The epic task of restoring a WW2 Lancaster to flight

⚠️ Warning: This video contains flashing images. ⚠️

A 10-year project at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is underway to return a Second World War Lancaster bomber, named 'Just Jane', to flight.

[christopherheggie]

Thanks for this video. My dad named me after his best mate who piloted a Lanc for the RAF but sadly died over Europe in '43. I have often made a point of visiting the Australian War Museum in Canberra to visit G for George, put a poppy in the remembrance wall and say a prayer for him.

[ivorsummersides]

I live just outside of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and I have the privilege of seeing 1 of the 2 airworthy Lancasters fly over very frequently in the good weather. Very loud, large, and intimidating.

[EdMcF]

I saw the two flying Lancasters at Clacton in 2014, when VERA came over via Iceland, the sight and the sound were astounding. Fantastic project.

[examinerian]

My dad was one of the Engine Team at Yorkshire Air Museum, before Elvington was acquired, when the chicken coop that became a Halifax was stored in RAF Dishforth and a couple of JP165's Merlin XXs were under his care for early strip-down - I got involved helping him with the early stuff at Dishforth and the engines, plus the beginnings of Elvington when all we had to reach the upper level of the Control Tower was a ladder. He visited Just Jane maybe 17 years ago, not long before he died, and the team there were so fascinated by his stories as a fellow enthusiast that he got a free ride in the cockpit as the aircraft made its way back to the hanger, after all the paying passengers had finished. He also sat in the pilot's seat whilst all four engines were running prior to shutdown - mum took a photo of him giving a thumbs-up through the open cockpit window.

Tony Agar worked for years at YAM on his NF2 Mosquito - I remember visiting regularly and seeing the progress there - before moving her down to be with Just Jane.

This museum is a hidden gem in that it doesn't come up on many folk's top-10, and well worth a visit.

[woooster]

Myself and my dad did the taxy trip in JJ a few years ago.. Luckily as our uncle was a Lanc pilot with 100 squadron during the war (KIA Feb ‘43), we were able to stand behind the pilot during the taxy experience. The sound and feel of all 4 RR Merlins being run up is an experience never to be forgotten.
It will be an incredible moment when Just Jane takes off.. making 3 airworthy Lancaster’s

[samrodian]

I watch Neville Wheeldon's videos on Just Jane's restoration every time he uploads a video and that can be two or three times a week. Well worth watching it as he has to travel an hour each way from his home to East Kirkby to document the work going on on Just Jane NX611 and the Doncaster fuselage and the French wing they are restoring at the moment. The fuselage will be put onto Jane for next years summer taxi runs while her own fuselage goes through restoration to airworthiness and the rebuilding of the French wing is for them to gain knowledge for Jane's refurbishment to airworthiness in the not to distant future and these dedicated people will be the only ones in the WORLD who will know how to dismantle and rebuild with newly made parts a Lancaster bomber's wing

[hoilst]

If a bunch of British blokes, with beards, in a shed, can't do something, it cannot be done.

[goodandbadtimes]

A dear old friend, now deceased, was a Rear Gunner in the RAF on the Lancaster. The only Brit on board with an all Australian Crew. When I asked him if he was scared, he replied "You were too cold to be scared. The heating would freeze up and stop above 10000 feet. We'd borrow jackets from the Yanks, theirs were a bit better than ours." He even eventually removed the "glass" from his turret, as others did, which previously they had cleaned thoroughly. "But it didn't matter how well you had cleaned it, if you got just a speck of dirt or oil on the glass, it looked like it was an enemy aircraft, especially at night. That scared you. So we took out the glass." He laughed. "It wasn't so bad then." He told me how one night, coming back after a long haul and when they were back over the English Coast, he fell asleep in the turret. Exhausted. When the aircraft landed, the lads didn't want to wake him. They left him there, sleeping. When he eventually "stirred", he couldn't hear the engines. He panicked. He swiveled the turret and pushed out through the door behind him. Backwards. He landed just a couple of feet later on the grass on the airfield. He was a good man Jimmy Gardiner. RIP

[MayYourGodGoWithYou]

Every day going first to and from school and later to and from work my bus would pass the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) in Auckland, NZ, and on display near to the road was - to me - the most beautiful and awe inspiring plane I had ever seen. A Lancaster Bomber. When you visited you could walk inside some of the fusilage but the cockpit and turrets etc were off limits. But to this day - and it's 40 years now since I left NZ - I can still see the plane in my mind's eye. I wish them luck and hopefully I will get to see it fly, even if it's only on video.

[MadMatt]

Such a great day out to the museum, especially when they are taxing Jane around. Highly recommended
!

[wolfecanada]

My grandfather served in the Lancaster over Germany for the a beautiful aircraft

[whiteonggoy]

My uncle was a navigator on a lancaster during the war, he survived.. my bucket list is to see a lancaster in real life...great video thanks

[ivorbexon]

I am an avid follower of the restoration of Just Jane NX622. So this something I would watch and enjoy. Thank you.

[DrivermanO]

Neville Wheeldon does a video every week or so (with interruptions from covid!) about this. He's been doing it for 5 years - he's on video 142 or so!

[mikenelson]

Fantastic project. Thanks to all for their dedication.

[Barumowl]

A couple of the wartime shots showed a central fin so were of the twin engined Avro Manchester from which the Lancaster was developed.

[kyberwolfuk]

I love NX611 but she was built in Longbridge in 1945 for Oporation tiger force the same time as PA474 ...so she her self never saw war.. but she saw service with the French Coastal Command.

[fb]

Had a taxi trip on Just Jane. I was in the bomb aimer position. Absolutely wonderful day.

[tonywoodham]

Great place to visit and wander around taking in the aircraft and on site buildings etc

[ScienceChap]

Did you meet Neville? He's filmed a week by week series since work started.