Lancaster Performance Trials

Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment
Boscombe Down

4 April 1942

Lancaster I. D.G.595

(4 Merlin XX)
Level Speed Trials

Introduction.

Speed trials were required in order to find the loss of speed due to the fitting of the original A.&A.E.E. Cascade box flame dampers and dorsal turret cam-track. Tests were made at light load on the second prototype Lancaster D.G.595 during December, 1941 for comparison with previous level speeds.

Full Throttle Speeds

DG.595 Full Report

Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment
Boscombe Down

28 June 1944

Lancaster I. JB.127

(4 Merlin 24)
Climb and level speed performance with paddle-blade propellers

Introduction.

Performance trials have now been made on this aircraft with paddle-blade propellers fitted, for comparison with previous tests, reported in the 50th Part, when standard propellers (type A5/138) were fitted.

Climb Performance Level Speed Performance

JB.127 Full Report

Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment
Boscombe Down

25 May 1944

Lancaster I. LL.905

(4 Merlin 24)
Performance and handling trials
of a production aircraft

Introduction.

Brief performance and handling trials were required on this aircraft to establish any material changes in performance or handling characteristics that might occur in the production of the type.

LL.905 was the 2nd Lancaster I from the Armstrong Whitworth plant at Coventry to undergo these A.& A.E.E. trials.

The aircraft was tested by an A.& A.E.E. pilot and technical observer with the co-operation of the RAF station at Binbrook.

Climb Performance Level Speed Performance

LL.905 Full Report

Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment
Boscombe Down

30 July 1945

Lancaster I. PD.435

(4 Merlin 24)
Performance at weights up to 72,000 lb.

Summary

Performance trials have been made at weights up to 72,000 lb. The results are as follows :

Position error correction. The P.E.C. at 55,000 lb varies from - mph at 120 mph ASI tp -4½ mph at 280 mph ASI.

Climb. From a take-off wight of 70,000 lb.

	ICAN		Tropical Summer
	Max. rate of climb ft/min.	At full throttle height, ft.	Max. rate of climb ft/min.	At full throttle height, ft.
MS gear	590	10,300	370	8,800
FS gear	370	16,200	170	14,700

Level speeds (66,500 lb.) :

Maximum cruising speed in FS gear	(244 mph TAS at 16,600 ft. (ICAN)
	(235 mph TAS at 15,100 ft. (tropical summer)
Cruising ceiling (based on 162 mph EAS)	(19,900 ft. (ICAN)
	(17,000 ft. (tropical summer)

Specific air range. The optimum specific air range at 15,000 ft. at 66,500 lb. is as follows :

MS gear	1.07 ampg ICAN
FS gear	(1.01 ampg ICAN
FS gear	(0.95 ampg Tropical summer

Take-off and landing. Under ICAN conditions the mean distances were as follows :

Take-off at 72,000 lb., 1080 yds.	(Ground run, using +18 lb/sq.in., 3000 rpm 20° flap)
Landing at 60,000 lb., 1070 yds.	(using full flap)
It is estimated that correction to tropical summer conditions would increase these distances by about 25%.

Climb Performance Level Speed Performance

PD.435 Full Report

Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment
Boscombe Down

31 March 1944

A review of the performance and handling trials
of ten production Lancaster Mk.III aircraft

Summary

Between January and October 1943, ten Lancaster III aircraft representing current production were briefly tested for performance and handling at full load.

The results have been reviewed to search for any signs of improvement or decay withing the type.

No material change was found, but the one aircraft which was the sole representative from a daughter firm gave certain performance results which were inferior to the remainder.

Mean Climb Performance of
10 Lancasters Mk III Mean Level Speeds for
10 Lancasters Mk III

FULL REPORT HERE

Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment
Boscombe Down

24 May 1944

Lancaster VI JB.675

(4 Merlin 85)
Brief performance trials and position error

A Mk.VI Lancaster, which differs from the Mk.I and III by the fitting of Universal power plants (Merlin 85 engines) came to this Establishment for general hadning tests in order to ensure that, before proceeding on operations, the type possessed no unusual handing characteristics. Although the aircraft was only available for a few days, it was decided to carry out a few brief performance tests at the same time.

F.T. Climb Performance Level Speeds

JB.675 Full Report