Hamilton’s Lancaster bomber grounded for the rest of 2022

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum has suspended its flying program for the Lancaster bomber for 2022.

The museum announced in a tweet that the aircraft is going through an engine renovation with a retrofit plan to enhance its engine reliability, and it should return next year.

The Lanc was built in 1945 at Victory Aircraft in Malton, Ont., but as the Second World War was ending, it never went overseas.

The iconic aircraft, known as Vera because of its call letters VRA, is one of two airworthy Lancasters in the world. The other is owned by the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

In 1977, the bomber was acquired by Hamilton's Warplane Heritage Museum and brought to the city. After 11 years of restorations, the Lancaster had its official inaugural flight in 1988.

During the Second World War, the Lancaster was the most successful bomber used by the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force, with unparalleled speed, ceiling and lifting power.

The Lancaster weighs 36,900 pounds empty and was capable of flying with an extra 33,100 pounds of fuel and bombs on-board.

Bookings for the Lancaster's 2023 flying season open in November 2022.

Beatriz Baleeiro is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator bbaleeiro@torstar.ca