Restoring NX611 to airworthy

The future for NX611

The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is currently working through a programme of restoration with Avro Lancaster NX611 with the aim of taking her to an airworthy condition.

It has been our ultimate ambition to be able to restore NX611 to an airworthy condition but also keep her accessible for the general public to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and atmosphere created by a Lancaster. For us to keep NX611 as a credible 'peoples memorial' to Bomber Command available to many people, no matter their background or financial situation (After all those that flew with Bomber Command came from every imaginable background) we must strike a healthy balance between keeping her in a good condition but also allowing the public to experience her.

The aircraft is being worked through part by part on a long term restoration project with progress being made throughout the years while NX611 continues to taxy from March to November.  The whole project is estimated to cost £3million all of which is being raised through museum admission fees, donations and Lancaster taxy rides.

Throughout the restoration process we will continue to taxy NX611 for demonstration and public taxy rides, even once NX611 is restored to an airworthy condition it would continue to be available to the public for taxy rides and internal tours, we are aiming to keep it as accessible as it currently is.

Continual updates can be followed here

THE PATH OF RESTORATION

Step 1.
Inspection of NX611 for feasibility and requirements.
Continued progression of publications/documentation relating to the overhaul.

Step 2.
Search for and acquisition of spare and replacement parts as dictated by the results of the inspection.

Step 3.
Overhaul of spare parts and acquisition of airworthy components and consumables.

Step 4.
Overhaul of removable airframe and power-plant parts fitted to NX611.

Step 5.
Sectional progressive overhaul of airframe.

Step 6.
Assembly of all airworthy components with the airframe.

We have not allocated a timescale for this restoration as it depends on the availability of parts and the time required for their overhaul.

The aircraft is being systematically restored over winter periods.

Winter of 2016 saw a complete paint strip and survey of the airframe.

Winter of 2017 sees the starboard rudder and tail fin disassembled and completely restored along with the starboard undercarriage support beams and inboard sub frame NDT'd.

Winter of 2018 sees the port rudder and tail fin disassembled and completely restored along with the port undecarriage support beams and inboard subframe NDT'd.

Winter of 2019 should see the first section of fuselage restored.

Airworthy Progress

5 airworthy Merlin engines acquired 4 oil tanks overhauled to airworthy
4 fuel tanks overhauled to airworthy
12 airworthy propeller blades
6 airworthy propeller spiders
2 airworthy main wheel hubs
3 airworthy main wheel tyres
8 airworthy rad shutter electro pneumatic rams
Astrodome and Loop aerial perspex produced
6 spare fuel booster pumps purchased
NDT of main spar started and so far satis
2 airworthy tail wheels purchased
1 Mid-upper turret purchased and in overhaul
2 spare prop spinners sourced and in overhaul
1 Engine sub-frame overhauled to airworthy
1 Airworthy engine and prop fitted
1 Radiator re-cored to airworthy condition
1 Oil cooler overhauled to airworthy condition
4 Feathering pumps and motors overhauled to airworthy
3 Coolant header tanks overhauled to airworthy condition
Transponder and radio equipment sponsored
The airframe has been completely paint stripped and surveyed

Items still to be sourced or overhauled

3 more prop overhauls
2 spinner overhauls
Undercarriage jack and bomb door jack overhaul
Undercarriage fescilised portion to be produced
Flap Jack overhaul
Flying instrumentation service
Flying control rods replacement
Trim cable purchase
Aileron overhaul
Entire aircraft fuselage and wing overhaul
60 Exhaust stubs purchase
Compressed air tank overhauls
Aircraft battery purchase
Number 1 fuel tanks overhaul
Misc item overhauls