AVRO 691 Lancastrians as Testbeds

(Monochrome Photograph showing - Lancastrian Mk.1 VH742 after conversion to a test bed by Rolls Royce flying on it's two 5,000 lb. (2270 Kg.) thrust turbojets mounted in the outer nacelles in September 1946.)

The development of the jet engine required larger aircraft able to carry greater amounts of fuel and the Lancastrian proved to be highly suitable. The first of the Type was fitted with two Rolls-Royce Nene engines in the outer nacelles while the second aircraft received the de Havilland Ghost in similar positions. Both of these aircraft made valuable contributions to the development of the gas-turbine engine.

Two other Lancastrian C.Mk.2s were equipped with Rolls-Royce Griffon piston engines in the inboard nacelles driving contra-rotating propellers to test their suitability fort he forthcoming Avro 696 Shackleton.

The final gas-turbine test were flown firstly, with Rolls-Royce Avons, and then a Lancastrian was fitted with two Armstrong Siddeley Sapphires in each of the outboard nacelles by Air Service Training (AST) at Hamble. This aircraft is seen at Boscombe Down during extensive testing in February 1950.

The Lancastrian proved to be a worthy successor to the famous Avro Lancaster and was able to expand the air routes of the world until the purposed- designed airliners came into service.

(Monochrome Photograph showing - Lancastrian C.Mk.2 VM703 after conversion to a test bed at Hatfield by the de Havilland Engine Co. to take two of it's 5,000 lb. (2270 Kg.) thrust DH Ghost engines. It was also fitted with two Walter 109-500 'cold' peroxide rocket unit which can be seen here assisting it's take-off in 1947.)