Search
Close this search box.

Avro Lancastrian

The Avro 691 Lancastrian was a Canadian and British passenger and mail transport aircraft of the 1940s and 1950s developed from the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber. 

The Lancastrian was basically a modified Lancaster bomber without armour or armament and with the gun turrets replaced by streamlined metal fairings, including a new nose section.

Variants

Lancastrian C.1 

Nine seat transport aircraft for BOAC and Qantas.

Royal Air Force designation Lancastrian C.1 to Specification 16/44.

A total of 23 built by Avro

Lancastrian C.2 

Nine seat military transport aircraft for the RAF.

A total of 33 built by Avro

Lancastrian C.3 

13 seat transport aircraft for British South American Airways.

A total of 18 built by Avro

Lancastrian C.4 

Ten to 13 seat military transport aircraft for the RAF.

Eight built by Avro

Specifications

Crew

5

Capacity

9

Length

76 ft 10 in (23.42 m)

Wingspan

102 ft (31 m)

Height

17 ft 10 in (5.44 m)

Wing area

1,297 sq ft (120.5 m2)

Aspect ratio

8.02

Airfoil

Root

NACA 23018

Tip

NACA 23012

Empty weight

37,190 lb (16,869 kg) equipped

Gross weight

65,000 lb (29,484 kg)

Maximum landing weight

58,000 lb (26,308 kg)

Fuel capacity

2,154 imp gal (2,587 US gal; 9,792 l) in wing tanks,

With

1,020 imp gal (1,225 US gal; 4,637 l) in bomb bay tanks

Powerplant

4 × Rolls-Royce Merlin 24/2, V-12 liquid-cooled piston engines,

1,620 hp (1,210 kW) each

Propellers

3 bladed de Havilland Hydromatic,

13 ft (4.0 m) diameter constant speed fully feathering propellers

Performance

Maximum speed

315 mph (507 km/h, 274 kn) at 58,000 lb (26,308 kg)

&

12,000 ft (3,658 m)

285 mph (248 kn; 459 km/h) at sea level

300 mph (261 kn; 483 km/h) at 3,500 ft (1,067 m)

Cruise speed

290 mph (470 km/h, 250 kn) maximum weak mixture at 17,500 ft (5,334 m)

280 mph (243 kn; 451 km/h) at 11,000 ft (3,353 m)

245 mph (213 kn; 394 km/h) at sea level

Range

4,100 mi (6,600 km, 3,600 nmi) at 230 mph (200 kn; 370 km/h)

&

20,000 ft (6,096 m) with 2,190 lb (993 kg) payload

3,280 mi (2,850 nmi; 5,279 km) at 280 mph (243 kn; 451 km/h)

&

20,000 ft (6,096 m) with 4,340 lb (1,969 kg) Payload

3,600 mi (3,128 nmi; 5,794 km) at 280 mph (243 kn; 451 km/h)

&

20,000 ft (6,096 m) with 2,190 lb (993 kg) payload (maximum weak mixture)

3,200 mi (2,781 nmi; 5,150 km) at 280 mph (243 kn; 451 km/h)

&

20,000 ft (6,096 m) with 4,850 lb (2,200 kg) payload (maximum weak mixture)

Service ceiling

24,300 ft (7,400 m)

19,000 ft (5,791 m) on three engines

Absolute ceiling

25,000 ft (7,620 m) at maximum continuous power

20,500 ft (6,248 m) on three engines

Rate of climb

970 ft/min (4.9 m/s) at 65,000 lb (29,484 kg)

&

10,000 ft (3,048 m)

950 ft/min (4.8 m/s) at sea level

Maximum rate of climb on three engines

490 ft/min (2.5 m/s) at sea level

250 ft/min (1.3 m/s) at 15,000 ft (4,572 m)

Wing loading

50 lb/sq ft (240 kg/m2)

Power/mass

0.1 hp/lb (0.16 kW/kg)

Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m)

3,600 ft (1,097 m)

Landing run

1,650 ft (503 m)

 

Share on facebook