Avro Lancaster, a British four-engined heavy bomber used during World War II. Below is a structured summary of the key details:
Type
- Four-engined Heavy Bomber
Wings
- Design: Mid-wing cantilever monoplane with a five-section structure.
- Construction: Two-spar structure with extruded aluminum-alloy components and a smooth aluminum-alloy skin. Detachable sections for maintenance and assembly ease.
- Control Surfaces: Ailerons (with trimming-tabs) and split trailing-edge flaps.
Fuselage
- Structure: Oval all-metal, comprising five main sections. It includes pairs of extruded longerons supporting a smooth skin plating and integral bomb compartment.
- Construction: Combination of “U”-frames, formers, and longitudinal stringers covered with flush-riveted metal skin.
Tail Unit
- Design: Cantilever monoplane with twin oval fins and rudders.
- Construction: Similar to wings, with metal-covered tail-plane, fins, and rudders. Fabric-covered elevators with trimming-tabs.
Landing Gear
- Configuration: Retractable main wheels into engine nacelles, fixed tail-wheel. Track width is 23 ft. 9 in. (7.24 m.).
Power Plant
- Engines:
- Lancaster I & III: Rolls-Royce Merlin XX or Packard-built Merlin 28, 12-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engines, each producing 1,280 hp.
- Lancaster II: Bristol Hercules, 14-cylinder two-row radial air-cooled engines, producing 1,600 hp.
- Propellers: Three-bladed, constant-speed, full-feathering.
- Fuel System: Six protected fuel tanks in wings, separate oil tanks in each nacelle.
Accommodation
- Crew: Seven members with specific stations for bomb-aimer, pilot, fighting controller, navigator, radio operator, and gunners.
- Features: Walkway along the fuselage, rest room with bed, and main entrance door on starboard side.
Armament and Equipment
- Guns: Ten Browning .303 machine guns in four hydraulically-operated turrets.
- Bomb Load: Maximum 18,000 lbs (8,170 kg) normal, up to 22,000 lbs under special conditions.
- Protection: Armored sections and bullet-proof glass, especially around the pilot and vital components.
- Additional Equipment: Night-flying equipment, radio, oxygen, de-icing, and emergency dinghy.
Dimensions
- Wingspan: 102 ft. (31.1 m)
- Length: 69 ft. 4 in. (21.1 m)
- Height: 20 ft. (6.1 m)
- Wing Area:
- Net: 1,205 sq. ft. (112 sq. m)
- Gross: 1,297 sq. ft. (120.5 sq. m)
Weights and Loadings
- Empty Weight: 37,000 lbs. (16,750 kg)
- Maximum Bomb Load: 18,000 lbs. (8,170 kg)
- Normal Loaded Weight: 68,000 lbs. (30,800 kg)
- Wing Loading: 52.7 lbs./sq. ft. (258 kg./sq. m.)
- Power Loading: 13.3 lbs./hp (6.35 kg./hp)
Performance
- Maximum Speed: 275 mph (440 km/h)
- Maximum Range: Approximately 3,000 miles (4,800 km)
These specifications highlight the Lancaster’s design focus on heavy payload capacity, versatility in armament, and operational range, making it a crucial asset in Allied strategic bombing campaigns.