backandyoucans ee,t oadegr ee,whati t wasl i ke.I t ’ sanongoi ngpr oces s :l as twi nt er , weputupf ourNi s s enhut s ,oneofwhi chwi l l be a bi l l ethutwi t h al lt he bedsand cr ew bel ongi ngss etout .Anot herwi l l beabr i ef i ng hut ,s oi t ’ l l haveal l t hepat hf i nderchar t sand al ar gemapofEur opewi t ht her out es etout oni t .We’ r e movi ng t owar dsi tal lt he t i me, i t ’ sj us t a gr adualt hi ng.We get about 3040, 000vi s i t or sher e ever yyear ,s o we’ ve gott os pr ead t hati ncome acr os swor kon t heL ancas t erand devel opi ngt hemus eum s i t e. ” I n pr epar at i on f ort he L ancas t er ’ sr et ur nt o f l i ght ,t heai r f i el datEas tKi r kbywi l l al s oneed t o under go a s er i es of modi f i cat i ons t o f aci l i t at et heoper at i onof‘ J us tJ ane’wi t hi n t hepr es cr i beds af et ymar gi ns .Cur r ent l y,t he ai r f i el dhast wor unways–a4, 000f tconcr et e r unwayand a s epar at egr as ss t r i p.Ei t herof t hes er unwayswoul d need t obeex t ended t o 5, 500f ti n or der f or t he L ancas t er t o t akeof f and l and wi t h ampl e s pace, r egar dl es sofwhi chs t r i pt hePant onschoos e t o ut i l i s e.“L ogi s t i cal l yf ort he mus eum,t he eas i eropt i on i st o devel op t he gr as ss t r i p” , s ays Andr ew. “T o get t o t he concr et e r unway you need t o cr os sa hi ghway,s o we’ d need t o have bar r i er sand l i ght si n pl ace.T hepr ef er abl eopt i onsf orweat heri s ofcour s e a concr et er unway,however ,I ’ d i magi ne i twi l lend up bei ng a gr as ss t r i p. We’ ve al r eady been i n cont actwi t ht he l andowner sandwehavegott hegoahead f r om t hem t o us et hei rl and wheneverwe needt o. ”
Whi l ei t sr es t or at i on wi l lnat ur al l ys ee t he L ancas t erhangar ed f ort he vas tmaj or i t y oft hepr oj ect ,Andr ew s t r es s est hatvi s i t or s t ot he mus eum wi l ls t i l lbe abl et o enj oy s eei ng t heai r cr af tup cl os e.“T hemaj or i t y oft he wor kwi l lbe done i nt he hangar , whi chwi l l bes ect i onedof f ,i naccor dance wi t hCAA r egul at i ons ,s ot hatpeopl e can s t i l lcome t ot he mus eum and s ee what we’ r edoi ng.T hehangari sbi genought hat wi t hout t he vehi cl es i n,you can have publ i cacces swhi l et heL ancas t eri sbei ng s t r i pped down and t he publ i c wi l lal ways beabl et ocomeand s eet hewor kbei ng done.Wi t ht heex cept i onofanypar t st hat may be s entaway t o mai nt enance or r es t or at i on,t heL ancas t erwi l l r emai ni nt he hangarf ort hedur at i on. ” T hi swi l lundoubt edl ycome asa r el i eff or t hos ewhoques t i oned,onhear i ngt he2010 announcement ,whet herEas tKi r kbywoul d l os ei t sbi gges tandmos tpr of ounddr awi ng poi nt . Equal l y, Andr ew adds , t he r es t or at i on wi l lnots ee t he end oft he L ancas t er ’ sf amed t ax ir uns . “A l ot of peopl et hi nkt hati fwe f l yourL ancas t er , peopl ewi l lnol ongerbeal l owedt ogoon boar di tandwe’ l l nol ongerbeabl et odo t ax i r uns .T her ear enoCAAr egul at i onst hat s ugges tt hat you can’ t ;i t ’ s pur el y an oper at or ’ spr er ogat i ve. “T he mai n pr obl em wi t h t he pos t r es t or at i on t ax ir uns i st hat , when we’ veal l owedpeopl eonboar daspar tof t he t ax ir un ex per i ence, t her e’ s an i ncr eas ed r i s k ofF OD and uni nt ent i onal damaget ot heai r cr af t .Al li tmeansi st hat we’ l lhavet odoabi tmor ewor kaf t ert he t ax ir un t o make s ur et he ai r cr af ti sf i tf or f l i ght .T her e’ snor eas onwhypeopl ecan’ t have t he s ame acces st ot he ai r cr af tas t heydonow,andt heai r cr af twoul dhave t ens ,i fnothundr edsoft hous andsmor e peopl es eei ng i ti fi twasf l yi ng on t he ai r s how ci r cui t , whi ch hel ps t o r ai s e awar enes sf orBomberCommand. ”
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Ofcour s e,al loft he pr epar at i ont hatgoesi nt o f l yi ng ‘ J us t J ane’ i s ar guabl y r ender ed meani ngl es swi t houtt he avai l abi l i t y ofs ui t abl e pi l ot st ot es tandl at erdi s pl ayt heai r cr af t .Asyou cani magi ne, t her ei s n’ tex act l yagl utofqual i f i ed L ancas t erpi l ot sr eadi l yavai l abl ei nt he UK,but Andr ew as s ur esGAM t hatt her ear eappr opr i at e avi at or swai t i ng i nt he wi ngs ,and ot heropt i ons avai l abl e t o cul t i vat e new pi l ot s ,t o t ake commandoft heL ancas t er ’ scont r ol ss houl ds he f l y. “We’ l lhavet wopi l ot s ,s owe’ l lneed t oputi na s econdcont r ol col umn.Wecur r ent l yhaveaf ew pi l ot swhot ax i t heai r cr af twhowi l l al s obeel i gi bl e t of l yi taswel l .T hemaj or i t yofourpi l ot sf l ew t he BBMF ’ sL ancas t erand,whi l et her e ar e cur r ency i s s ues ,wes houl d beabl et os at i s f yt hatt hr ough s uf f i ci ent t r ai ni ng.Equal l y,becaus ei ti s n’ ta compl exai r cr af tl i ke t he Vul can,f orex ampl e, andi t ’ sunderacer t ai nwei ght ,youonl yneeda Pr i vat ePi l ot ’ sL i cence( “PPL ” )t of l yi t ;youdon’ t needacommer ci al pi l ot ’ sl i cence.F ori ns ur ance pur pos es , any PPL s woul d need L ancas t er conver s i oncour s es–wedon’ tyetknow whet her t heBBMFwi l l beabl et ohel pusi nt hatr es pect ,or whet herwe’ dhavet os endpi l ot st oCanadat o t r ai n wi t h t he Canadi an War pl ane Her i t age L ancas t ert eam,butt hat ’ sal otf ur t herdownt he l i ne. ” S i mi l ar l y,t her es t or at i onwi l lr equi r et heex per t i s e ofa qual i f i ed engi neer i ng t eam,whi chAndr ew cl ar i f i eswi l lcompr i s e ofex BBMF and ex CAA engi neer s . “We’ l l bui l d our own t eam of engi neer sf ort he r es t or at i onoft he ai r cr af t .Our cur r entai r f r ame engi neeri sBob Mi t chel land Kei t hBr enchl eyi si nchar ge ofengi nes .T hey’ r e bot hex BBMFandbot hhaveal otofex per i ence i nt hemaj orover haul soft heL ancas t er .Bobwas i nf actatAi rAt l ant i que att he poi ntwhen i t under t ookt hel as tmaj orover haulont heBBMF ’ s L ancas t er ,and Kei t hwasi nchar geoft heBBMF engi neer i ng s t af fs ever alyear sago,s ot hey’ r e ver ycapabl e and s houl d hopef ul l ybe abl et o managet hemai nt enanceoft heai r cr af toncei t f l i es .Whi l e we mayhave t o br i ng i n addi t i onal s t af ff orwi nt erover haul sandt hel i ke,wes houl d beokayf ort hegener al oper at i onoft heai r cr af t .
“We have al s os t r uck a deal wi t ht he RAFi nt hatwhen Al Pi nnerwasOC oft heBBMF ,he wr ot e t o us ex pr es s i ng t he BBMF ’ sf ul ls uppor tand we’ ve al s o been s peaki ng t os ever al peopl e hi gher up t he RAF hi er ar chy,who have gi ven us acces swheneverwewanti tt o any t ool sorpaper wor k–t he s t andar d oper at i ng pr ocedur es ,t hatki nd oft hi ng. T heagr eementi sbas i cal l yt hat wecanus ewhat everweneed t o, pr ovi ded t her e’ s an agr eements etoutand s i gned di ct at i ng t he t er ms and condi t i ons of us i ng t hat equi pment .T heRAFandBBMF havebeenver ys uppor t i veand al t hough we haven’ t yet ex er ci s edourr i ghtt ous i ngt hei r mat er i al s ,t he bui l di ng bl ocks ar et her e and i twi l lcer t ai nl y ai dt her es t or at i onhugel y. ”
Once‘ J us tJ ane’i sbacki nt he ai r , i t woul d al mos t unques t i onabl y become par t oft heBr i t i s hai r s how ci r cui tand woul d be avai l abl ef ordi s pl ay booki ngs . “I t ’ d be mor e ex pens i ve t han booki ng t he BBMF ’ sL ancas t erbecaus ei t woul dn’ t be s ubs i di s ed” , Andr ew t el l sGAM.“Buti fyou t r y booki ng t he BBMF L ancas t er , not 100% of booki ngs ar e gr ant ed, s o t her e’ l lal waysbepeopl ewho mays et t l ef orour s ,s hal l wes ay! I ’ ms ur et hat ,pr ovi dedwecan come t o an agr eementwi t h t he BBMF , bot h of t he L ancas t er swi l l f l yi nt andem on occas i onand we’ d hopet hat t he bi g ai r s howswoul dl i ke t o havet hatasas pect acl e. ”
Br i ngi ng a f our engi ne WWI I bomber back t o ai r wor t hy condi t i oni s ,put t i ngi tmi l dl y,an ex t r emel y cos t l y ex er ci s e. Ot herr es t or at i onpr oj ect shave f al l en l ong bef or e t he f i nal hur dl esdue t ol ack off unds and s us t ai nabl ei ncome,and ot her shavemadei tbacki nt o t heai ronl yt obegr oundedby pr ohi bi t i ve i ns ur ance,f ueland mai nt enance oper at i ng f ees . I ndeed, t he L ancas t er ’ s des cendant ,t he mi ght y Avr o Vul can,i sa pr i me ex ampl e of how a mul t i mi l l i on pound endeavourcan s nowbal li nt o s omet hi ng al mos t i ns ur mount abl e due t o t he ever pr es entneedt ogener at e s uf f i ci ent and s us t ai nabl e i ncome.
Whi l e ai r cr af tl i ke t he Vul can and B17 F l yi ng F or t r es s‘ S al l y B’have s ur vi ved,t o an ex t ent , t hankst ot hegener os i t yoft hei rs uppor t er swho have col l ect i vel y donat ed hundr eds of t hous andsofpoundst owar dst he ai r cr af tover t he year s ,t he Pant onsar e keen t o keep t he r es t or at i on of ‘ J us t J ane’ as f i nanci al l y aut onomousaspos s i bl egoi ngf or war d.“Att he moment ,al lt he wor k we’ ve done hasbeen pai df oroutofourownpocket sandwe’ venot hadanyf undi ngf r om anyoneel s e.I fwewer et o t ake L ot t er yf undi ng and s o on, i t woul d cer t ai nl y di l ut e what we’ ve al r eady done our s el vesbecaus e peopl e who di dn’ tknow al l oft he f act smi ghtt hi nkt hatever yt hi ng we’ ve doneher ehasbeenachi evedonl ywi t hL ot t er y money.We’ r ef ai r l ykeent odoasmuchaswe can wi t h ourown f unds ,gener at ed f r om t he mus eum. ” T he L i ncol ns hi r e Avi at i on Her i t age Cent r e
wel comesupwar dsof30, 000vi s i t or seachyear and appr ox i mat el y1, 000peopl e come year l y f orei t hera gui ded t ourora t ax ir un,whi chr un f r om Mar cht oNovember–“T hat ’ sa t es t i mony t o how peopl e f eel about what Bomber Commanddi d,I gues s ” ,s aysAndr ew.T hef unds f r om t hes evi s i t or s ,combi nedwi t hi ncomef r om s peci alevent ss uchast heNovemberni ghtt ax i r unandt heannual ai rdi s pl ay,wi l l pl ayavi t al ,i f notdeci di ng r ol ei ns uppor t i ng t he L ancas t er ’ s r et ur nt of l i ght .“We’ r e al s o ver ykeen t hatt hi s ai r cr af tr emai ns‘ t hepeopl e’ sL ancas t er ’asf ar as pos s i bl e. At t he moment we have a s uppor t er ’ sas s oci at i on and I ’ m s ur et hatwi l l bui l dt o encompas smor et hi ngsyou can do dependi ng ont he moneyyougi ve and t hi ngs l i ket hat .T hemos twecanhopef oroncei tf l i esi s t hatwe can covert he oper at i ng cos t s .You’ l l nevermakeanymoneyoutoff l yi nganai r cr af t l i ke t hi s .I fyou geti nt oi twi t ht hati dea,t hen you’ r ebl i ndt ot hecos t sofi t .
EastKi r kby' sper i odvehi cl esaddt ot heat mospher eatt heMar ch2012phot oshoot
“A l otofpeopl ear eoft heopi ni ont hatwear e mer el y cus t odi ansf ort he nex townerand i t won’ tceas et oex i s twhenwes t opowni ngi t .I ti s anat i onal t r eas ur ei fyoul i ke,whi chi sownedby t hepubl i ci naway.Ofcour s e,we’ r emor et han happyf orpeopl et ogi vedonat i onst owar dst he ai r cr af tbecaus ei thel pst o ens ur et hati t ’ l lbe her ef ort hef ut ur egener at i ons .T hemor emoney peopl e gi ve t oi t ,t he l ongeri t ’ l lbe her e– unf or t unat el y, t hi ngs don’ t happen wi t hout moneyanymor e. ”
T hatr ai s esan i nt er es t i ng ques t i on –gi ven t he cos ti nvol ved and t hever ynat ur eofoper at i ng a hi s t or i c ai r cr af t ,how l ong coul d‘ J us tJ ane’ f eas i bl ybekeptf l yi ng?“T hel i f eonanai r cr af ti n i t sor i gi nals t at ei sl i mi t ed” ,s aysAndr ew.“You cannotf l yanai r cr af toni t sor i gi nalai r f r amef or year sand year s ,i twi l lneed r epai r sand i twi l l needt hi ngschangi ng.Al otoft heai r cr af tf l yi ng now,t hey’ r e nott he ai r cr af tt heywer e when t heywer ebui l t ,t hey’ r epr act i cal l ynew ai r cr af t . I fyoul ookati tf r om t hatr es pect ,i twoul dmake s ens ef orust owai tunt i l t heBBMFcannol onger f l yt hei r sbef or e we f l your s ,i n or dert o ens ur e t hatt her ei sa L ancas t erf l yi ng i nt he UKi nt he l ongert er m.
“T hemai nl i f ei s s uesont heai r cr af tar et hemai n s parandt heengi nes .Mai ns par sonL ancas t er s ar el i cens ed t o 4, 000 hour s .T he ai r cr af thas done 2, 424f l yi ng hour s ,s oi t ’ sgotabout1, 600 of f i ci alf l yi ng hour sl ef t .T he CAA and Br i t i s h Aer os pace s ai d, when t hey i ns pect ed i t pr obabl y 10 ors o year sago now,t hatt hey woul d notl i cence i tf ora f ur t her1, 600 hour s , t hey woul d onl yl i cence i tf or800 hour sand t hen,oni ns pect i onaf t ert hat ,keep i ncr eas i ng t he l i f es pan oft he ai r cr af t ,whi ch you can under s t and gi ven how much t he ai r cr af thas beent akenapar t ! “T her ear es t i l lmat er i al sl ef tf r om t hemai ns par s t hatt he BBMFus ed when t heyr enewed t hei r s par ,andt heCanadi anshaver epai r eds omeof t hei rs paraswel l ,s oi fyou’ r e happy f ort he L ancas t ert o be a per cent age or i gi naland a hi gher per cent age new, you coul d f l y i t i ndef i ni t el y,t o a degr ee.I t ’ spos s i bl et hatwe mayf l yi tf oracoupl eofyear sandt hendeci de t ogr oundi t ,butatl eas tt heai r cr af twi l l bei nan ai r wor t hycondi t i onf ort hef ut ur e. ”
Whi l et hePant onsar ei nt hemi ds tofpr epar i ng t hems el vesf oraf ul l r es t or at i ont of l i ght ,t hef i nal deci s i onhasnotyetbeenmadeandt her ei sa l ong wayt o go bef or e anydef i ni t i ve act i on i s t aken.S i nce t he pr oj ect ’ s announcementi n wi nt er2010,manyhaveques t i oned t he‘ need’ f oras econdf l yi ngL ancas t eri nt heUK–af t eral l , t he BBMF ’ sai r cr af ti ss een atai r s hows ,pr i vat e and s t at e event sacr os st he count r y and i sa per f ect l y adequat ef l yi ng t r i but et o Bomber Command. Butt her e’ smor et oi tt hant hat .T hepr oj ecti sa deepl y per s onal , emot i onal af f ai rf or t he Pant ons .T he L ancas t erhonour snotonl yt hei r f al l en ki n,butt he 55, 573 ai r men ofBomber Command who l ai d down t hei rl i vesf orour f r eedom.Regar dl es sofwhet heri tf l i esornot , ‘ J us tJ ane’i ss ymbol i c oft hats acr i f i ce and t hr ought he event satEas tKi r kby,and t hr ough any ai r di s pl ay appear ances i nt he di s t ant f ut ur e,t he mes s age oft hats acr i f i ce wi l lbe pas s ed on t ot he nex tgener at i on.T hat ,one mus ts ur el yagr ee,i soff undament al i mpor t ance ata t i me wher e we asa nat i on s eem t o be i ncr eas i ngl yi ndi f f er entt ot hel es s onsoft hepas t .
“Wi t h ever yt hi ng,t her e’ s a negat i ve and a pos i t i ve,i t ’ sj us taboutwei ghi ng up whatyou wantt o do” ,s ur mi s esAndr ew.“Ofcour s ei t ’ s s af eri fi tdoes n’ tf l y,butt hen,i fi tf l i es ,i t ’ l l bei na bet t ercondi t i on t han i fi tj us ts t ays on t he gr ound.Get t i ngourL ancas t erai r wor t hywi l l al s o hei ght ent heknowl edgeofourai r cr af tandt he mus eum her e and i fi nt ur nt hat i ncr eas es peopl e’ sawar enes sandknowl edgeofBomber Command,t heni t ’ ss ur el yagoodt hi ng. “When i tcomest oi t ,i t ’ sF r ed and Har ol d’ s deci s i on.Al t hough t he ai r cr af twi l lbe pas s ed downt hef ami l yandi twi l lats omepoi ntbemy deci s i on, s hal l we s ay, I woul d not be comf or t abl emaki ngt hedeci s i ont of l yi ti fF r ed andHar ol dhaves ai dt hatt heynol ongerwant
t of l yt he ai r cr af t .I t ’ snotmy deci s i on att he moment ,i t ’ st hei rai r cr af tand t hey boughti t ands etever yt hi ngupher e.I ft heys etoutatt he endoft hei rt i mewi t hi tt hatt heydon’ twantt he ai r cr af tt of l yi nf ut ur e,myhandsar et i ed and I woul dn’ twantt of l yi tei t her . “Whent hey’ r enol ongerar ound,t heai r cr af twi l l beasmuchi nt hei rmemor yasi nChr i s t opher ’ s . Al t houghpubl i copi ni oni sver yi mpor t antt ous , t hemai nr eas ont hi smus eum wass etupwasi n memor yofBomberCommand and i nmemor y ofChr i s t opherPant on.I fF r ed and Har ol df eel t hati t ’ si nt he bes ti nt er es t sofhonour i ng t he memor yofChr i s t ophert of l yt he ai r cr af t ,who ar ewet oar guewi t ht hat ?”
The Li ncol nshi r e Avi at i on Her i t age t eam pr ovi de a ver y ef f ect i ve i l l ust r at i on ofa scenar i ot hatwoul d have been r epeat edacr osst hecount yni ght l ydur i ngWor l dWarTwo
T heaut horwi s hest ot hankAndr ew Pant onandt heL i ncol ns hi r eAvi at i onHer i t ageCent r e.