Trip to East Kirkby 25/08/10

[BadersBusCompany]

A few mates and I went down to Lincolnshire on Wednesday to have a fast taxy ride on Lancaster NX611 "Just Jane". Superb. Worth every penny. We took advantage of the VIP day and were fed and watered and spent some quality time with the crew. Totally recommended 

[BadersBusCompany]

[GTX]

You have to tell me how to do that - might try for next time I'm in the UK.

Regards,

Greg

[BadersBusCompany]

This is definitely a 'must do' for any aviation enthusiast visiting the UK. Visit Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre's website for booking prices and available dates (I thinkt the next available ride is April 2011). I paid £270 and for that you get a VIP pass. For that you are fed and watered all day in the NAAFI buiding, you can wander around with no restrictions meeting the crew and ground crew. At this point I have to say I have never met a friendlier group of people, they were all great people, and most of them are related, a true family concern.
The Lanc does two taxy runs a day and each run has 10 guests on it, you get to sit in every position and truly appreciate the cramped conditions crews had to endure.You get about half hour before the run to clamber around and about the same after the run. It was awsome. The site, former RAF East Kirkby also hosts an excellent Bomber Command museum.
Something I will not forget..............on our taxy run there was a young Canadian couple, the girls relation had been a rear gunner who had perished over Berlin, she was given preference to sit in the tail turret and was quite emotional. I got talking to her and she's writing a book on her relations career, she had a passion that was infectious..................but I never asked her name.
http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/

[kitnut617]

Very nice,  

As an aside, the other flying Lanc' (the one on this side of the pond) visited Calgary a week or so ago.  Did a number of flights around Calgary and some lucky people got to fly in it as well.

So that made three Lanc's to look at in about a 50 minute radius, the flying Lanc, the static one at the museum on the south side of Calgary International, and the fully restored one down in Nanton (south of Calgary) which now has two running engines.

But I wasn't able to get down there to see the flying one    

[GTX]

I thinkt the next available ride is April 2011

That's plenty of time to organise so business meetings...

Regards,

Greg

[Spey_Phantom]

nice pictures, i just love the lancaster, as soon as i can make some space here, im getting one 
you must have had a great day 

[Mossie]

I've never made it to East Kirkby but I've wanted to go for some time.  It's got a family connection, my Grandma's brother (would of course been my Great Uncle had he survived) Albert flew in Lancs from there & their aircraft was shot down over France.  It made a succesful forced landing, but it was destroyed when a bomb that had jammed exploded just as the crew were getting out & they were all killed in the blast.  I've seen pictures of him, in fact there's an uncanny resemblance to myself, I'd like to go & check out the record there sometime.

Looks like a great day out Mark!

[BadersBusCompany]

Its fantastic mate, well worth a visit. Especially with your family connection, the staff their would give you priority to sit in your relatives position on the actual run! What Squadron was your great Uncle in, 57 or 650? Every RAF casualty is remembered and named on two beautiful plaques in the equally beautiful chapel there. I will definitely be going back.

regards

Mark

Also i have access to casualty lists from East Kirkby if your interested

[philp]

Would love to get on one of the Forts on this side of the pond.  Rides are $400-450 for a 30-45 minute flight.  Keep hoping the family is planning one of these for my 50th but with funds where they are, not expecting it.

[nev]

That's awesome.  Not been to East Kirkby myself - really no excuse, even if I can't afford a ride.  My boss's boss was talking about doing it the other day.

[BlackOps]

Very cool! I'm green with envy!

[Mossie]

Its fantastic mate, well worth a visit. Especially with your family connection, the staff their would give you priority to sit in your relatives position on the actual run! What Squadron was your great Uncle in, 57 or 650? Every RAF casualty is remembered and named on two beautiful plaques in the equally beautiful chapel there. I will definitely be going back.

regards

Mark

Also i have access to casualty lists from East Kirkby if your interested

I don't know any of his details, but my Grandma has a lot of records & I'll be visiting her soon.  Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to afford a ride in Just Jane any time soon!  My Grandma has visited there, as well as his grave in France & the village where the Lancaster crash landed.  This all came about after she lost his photo that she kept on her at all times, some kind soul handed it in to the local paper who printed it & then people contacted her about him & it all snow balled from there.  She found out all about the circumstances of the crash & that's how I know the basics. 

I'd like to find out more & hopefully build a model of the Lancaster he flew in.  I vaguely remember he was a tail gunner, but my memory is a bit rusty.

[BadersBusCompany]

Mossie I have quite a bit of info on East Kirkby ops, including A/c lost in and over France. Would you like me to email what info I have?

[kitnut617]

Just had a look at google maps to see where East Kirkby is and found it's only a couple of miles from Woodhall Spa, where my Dad was stationed when he was with 617 Sqn.