The Plane That Missed Its Single Most Important Asset

With over 7,300 units produced, the iconic Avro Lancaster was Britain’s most widely-used and successful bomber of World War 2. But it wouldn’t have been possible without the considerable groundwork laid by its less famous forerunner, the Avro Manchester.

Avro’s first attempt at a twin-engine heavy bomber, the Manchester, took to the skies in 1939 in time to take part in early British air raids over Germany the following year, participating in a host of daring missions and lighting a path for future Allied bombing strategies.

Though recurrent issues with its unreliable Rolls-Royce Vulture engines would cause the Manchester’s career to be cut short, the lessons learned from this fatal flaw would inspire Avro’s design team to work on an innovative solution. This would eventually lead to the creation of the aircraft’s celebrated successor, securing the Manchester’s legacy for years to come.

---

Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.

[GaryJohnWalker]

Development issues are obviously not uncommon. But Avro's response - rather than stick to a failing path - was amazing under such immense pressure. Great vid

[janicereadymartcher]

I used to live under the flight path of Lincoln bombers at RAF Watson in the fifties one mile from the runway. We would wave to the pilots as they flew over our bungalow on Merton Road. The sound of the engines was wonderful even on a night time when they sometimes came over with their landing lights on. Phil

[thebritishengineer]

The Air Ministry specification was a total farce. Roy Chadwick created an incredible machine in the Mancheter Bomber but it was physically impossible to meet it's requirement of range/bomb load on two engines.

[steveb]

I know very well the daughter of the electrical engineer who designed the electrical systems for the Lancaster, he worked for Vickers. He went on to get involved with hydro electric dams.

[otacon]

I just saw one of only two Lancaster’s still flying yesterday at Shuttleworth in the UK. I live 5 minutes down the road so could have seen it for free but it’s a great day out.

[thebobloblawshow]

Another great one. I had no idea the Manchester was the predecessor to the Lancaster.

[wilburfinnigan]

What also is NOT discussed was with the advent of the Lancaster and it 4 RR Merlin engines, there was a severe engine shortage of Merlin engines and RR turned to FORD UK for more production, Ford Provided 33, 000, Merlins and RR came to the USA and contracted PACKARD for another off shore source and Packard provided 37, 137 to the brits plus another 18, 000 to the USAAF. PACKARD Merlins went into 3.040 British built Mk BIII Lancasters and 400 Canadian built Mk X. FORD and RR sourced Merlin went into the 3900 Mk BI Lancasters. interesting note all these Lancasters had the 20 series SINGLE stage supercharged Merlin, limiting service ceiling to 20, 000 ft. Packard Built in America also went into 1500 Mosquitos and 1200 Hurrycanes built in Canada and the $hitfire Mk XVI, 1040 Also got the PACKARD built Merlins. Just a FYI most people do NOT know about...Allied cooperation !!!

[countrywideboy]

Brilliant story, I work at RAF Langar the home of 207 SQD from 42 to 43.

[Fidd-mcsz]

Er no, it wasn't "Britains most widely used", that honour belongs to the VIckers Wellington, of which some 11, 000 were produced.

[markhindmarsh]

I have always wondered what if the Manchester and Westland Whirlwind had been given the highly in demand Merlin engines.
I believe these aircraft could have been as legendary as the B25 and P38. We shall never know

[TorquilBletchleySmythe]

Rolls Royce has no knowledge of an engine called the Vulture and disavows any association with said engine.

[edwardfletcher]

Radial engines were so much better for bombers.

Liquid cooled V engines were fine for fighters, but bombers needed serious long term reliability. The Americans got it right with the Pratt & Whitney R-2800...

Canadian Avro also manufactured Lancaster bombers

[gumpyoldbugger]

Okay, who the fark are you and what have you done with Dark?

This must be a sign of the pending apocalypse, a Dark Skies video that used the actual aircraft the video was about and pretty much spot on with the f'ing earth must becoming to the

[kellybreen]

The HP 56 was a twin but before metal was cut Volkert bumped the weight from 26, 000 pounds to 40, 000 and added two Merlin’s instead of 2 Vultures to produce the HP 57.
Probably better known as the Halifax. Only the Supermarine 317, 318 and the Short Stirling were designed from the get go as 4 engined “paralyzers”.
I think this was because there was talk that bombers would be limited the same way capital ships were.
I think this is why the British kept the Stirling under 100 feet in wingspan, designed most of their bombers as twins and developed the Battle.
I can’t prove this, but the anecdotal evidence is there.

[dizzywillow]

What? You forgot to put the cartoonish .ppt red oval around the plane in thumbnail? How will anyone know which plane your video is about??

[maurices]

Nothing secret here, this aircraft is widely documented.

[stringpicker]

The headline here is nonsense. The Manchester was not by any means the worst aircraft. What it had was an under developed double V-24 cylinder engine. Not one of Roll Royce's highlights and a bloody menace. You do yourself a disservice with overcooking things.

[mutantryeff]

I always wondered if it would be possible for a jet fighter to shoot an air-to-air missile where the missile doesn't properly start propulsion at full speed and then targets the jet that just launched it

[DarkHorseSki]

I disagree that either Avro plane proved necessary. Since the Brits went to night bombing, pretty much any plane could do that. And the very big bombs that the plane could carry proved meaningless.