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Delve, Ken ”Avro Lancaster”

100 kr

The Avro Lancaster was possibly the finest bomber of World War Two. Capable of lifting huge loads, yet a delight to fly, it spearheaded Bomber Command’s night offensive over Germany. Post-war it went on to serve as a maritime patrol aircraft, and served into the 1950s. Ken Delve tells the full story of its design, development and operational use from its beginnings in the form of the Avro Manchester through to its retirement and beyond.

Inbunden, engelsk text, 160 sidor, 1999, Crowood, nyskick, ISBN: 1861262221

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Beskrivning

The he expansion of the RAF in the late 1930s resulted in a number of aeroplanes that were pressed into service before being fully developed. Among these was the Avro Manchester, powered by the 24-cylinder Rolls-Royce Vulture engine, whose unreliability was the result of hurried development. Although a fine aeroplane in itself, it was transformed by the substitution of four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines into one of the most famous aeroplanes of all time, the Avro Lancaster.

Lancasters went on to achieve lasting fame in the bombing raids over Germany, where their performance and load-carrying capability were fully utilized. Lancasters played a major part in the battles of Berlin and the Ruhr, and modified Lancasters carried out the daring and innovative dams raid in 1943. With minor modifications the aeroplane was capable of dropping blast bombs of 8,000lb and 12,000lb. It was also able to deliver the massive 12,000lb Tallboy bombs that sank the Tirpitz and the 22,000lb Grand Slam that devastated the U-boat pens at Farge and toppled the Bielefeld viaduct.

Post-war, the Lancaster’s range made it suitable as a maritime patrol aircraft while the Avro Lincoln, originally designated Lancaster Mark IV, served in Malaya and Kenya. The Lancaster and Lincoln were also used extensively as engine test beds, being fitted with many different turboprop and jet engines, whose very development would render the Lancaster obsolete.

Ken Delve traces the entire history of this enigmatic aircraft in this welcome addition to the Crowood Aviation Series.

Vikt1010 g
Dimensioner230 × 285 mm