25th July 1939

[antarmike]

First flight of the Avro Manchester. Avro's new heavy was fitted with a pair of Rolls Royce Vulture engines. This X 24 engine was in effect a V12 Kestrel inverted under another V12 Kestrel, but sharing a common crankshaft. The resulting engine was a massive 42.4 Litres.

 

This engine was undergoing all sorts of development problems, and Avro had already suggested to the Air Ministry that the Manchester should be fitted with four Merlins. The Vulture suffered from cooling problems and had a horrendously complex lubrication system. Bearing failures were common.

 

The Air Ministry insisted on the Vultures, saying that every available Merlin was needed for fighter production.

 

In the end Avro had to go behind the Air Ministry's back to obtain four Merlins to develop the four engined version of the Manchester (the mark III) , that was to become the legendary Lancaster.

 

The loss rate of the Manchester was appaling, mainly due to engine problems.

 

Edited July 27, 2008 by antarmike