They've Got a Shackleton!

We went to the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry again. Whilst visiting Cathy's family in Manchester a couple of months ago we went to the Doctor Who exhibition in the Museum of Science and Industry and then we looked in the engine hall. On our way out I noticed they have an air and space hall too. So we went back during this visit to have a look. After I had finally dragged everybody away from the top floor "Explore" exhibition for children I had a chance to inspect the museum's Shackleton up close.
It's what became of the Avro Lancaster. The museum's example was built in 1954 and looks like a Lancaster on steroids. It was designed to track down and destroy submarines. You can get up close to the aircraft and the other exhibits which include the first Avro aircraft, the Avro One, all built in Manchester

Becoming a Regular Event

I was out in the garden puppy proofing the fence in anticipation of Arrow's arrival in a couple of weeks' time when I heard the throb of Merlin engines again. Looking up I saw the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight flying low over Finmere airfield again. That's twice in two weeks! This time the Lancaster was accompanied by a Hurricane, on its way from a display at Blenheim Park to a fly-past at Bletchley Park.

Angels at 12 O'Clock!

Wow! On Sunday I was treated to my own personal fly past. Or it seemed like it.
I was the only member of the family outside at the time when I heard a familiar sound: Merlin engines. Then a Lancaster flew over at what could not be more than a couple of thousand feet. Now I know that there are only one or two airworthy Lancasters in the world, one of which is in Canada. So it must have been PA474 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight so I checked their web site and sure enough the list told me she was on her way to do a flypast at Bletchley and then on to RAF Duxford for a display. That meant the the plane was only three or four minutes away from the flypast and thus lined up at the appropriate altitude to pass over Bletchley Park. An inspiring sight.