Information about the Avro Lancastrian

In 1942, Victory Aircraft Ltd. of Canada converted a Lancaster bomber to enable it to be used as a freighter. They made fairings to replace the nose and tail turrets, removed the mid-upper turret and added three fuselage windows. The aircraft was used for some time by Trans Canada Airlines, who were impressed with its ability to carry heavy loads over long distances. Later, it was flown to England where A.V. Roe Ltd. added passenger seats, and extra fuel tanks to increase the range. Thus equipped, it was used successfully by Trans Canada Airlines and proved the concept of civilianizing a Lancaster.

In 1944, A.V. Roe used the lessons learned from the Canadian conversion to start building a civilian Lancaster for use by BOAC on their Australian route. They allocated a number of airframes for conversion from the end of the Lancaster production line and gave them the designation Avro 691. These aircraft had seats for nine passengers facing to the side and were named Lancastrian I. However, with only nine seats they proved uneconomical.

When BSAA were looking for an aircraft to initiate their South American routes they realised the Lancastrian would be suitable, but insisted that their aircraft be fitted with thirteen forward-facing seats and have windows down both sides of the fuselage (the nine seat version for BOAC only had windows on the starboard side). In this form the Lancastrian III was born, with BSAA taking delivery of their first aircraft in December 1945.

Dimensions

Span (ft & inches) - 102' 0"

Length (ft & inches) - 76' 10"

Height (ft & inches) - 19' 6"

Wing Area (sq ft) - 1,297

Weights

Tare weight (lbs) - 30,220

All-up weight (lbs) - 65,000

Performance

Maximum speed (mph) - 315

Cruising speed (mph) - 245

Initial climb (ft/min) - 950

Ceiling (feet) - 25,500

Range (miles) - 4,150