Want to fly to Englnad in a Lancaster Bomber ?

[fleet16b]

Canadian Warplane Heritage is auctioning a seat on their Lancaster Bomber flight to England this summer
Quite a unique opportunity for someone with deep pockets.
This could set a new record for the highest paid one way flight ticket to England ever.
Should even beat the Concorde ticket prices

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Avro-Lancaster-B ... 193wt_1153

[Chris M]

Successful bidder with have the opportunity to be trained and operate as a crew member on the last flight of a Canadian built Lancaster aircraft from Canada to England in August 2014. This will be approximately an 18 hours flight over a 4 day period.

Are they retiring it? If so I'm glad I got to see it flying a couple times.

$40K is one expensive bloody ticket. Wonder what the in-flight movie will be.

[fleet16b]

Successful bidder with have the opportunity to be trained and operate as a crew member on the last flight of a Canadian built Lancaster aircraft from Canada to England in August 2014. This will be approximately an 18 hours flight over a 4 day period.

Are they retiring it? If so I'm glad I got to see it flying a couple times.

$40K is one expensive bloody ticket. Wonder what the in-flight movie will be.

Not retiring it
The wording is a bit misleading
What they mean is this will most likely be the last ever flight to England and back for a Lancaster Bomber

As for the price , to fly in the Lanc at the museum , the cost is around $ 2000,
so $40k is reasonable for what you get.

[Pop n Fresh]

20 year old me would be more interested. I don't even want to ride there in coach anymore.

[frozen solid]

Successful bidder with have the opportunity to be trained and operate as a crew member

I see. Another "pay-to-fly" scheme. When will the "College of Pilots" do something about this?

[Changes in Latitudes]

Successful bidder with have the opportunity to be trained and operate as a crew member

I see. Another "pay-to-fly" scheme. When will the "College of Pilots" do something about this?

I'll go if they let me bring my service yorkie.

[I_Drive_Planes]

Wow, I'm definitely buying a lottery ticket for Friday. That will be my first purchase!

[pilotbzh]

Would that be a full type rating for 40K ?

[Liquid Charlie]

No -- not even for free --

[Meecka]

Successful bidder with have the opportunity to be trained and operate as a crew member

I see. Another "pay-to-fly" scheme. When will the "College of Pilots" do something about this?

I believe when CWH uses the term "crew member" They are not talking pilots. This is NOT about a cheapskate operator trying to find a low time pilot to pay for their hours. This an opportunity to ride across the Atlantic on one hell of an epic sponsored ride, in one of the most iconic aircraft still flying. If I had the cash I would be buying my ticket. I wonder if I offered my services as a mechanic if they'd take me? I got Merlin experience...

[Illya Kuryakin]

No -- not even for free --

+1

Over the North Atlantic in a Lancaster? No bloody thank you!
Illya

[fleet16b]

No -- not even for free --

+1

Over the North Atlantic in a Lancaster? No bloody thank you!
Illya

The aircraft did longer flights when it went out west than it will be doing for the England trip.
Besides the aircraft doesn't know its over water anyhow.
Landing it in the rockies might not be any better than in the Atlantic

And to confirm , as a "Crew Member" you will have the rank of "JAFO"
No flying involved

[Meecka]

Hey fleet... they need a wrench for the road?

[North Shore]

$40 large? No auction? Sounds like they want someone to pay for the gas for the flight, and they're dressing it up as a 'crew member'. Seat warmer more like!

[fleet16b]

Hey fleet... they need a wrench for the road?

LOL we all wish
As can be expected with a project like this, anyone and everyone has lined up wanting to be involved
The number I am hearing is that 15 CWH people will be going as Staff ( by airline).
I dont have an exact number for the Lanc crew but rest assured it will be their experience people that know the aircraft best
She is a beehive of activity at present and is scheduled to be back in the air this month .
May 31 is the BCATP Gathering and she has rides booked for that w/end

[fleet16b]

$40 large? No auction? Sounds like they want someone to pay for the gas for the flight, and they're dressing it up as a 'crew member'. Seat warmer more like!

Its EBay , so it is an auction
40K is the starting bid and there is a reserve
You have to keep bidding until you pass the reserve.
In reality its worth every penny and a once in a lifetime experience that will most likely never be available again
2 days of Training and accommodation provided by the Museum and then 4-5 days traveling(approx 18 hrs flight time) to various locations enroute to England . Pretty awesome if you are a Warbird Enthusiast and have the money.

[fleet16b]

So far no bids

Maybe we should start a pool on what the winning bid will be

My guess : 52k ( no idea why .. just the first # that popped into my head )

[Illya Kuryakin]

For 40K, you could buy a full rating on a 767/757, and a 738! Or, you could sit for 14 (?) hours listening to the throbbing drone of those lovely antique engines. The novelty would be gone (for me, at least) after an hour.
Illya

[esp803]

I'd take 1 hour in a Lancaster over a 738 type rating any day of the week.

E

[fleet16b]

For 40K, you could buy a full rating on a 767/757, and a 738! hour.

Anybody can that

[Liquid Charlie]

OK -- 40 grand -- obviously no one could ever fool themselves into thinking it would be a comfortable relaxing ride -- so there would be a couple of questions -- first is it tax deductible since this is the only reason to fork out money like this -- then I would ask -- hotels -- food and return fair - if this is a recognized charity a donation would make far more sense -- I know that there are people who would give up their right testicle for this but not many who could actually afford it. Any who could would not want to do the ride which could take anywhere from 2 days to a week -- I can think of nicer ways to go soak in the blue lagoon -- but seriously -- personally I would like to see such an opportunity donated to a deserving individual like Canada's top air cadet or someone similar -- The museum could have gone on a fund raising drive and raised the money -- Ya I know that's not easy -- but going back to my original question -- are donations tax deductible which strangely enough does mean something before people open their wallets -- I for one would have donated money if it were set up properly but this has all the earmarks of a last minute idea that had the potential to actually mean something -- too bad

[fleet16b]

OK -- 40 grand -- obviously no one could ever fool themselves into thinking it would be a comfortable relaxing ride -- so there would be a couple of questions -- first is it tax deductible since this is the only reason to fork out money like this -- then I would ask -- hotels -- food and return fair - if this is a recognized charity a donation would make far more sense -- I know that there are people who would give up their right testicle for this but not many who could actually afford it. Any who could would not want to do the ride which could take anywhere from 2 days to a week -- I can think of nicer ways to go soak in the blue lagoon -- but seriously -- personally I would like to see such an opportunity donated to a deserving individual like Canada's top air cadet or someone similar -- The museum could have gone on a fund raising drive and raised the money -- Ya I know that's not easy -- but going back to my original question -- are donations tax deductible which strangely enough does mean something before people open their wallets -- I for one would have donated money if it were set up properly but this has all the earmarks of a last minute idea that had the potential to actually mean something -- too bad

As CWH is a non profit organization , I will assume that it is a tax right off but I have asked them and will post their reply when I receive it.
As for last minute, the flight is not until the end of July , so hardly last minute.
Due to the overwhelming support of the project and the amount of people wanting to be involved., it was proposed to offer this unique opportunity to the public. A pretty generous offer if you ask me.
Is it a fund raiser for the Museum ? Well of course , thats how Museums survive. Why would any organization not want to capitalize on a project of this size ?

Not sure how this is "not set up properly" (?)
It is a public auction , run by an independant organization with the only restriction being passenger weight and competency.
2 days of Training , flight food and accomodation are all included as well as being part of the documentary.
Sounds pretty well thought out.
Proceeds go towards the continued operation of the Lancaster and other aircraft which in turn allows CWH continue to preserve/ operate the aircraft and educate about this area of Canadian history.

As for the Air Cadets , maybe the Gov. should buy the ride and donate it instead of taking winter jackets away from the Cadet Corps

*****EDIT NOTE*****: CWH confirms that the winning bid for the Lanc flight is a donation and is a tax write off

[PilotDAR]

I can see how this would be a dream trip for some people. Not so much for me. I hope that the winning bidder knows what they are bidding on! I have warm feelings for CWH, and provide small amounts of support from time to time, but morally, I think this is a step too far.

I felt the same way when years back, a Mosquito was ferried westbound across the north. I am delighted that the Lanc flies, but I am more delighted to think of it flying locally, where risks are minimal. I have crossed that route 5 times, and it can have its challenges. Is it really worth risking such an irreplaceable aircraft for this transatlantic good will mission? In my opinion no! When I test flew a Tiger Moth after 8 years of it sitting, I kept within gliding distance of the runway the whole time, even it is a valuable antique.

I think the preservation of such icons of our history means that they need to be afforded a very guarded life of ideal flying conditions. I think Tranatlantic is the opposite of that. 'Decision's been made, it's going to happen, But I would not support that flight.....

[fleet16b]

First off there is no comparing a test flight in a T/Moth that has not flown in 8 yrs to the Lanc going to England. They are two totally different situations
This Lancaster is better maintained than any that flew during wartime or post war. This is no test flight
It will be flying shorter legs than it did when it was on its western tour .
Flying over the rockies is more treacherous than the atlantic flight
With your logic, it should stay within the Hamilton area and should never be see anywhere else .
Hell , we might as well moth ball it and put it in one of the morgues like the one in Ottawa, Right ?
I don't think you have any grasp on why Museums and individuals like myself own operate and restore these
aircraft.

[Pop n Fresh]

There a plenty of non-flying Lancasters. I am in favor of young guys flying this one anywhere on the planet. I could get a foot cramp just watching the video in real time while on a comfortable couch.