Lancaster PA474 80th ‘birthday’ at Hawarden
Header image: BBMF Lancaster PA474 returned to its ‘birthplace’ at Hawarden on 30th-31st May for its 80th ‘birthday’, where it met an Airbus A330 ‘Beluga’ XL Super Transporter (and look at the smile on the Beluga’s face!). (Photo: Cheshire and Merseyside Military Vehicle Trust)
In the Club newsletter for May, we highlighted BBMF Lancaster PA474’s 80th ‘birthday’ which fell on 31st May. This was the date in 1945 when PA474’s build was completed at the Vickers-Armstrong ‘shadow’ aircraft factory at Broughton, on Hawarden airfield in North Wales, as one of the 235 Lancasters manufactured at the plant.
To help celebrate this special occasion for the Lancaster, one of only two in the world still flying today, Airbus UK, which now occupies the site where PA474 was originally assembled, invited the BBMF to take the Lancaster back to its ‘birthplace’ for what is probably only the second time since its departure in 1945.
The Lancaster arrived at Hawarden on the afternoon of Friday 30th May, escorted by BBMF Spitfires Mk XVI TE311 and PR Mk XIX PM631 in close formation. The trio had completed other events on the flight from Coningsby to Hawarden, including the Midlands Air Festival at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, the first public air display for the Flight following the award of Public Display Authority on 27th May. After stopping overnight, the plan was to depart from Hawarden the following day, 31st May, the Lancaster’s actual 80th.
The Broughton factory where PA474 was built is now a major manufacturing hub for Airbus, specialising in the assembly of Airbus airliner wings. The wings manufactured here are transported to the final assembly lines at the Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg, Germany, in specialised wide-bodied freighter aircraft developed from the Airbus A-300 and A-330. There are six of the XL (A-330 based) variant in the fleet and five of the earlier, slightly smaller Super Transporters. Nicknamed “Beluga” early on, after the Beluga whale which it resembles, the name gained popularity and was officially adopted.
On arrival at Hawarden on 30th May, the Lancaster was positioned close to a Beluga XL for a photoshoot. This placed what is now the most famous aircraft to emerge from the Broughton factory – Lancaster PA474 – with one of the newer and also iconic Airbus Belugas, which operate from the airfield today. This is probably the only time such photos will ever be taken.
Airbus’ head of Broughton site, Mr Gareth Davies, said: “We are honoured to host the BBMF Lancaster and mark her 80th anniversary as a reminder of the importance of British aerospace history in understanding who we are and where we want to go. Our Broughton site has a lot to be proud of, producing the wings that half the world flies on. We’re a site that epitomises innovation, advanced manufacturing and a proud workforce who are at the top of their game. It’s fantastic to be celebrating our heritage with this aircraft.” Jeremy Greaves, head of UK Heritage at Airbus, said “This is one of the most significant visits to Broughton by an aircraft in its entire history.”
After the photoshoot with the Beluga, the Lancaster was moved to be displayed more prominently for the public at the Broughton Aviation Park. The Lancaster and the two Spitfires flew out of Hawarden on Saturday 31st May for further events scheduled for the weekend. It was a special way to celebrate the Lancaster’s 80th ‘birthday.
