Just Jane status

Agree with Robbo and Denis

I visited East Kirkby for the first time last week after many years of viewing her in Flypast. It’s very personal and intimate atmosphere reminded me very much of the Tangmere Air Museum, a museum with which I have had a long association.

The sight of NX611 in the hangar is a truly fitting memorial which perfectly accompanies the many personal story boards which surround her.

Long may she rest there.

I think the question of ‘will she fly again’ will be often asked by those with an interest, Lord knows I have asked myself the same thing every time I have seen NX611.
Robbo is certainly right in his viewpoint of the Heritage museum having its reason of existance removed. NX611 is in the best possible place for its future, joe public can get up close and personal with a Lancaster that would otherwise be ‘out of bounds’ like the remaining examples. I have had a love of Lancasters for more years than I care to think of, it took me from school age to being fifty years old before I ever set foot in one for the first time, and this I achieved a couple of weeks ago by taking a taxy ride in her (hence the new avatar!) before then the only option was gazing at ‘Sugar’ at Hendon or Duxfords example, there is an eighty year old former Lanc navigator across the road from me who had tears in his eyes when I took him to see ‘Jane’, for this reason alone the Heritage centre should stay as it is for the benefit of former Bomber Command aircrew who have not as many years as us to view the aircraft they went to battle in, Elvington has the composit Halifax in Yorkshire, all we need is the elusive Stirling to complete the trio of Heavies!
There is also something unique in the RAF Memorial flight Lancaster being the only airworthy specimen, you know it will receive TLC and be flown with its future well and truly catered for. NX611 has a decent roof over it’s head now and is looked after equally well by her keepers. If something (shudder!)drastic should ever happen to PA474 then I would still like to see NX611 remain at EK.
I for one dont mind the question being asked now and again 😉

Hi John,
I thought we had answered the Q somewhere in those three pages! A quick summary.

It could be done.

The whole aircraft would have to be redone to teardown standard 🙁

It would cost a mint (though less than building a replica, or refurbishing any other Lanc).

The paperwork and assoc costs would be scary.

It’s not likely to happen, though it could.

Currently Jane is a different Bomber Command memorial to PA474. Which is great.

Hope that helps!

PS Peter means ‘Spar’ Dunno ’bout that myself. Anyone?

she is capable to be restored to flight but everything that has been done so far will have to be redone to airworthy…. also there was something about spar corrosion at one point??

The old posts don’t really give a difinative answer. I understand that the owners of NX611 don’t plan on flying her, but is the (suggestion, plan, option or hope…choose one) to have it as a potential backup for PA474 still current?
Or is it going to be decided only if the need arises?
And if the need comes about, is NX611 capable of being restored to flight?
I can’t imagine the UK not having a flyable Lancaster to honor Bomber Command.

Hi John,
Good question. It’s also a Q that comes up regularly… Perhaps we need another Historic Forum FAQ?! 😀 We certainly need one as the forum search software is pants*. I recall writing a long, thoughtful analysis of this back in my early days on the forum – Sept 2003 I’m told. Naturally I can’t remember it, rewrite it or find it.

Edited to sa I think Mike’s found it. Ta Mike, I’ll just go and boil my head.

Rats.

*(There may be a translation of the very useful English invictive “pants” to a good Texas phrase, but I’m sure the software censor would nail it.)

NX611 is the heart of the Heritage Centre at East Kirkby, which isn’t really about flying lancasters, it’s about remembering those who flew.

Well said Robbo and to be honest I don’t think their is any need to get it airworthy we already have an airworthy Lancaster and so its not like we don’t get to see one flying.

The thing with East Kirkby is its not a suitable place to operate an airworthy Lancaster from thus meaning NX611 would have to move to another base and the heart of an excellent museum would be ripped out and that seems so uncalled for while PA747 is still airworthy.