OK, as a Canadian, I kinda see this perhaps a tad different……some here have said that “if it was flying in Canada it would have blown too”…I call rubbish on that……the engines FLEW the stress and hours to GET to the UK before ANY airshows started at all……..those hours would NOT have been accumilated if it had stayed in Canada….WE Canadians greatly appreciated the BBMF LENDING us the engine to continue flying while there……after all she flew there to show the UK her wonderful self flying right?…….AND we greatly appreciate the BBMF allowing her to use the engine to get back to Canada, her home and where she belongs……

AS to “Making alot of money”…I doubt it………costs of fuel etc …UNLIKE the BBMF, CWHM PAYS for theirs……..CWHM is a Museum that isn;t Government funded…….so all costs are carried BY the Museum…..so when one figures in the to RENT the Merlin from BBMF has been forcast to cost $200,000 ( we are assuming that will include costs to return it to 0 hours)…PLUS the cost of rebuilding our own Packard Merlin 224….it gets quite expensive…….

Now, as “VeRA” was showing WITH the BBMF, I do NOT believe that any large sums where invoiced nor payed for her appearances at all those airshows / fly pasts…….so they sold souveniers, minus the manufacturing costs, shipping costs, cost of getting the truck and trailer and driving it all over the UK……..

The British People that donated money to the museum showed a WONDERFUL and really impressive love of the plane and what was done to get her there…and it is hugely appreciated by most Canadians I am sure, I know I do as a regular visitor to the CWHM……I am also sure that such an eventuality had been discussed between the BBMF and the CWHM BEFORE the plans where even completed..no one would trod off with out covering such eventualities….just as IF the BBMF Lanc. came over to Canada, we wouldn;t expect them to bring a spare engine…we would ensure plans and parts where in place HERE as part of the support planning……

As a Canadian I appreciate the concept, it;s a great gesture, in starting a petition, but really, I don;t think it is needed……things will be OK…….the BBMF is getting their engine back……Our Packard Merlin 224 is being rebuilt, we have some spares as well…….the rental is / will be payed and the BBMF engine will be overhauled back to 0 hours……..it’s all good………

NOW, that said…….I don;t think that the CWHM Museum really “made much profit” off this trip…..it was a good will gesture and the operating costs of these planes is very high…….they may be up some….but certainly not huge amounts……… ( NOTE: I just read that FUEL costs alone where $350,000.00!)

Anyway, cheers my British cousins, thanks for the care and looking after our Lanc. and her crew……we followed her all the way through and wished we where there…..

NOTE: I am NOT involved with the CWHM in anyway other than as a supporter…..I use “our” as a way of showing the pride in our Canadian Lancaster)..