| Avro 683 Lancaster |
| Nationality |
British |
| Aircraft Type |
Heavy Bomber |
| First Flight |
9 January 1941 |
| Entered Service |
September 1941 |
| Crew |
7 |
| Notes |
The Lancaster was without doubt one of the premier, if not the premier heavy bomber of the second world war. The only aircraft to outlift the mighty Lancaster was the huge B29. |
| Specification |
| Powerplant |
Four 1.640 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin XXIV inline piston engine |
| Performance |
| Speed |
462 km/h at 3.505 m; cruise 338 km/h at 6.100 m |
| Range |
4.072 km with 7.000 lb bombload |
| Service Ceiling |
7.470 m |
| Dimensions |
| Wingspan |
31,09 m |
| Wing Area |
120,49 m² |
| Length |
21,18 m |
| Height |
6,10 m |
| Weights |
| Empty Weight |
16.738 kg |
| Maximum Take Off Weight |
31.751 kg |
| Weaponry |
| Guns |
Eight ,303 in machine guns (two in each of nose and dorsal turrets, four in tail turret) |
| Bombs etc |
One 22.000 lb "Grand Slam" bomb; or 14,000 lb of small bombs |
| Versions |
| Prototype |
Converted Manchester III, 1,130 hp Merlin X engines |
| Mk I |
Basic Lancaster |
| Mk B.I (Special) |
Converted Mk I; extended bomb-bay (without doors) to carry 22,000 lb "Grand Slam" bomb |
| Mk I (FE) |
Tropicalised intended for Far Eastern service |
| Mk PRI |
Post-war conversion for photographic reconnaissance duties |
| Mk II |
Prototype; Improved Mk I with Bristol Hercules VI or XVI engines |
| II |
Production model of Mk II |
| Mk III |
Prototype (converted from Mk I) with Packard-built Merlin engines |
| III |
Production model of Mk III |
| Mk IV |
Renamed Lincoln I before first flight |
| Mk V |
Renamed Lincoln II before first flight |
| Mk VI |
Converted Mk II and Mk III airframes; Fitted with Merlin 85s and 87s |
| Mk VII |
Austin Motors built. Martin dorsal turret; Final production model |
| Mk X |
Canadian built Mk III |
