Great stuff.
I posted in my Lancaster thread about how grateful I, and many, many thousands of people in the UK are, for the opportunity to see two Lancs airborne together, and I'd like to repeat those thanks here - very well done to all concerned in bringing the CWH Lancaster to the UK, and great that it returned safely.
Will PA474 return the compliment?
Who knows? But there are rumours .... given it was dismantled and shipped over, or in the back of a transport kite, to save on hours flown, and therefore not going too much over the annual 'allowance', then perhaps it might happen. I've heard snippets of how enthusiastic the BBMF were, and how pleased with the enormous success of the tour, so you never know.
Personally, I think that a one year UK 'air show season' (*) without the Lanc in the BBMF line-up would be little different to past times when she's undergone deep service, and I would like to see her participate in shows in Canada and the USA, if only as an expression of gratitude for the fantastic gesture of CWH in bringing their Lanc to Britain, and, of course, a diplomatic gesture too, and I'm sure many enthusiasts here in the UK would agree with me.
Of course, being a serving RAF aircraft, with serving RAF personnel, as opposed to a civilian, commercial operation, would make a difference, but I'm sure any perceived 'problems' with that could be overcome.
(*) Given PA474 went to Canada, then that would more or less 'use up' the annual hours allowance, set by the RAF to prolong flying life, so it would probably mean no displays in the UK or Europe for the remainder of that year. A small price to pay, I feel, in order to reciprocate.