No need to travel to the Derwent Valley for us as we're being provided with our own flypast at home slightly earlier, although we might stroll up the hill for a better view
Last edited by Marvin; 16-05-2013 at 07:24 AM.
I'm not sure about that Ian??
Here's the Panton brother museum; http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/lancaster-taxy-rides/
This is how close you get during start-up!
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Purely for discussion purposes; these are magnificent engineering pieces with a lot of history attached in terms of iconic design etc but they were built for just one reason and they were quite successful. Would we feel the same seeing a flypast from the B29s Enola Gay or Bockscar? They were, after all, equally impressive engineering specimens at a time of almost unprecedented advances in avaition technology.
They are weapons of death and destruction on an unprecedented scale. I suspect I would feel very different if I was a resident of Dresden.
We were at war. The bombers themselves were terrible things but one has to have absolute admiration for the, well kids really, that flew in them knowing their odds of a terrifying death were probably worse than 1 in 10. So I think that we should (and do) see the plane as a flying memorial to the crews rather than as as artifact in its own right.
But there is nothing, just NOTHING more stirring than the sound of Merlin engines. It is the sound of bravery, courage and unquenchable spirit that saw us through the darkest hours of our recent history.
Bomber Command suffered horrendous casualty rates, over 40% of aircrew died. Area bombing may be controversial now but it doesnt take away from the bravery and sacrifice.
Just as I was heading home for lunch I saw the Lancaster flying over the back of Buxton. Quite a bizarre sight. They are very gracious in their movement however as it doesn't really seem to be going fast enough for something that big to stay up in the sky! It went over buxton and looked to be heading for Chapel. I think I read in the local paper that they were getting a fly by there as well due to a war memorial for the lost flight crew
Just been watching it on the BBC website. Looks like quite a few people made it to watch.
Of course the technology developed for the Dambusters raid went on to all types of use