The Avro Manchester: The Lancaster’s Unlucky Older Brother...

The story of the Lancaster actually begins with the downfall of an earlier Avro aircraft that failed to live up to the high expectations that birthed it. Even in aviation circles, the Avro Manchester is an almost forgotten aircraft, making such a relatively small impact on the war it is completely overshadowed by its younger brother’s many accomplishments. And yet without the Manchester there would have been no Lancaster and one can only speculate how differently the Allied war effort would have been conducted without the Lancaster’s special abilities. In today’s episode we are going to look at one of those truly great, forgotten aircraft whose real contribution to history was to provide a step-up for the legend that was to come. This is the story of the Avro Manchester. Welcome to Wars of the World.

0:00 Introduction
1:30 The Vulture
5:41 P13/36
8:40 Testing Times
13:38 In to the Fight
22:27 From the Ashes, a Phoenix

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🎶🎶 All music from CO.AG

Narrated by: Will Earl
Written & Researched by: Tony Wilkins
Edited by: James Wade

History Should Never Be Forgotten...

[sherirobinson]

This was an interesting snippet of history. When I was a kid, my brother and I would spend hours putting together model bi-planes and early flyer's. I'm still fascinated with them 5 decades later.

[stephencostello]

My uncle was a pilot in the Lancaster. He was killed during a training flight in a single seater in the mid 70s. God Bless all our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. True heroes.

[jamesharmer]

Adding to the Manchester's woes was the Air Ministry requirement that the wingspan be less than 100 feet so the aircraft would fit into existing hangars. This gave the Manchester stubby low aspect ratio wings which restricted it's lifting capacity and ceiling. When Avro stretched the wings to fit on four Merlins, they fixed this problem. Presumably, Bomber Command had to build some new hangars, but this is never mentioned.

[russellnixon]

An excellent documentary on the development of the ill fated Manchester boomer, a very important but over looked aircraft.
A well researched, produced and illustrated film. Thank you for tacking the time to make this.

[ladymeghenderson]

Thank you for this, it is a fascinating story, I had never heard of the Manchester, but I salute the designers and the men who flew in her.

[johnwayne]

love this video and thank you for sharing it history. I started building model kits when I was 12 yrs old (I'm now 59) and in 1980's when I first got my Landcaster model I was amazed at it size. I later learn about the Manchester and never could find a model of one until 2 weeks ago. Back in 1980's I bought a extra Landcaster thinking I would cut the wings off to make a Manchester out of it but it would be right so I waited for a model to come out in the marketplace. The wait was in 1985 and I finally got one ..37 yrs later.

[coreyandnathanielchartier]

The poor field engineers who had to service these Vulture engines must have thought, 'you've got to be f#$%$g kidding!' Just a couple of years later, the Bristol and P&W radials were putting out far more power, even the Merlin/Griffin series. One of the problems with the 'welded-together engines', as they were described by RM Goering is, the amount of radiator area needed to cool this massive chunk of metal exceeded the frontal area of the engine, negating the aerodynamic advantage of having two less nacelles. It might, however, free up more wing space for fuel. Not sure if anyone ever was able to make a truly-reliable engine in the X or H shape. This is a great video with some obscure drawings and info that one doesn't often come across. Thanks.

[oxcart]

A very well presented video of a very unusual subject. Well done sir!

[travisgamble]

As a Canadian raised with the legends of the Wellington, Halifax and Lancaster, it was so enlightening and refreshing to see such effort put into the story of the Manchester. I always knew about it, but as a footnote and a predecessor to the Lancaster. I was so pleased to learn so much and see such attention put to the history of the Manchester. Thank you for doing this and helping us all remember what came before.

[actual]

Great video. Packard also made Merlin engines. The Victory Aircrsft Lancaster FM213 based in Hamilton Ontario Canada has them.

[OldSalior]

Very well done.Thank you keep the good workup. God bless those airmen!

[LesSharp]

Great work. Esoteric subject material, good research, lots of photos. Love it.

[Techumsa]

Iive down the road from the old Rolls Royce factory in Leavesden, its now home to the Harry Potter museum and Warner Bro film studios. I taught my 15 year old daughter to drive a truck on the once famous runway where many a Lancaster had taken off from.

[brucegibbins]

The Lancaster heavy bomber in service with WW2 era RAF flies high and proud and is the British bomber that slogged its way over Europe to accomplish its purpose for being.
Who would have thought that twenty years ago at Rongotai Airport in Wellington, New Zealand, parked near the domestic passenger terminal was an Avro Lancaster.
No longer in its wartime camouflage paint scheme, this bird was painted white and was in service with the French airforce in the Pacific.

[angelsone-five]

Well done, never forget that every brilliant child had a mother, eh.

[fredschriks]

Great video again gentlemen. Gives me something to watch during this storm going on.

[pauljohnaon]

Excellent video extremely informative looking forward to the next video

[vincentlefebvre]

Very good informations about a less known plane.

[loddude]

"Oh yeah, an engine may well grenade on you, you've only got two & they're identical." . . . thanks, think I'll try the Navy.

[johnjephcote]

Incomplete Manchester fuselages were modified on the assembly line to Lancasters.