BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT - GIFT SET

The Avro Lancaster is a British, four-engine, medium-wing metal structure strategic bomber from the Second World War. The prototype flight took place in January 1941 and mass production started in the same year. The basis for the creation of the Lancaster was the Avro Manchester plane. As a drive served min. four Rolls-Royce Merlin XX V-engines with a power of 1280 HP each (Mk.I) or Bristol Hercules VI engines with a power of 1737 HP each, although other engines were also used. Serial production took place at the Avro, Metropolitan-Vickers, Armstrong Whitworth, Vickers Armstrong and Victoria Aircraft plants and by the beginning of 1946, 7377 aircraft were produced. There were four main versions of the Avro Lancaster (Mk.I, Mk.II, Mk.III and Mk.X) that were externally similar to each other. The Avro Lancaster was the RAF's primary strategic bomber, and at the same time earned a reputation for being the best. It was easy to pilot, had high lifting capacity and was characterized by a long durability of the structure. It happened that the bomber was able to complete the mission and return to base, even despite the failure of one engine. The planes entered service in December 1941 and served at the end of the war, primarily performing strategic bombing tasks. It was the Lancasters of the RAF 617 Bomber Squadron that were used in May 1943 to damage the Ruhr water dams. Technical data (Mk.I version): length: 21.11m, wingspan: 31.09m, height: 6.25m, maximum speed: 456km / h, maximum range: 4073km, maximum ceiling 6500m, armament: fixed - 8 rifles 7.7mm Browning machine guns, mounted - up to 6300 kg of bombs or one Grand Slam bomb (10000 kg) after modifying the bomb chamber.Supermarine Spitfire is probably the most famous British fighter from the Second World War. It was an all-metal machine with a low wing configuration, characteristic elliptical wings, a classic tail and a retractable landing gear. The prototype flight took place on March 5, 1936. The Spitfire proved to be the RAF's staple of the war, which continued to do well after the war, remaining in production for 10 years. The history of the Spitfire began on the drawing desk of RJ Mitchell, Supermarine's lead designer. The first machines went to RAF units in 1938, but when the Battle of Britain began in the summer of 1940, there were already 19 squadrons of modern fighters at the airfields - together with the slightly older Hurricanes of the Islands, 600 aircraft were defending. With the expansion of hostilities, the Spitfire served wherever the RAF operated in the Far East, North Africa and Italy, during the Normandy landings and fighting in France, and finally during the operation in Germany in 1945. For many Britons, he became a symbol of victory in World War II. This wonderful machine has at least a dozen production versions. The most important of them are, among others the first mass-produced Spitfire Mk.I powered by a 1030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin II engine. It was above all this machine that made such an excellent contribution to the Battle of Britain. Many versions of this model have been developed, including PR Mk IA (reconnaissance version) or PR.IG (armed reconnaissance version). Another interesting version was the Spitfire Mk.V with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 engine with 1440HP. Later, Merlin 50 engines were also assembled. Serial production of this version started in 1941 and was the RAF's response to the appearance of the Messerschmitt Bf-109F. Another very successful version is the Spitfire Mk.IX, powered by a Merlin 61 engine with a 4-blade propeller. It was created as an opponent to the Focke-Wulf Fw-190 and was put into production at the end of 1941. This version was modified many times and, for example, in 1944 it got a new gyro sight, an enlarged rudder or a different wing system. Another major version is the Spitfire Mk.XIV with a Rolls-Royce Griffon 61 engine and a five-bladed propeller. Serial production started in October 1943. One of the last series produced was the Mk.21 version. This version had a Griffon 61 engine, a strongly reinforced structure and sheathing, the wings were extended, increasing their flying surface. Mass production started in March 1945. Technical data (Mk.XIV version): length: 9.14m, wingspan: 11.23m, height: 3.05m, maximum speed: 717km / h, rate of climb: 18.5m / s, practical ceiling: 13,200m, range maximum: 1815 km, armament: fixed - 4 7.7mm machine guns and 2 20mm Hispano Mk II cannons, suspended - up to 225 kg of bombs.