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Re: Mine still does....

Posted by Cees Broere on Fri Jan 24, 2003 11:20:49 AM

In reply top Re: Mine still does.... posted by Tony C on Fri Jan 24, 2003 10:23:58 AM

Aaaahhh Lanc rules LOL

The Avro Manchester and the HP 56 were designed together as twin engined aircraft, yet HP did not believe that the Vulture would be powerful enough and fitted four Merlins creating the HP57 Halifax. This specification (number not known from memory at the moment) called for various tasks the aircraft had to perform, with the effect that the design was more or less a compromise (in case of the Halifax). The Manchester was designed to carry two torpedoes thereby creating an enormously large bombbay but was hampered by the unreliable (or insufficiently developed Vulture, mind you I am not an historian) which were later replaced by four Merlins something HP had already done before. The large bombbay of the Lanc as well as the thinner wingssection gave the aircraft better handling and lifting capability compared to the Stirling and Halifax.

As AT Harris wanted to have as many Lancs as he could get for Bomber Command, other types such as Stirling and Halifaxes became available to other tasks such as glider towing, SOE, transport you name it. The Lanc, being less roomy, was during the waryears almost entirely used as a bomber, while the fuselages of the Stirling and Halifax were very well suited for other tasks (100 Group for instance).

Cees

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