The Avro Lancaster

In  1936 the Air Ministry published specifications calling for a twin-engine bomber to be powered by Rolls Royce engines. A. V. Roe & Company took up the challenge.

In 1940 the Avro Lancaster came from the development of the Avro Manchester, powered by two Rolls Royce Vulture Engines. The Manchester's engines were not sufficient enough and were underpowered and were  replaced the two Vulture engines with four with Merlin engines. Roy Chadwick, the designer, then tested this magnificent plane which was renamed the Lancaster. It was great to handle and could reach high speeds depending on how much bomb load it carried. It could carry heavy bomb loads over high distances.Its maximum speed was 287 mph (462 km) and had a range of 1,660 miles (2,670 km).

Armed with eight machine-guns the Lancaster could carry 22,000 lb (9,980 kg) of bombs. It was 69 ft 6 in (21.18 m) long with a wingspan of 102 ft (31.09 m). The Lancaster I was fitted with a mid-upper and belly turretts, but then the belly turretts were removed as they were useless in a night operation. The Lancaster I was used throughout the rest of the war. With Merlin engines were in short supply, a number of aircraft were fitted with Bristol Hercules radial engines, and became the Lancaster II.

The Lancaster II was in service in March 1943.  It had good flying characteristics, and a better take off. It had a flying range of 2,250 miles (3,620 km) but flew slower than the MkI as its engines had less power, and it used more fuel. American built Merlin engines created the MK III and  was similar to the MKI.