Production of Lancaster in Australia

nuuumannn said:

the first 100 of which were to be powered by Merlins and the rest by P&W 2800s.

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Do you have a reference for this? I would like to investigate further since this is the first I have heard mention of a R-2800 powered Lancaster.

Lincoln, Canberra and F-111 In Australian Service by Stewart Wilson (Aerospace, 1989)

GTX said:

Do you have a reference for this? I would like to investigate further since this is the first I have heard mention of a R-2800 powered Lancaster.

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Also mentioned in the Bicentennial publication - Flypast.

Thanks guys.

Check out Australian Archives file MP450/1 123 which is a form of sales brochure and performance details of the Lancaster, along with a very detailed break down of component weights, see the engine section below.

The document is undated but the engine arrangements are "For example power unit installations are already designed, or are in the process of design to accommodate the following engines:- Four engined, Rolls Royce Merlin XX or Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp or Bristol Hercules. Twin engined, Rolls Royce Vulture, Bristol Centaurus, Napier Sabre."

Engine weights (4 engines and propellers) are given for three powerplant options

Merlin XX / Hercules VI / Twin Wasp S3C4-G /
5,200 / 5,900 / 4,800 / Take off power, BHP
5,720 / 7,460 / 5,940 / Engines - dry
9 / 10 / 10 / Air compressors
66 / 172 / 172 / Electric starters
10 / 0 / 0 / Hand turning gear
31 / 29 / 29 / Constant speed governor unit
16 / 16 / 16 / Vacuum pumps
168 / 120 / 113 / Air intakes, hot and cold
70 Auxiliary gear boxes
328 / 440 / 400 / Engine mountings
228 / 588 / 500 / Exhausts
1,282 / 0 / 0 / Cooling system and coolant
182 / 260 / 220 / Oil coolers and mounting
130 / 130 / 130 / Oil system, pipes, filters etc.
210 / 210 / 210 / Fuel system, pipes, filters etc.
200 / 200 / 200 / Engine controls
1,480 / 1,480 / 1,440 / Airscrews (Rotol)
140 / 160 / 140 / Fireproof bulkheads
520 / 360 / 340 / Engine cowling
0 / 160 / 140 / Additional cowling behind engines
0 / 220 / 200 / Cooling gills and mechanism
10,720 / 12,085 / 10,200 / Total engine and airscrew weight

No mention of the R-2800 in the file.

Interesting. I am thinking the referent to P&W engines would be more likely to be R-1830s than R-2800s given the former was already in widespread use in Australia, was in production here and also is roughly the same power range as the Bristol Hercules used on the Lancaster B.II model.

Now also put turbosupercharger on those similar to those used on the RAAF Liberators and you get something quite interesting.

Having done some further research on this and referencing the following:



It appears that there was definitely plans for R-2800 production in Australia and for the Lancaster. Would make an interesting model to build.

Interestingly, there were also pushes from the USAAF for Australia to produce the P-47 using the same engine. A RAAF P-47 in P-51 scheme would also be interesting.

GTX said:

Having done some further research on this and referencing the following:

View attachment 654789

It appears that there was definitely plans for R-2800 production in Australia and for the Lancaster. Would make an interesting model to build.

Interestingly, there were also pushes from the USAAF for Australia to produce the P-47 using the same engine. A RAAF P-47 in P-51 scheme would also be interesting.

View attachment 654790

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I assisted Keith Meggs with some of his research on CAC, he was a former test pilot for the company, also a Korean War veteran. Keith used a few of the cartoons I did in the CAC volume.

I also liaised with him a couple of times. I am hoping his sons get the last two volumes out soon.

GTX said:

I also liaised with him a couple of times. I am hoping his sons get the last two volumes out soon.

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Me too, my two folders of cartoons are still at Keith's house, as he is/was in hospital I have been unable to retrieve them due to Covid 19 restrictions.