Armstrong Whitworth-built Lancaster modified to B.VI and used by Rolls Royce for flight testing the Dart turboprop in a nose installation. Retired in 1952. Obtained from Rolls-Royce 50 years ago.

FRL's Lancaster tanker was built in 1945 by Avro at Woodford as PB972 for the RAF. It was transferred to FRL in May 1949 and modified as a trials aircraft and is here seen over Poole Dorset whilst refuelling a Gloster Meteor F.3. From FRL 60 years ago.

Austin Motors-built Lancaster B.VII wears the code FCXV of the Empire Flying School whilst visiting Ringway from its base at RAF Hullavington. It wears the Far East white-top scheme with a rear yellow band to denote its training role.

Originally used for R-R Merlin tests. Converted in 1948 as the R-R Avon test bed, retaining inboard Merlins. Taken at R-R's test airfield at Hucknall in 1948. From R-R 60 years ago.

Rolls Royce's testbed with two outboard Nene jet engines and two inner Merlins. Displayed at the April 1948 613 Squadron air show at Ringway.

Rolls Royce's Nene testbed taxies out at Ringway before giving a demonstration including very low level beat-ups.

Built by Victory Aircraft at Malton (Ontario) as Lancaster B.X KB730. Converted to Lancaster XPP freighter for Transatlantic operation by TCA. It wears the wartime-style red/white/blue underlining of its registration. To AP-ACM and crashed at in Pakistan on 1 August 1948. From TCA 60 years ago.

Newly built BOAC Lancastrian displayed at the RAF Ringway open day held to mark the war's end.

The vast majority of Lancasters were powered by the inline Merlin engine. This is one of 200 powered by the Bristol Hercules radial engine. They were built in 1942/43 by Armstrong Whitworth as an insurance against shortages of Merlins. DS778 was flown by 408 (Canadian) Squadron based at RAF Balderton, Notts. It was lost on a raid on Kassel on 23 October 1943. From AWA 60 years ago.

Developed from the twin-engined Avro Manchester and first flown in 1941, the Lancaster heavy bomber could weigh in at over 30 tonnes. 7,377 Lancasters were built, equipping no less than 56 Bomber Command squadrons by 1945.

This photograph also gives an overview of the packed AirSpace Hall at Duxford.