Two Lancaster bomber planes fly together for first time in 50 years

[Treetopflyer]

Problem is that she has Packard Merlins, the only ones on hand in the UK are of RR manufacture.

I wonder with the advent of 3D printing, how much longer issues like this for vintage aircraft will be solved? In fact, how much easier will it be for more WWII aircraft to become airworthy on parts that have been non-existent for years.

 

[Dragon Soldier]

Well she's back in the air and I hope to see her tomorrow, fingers crossed.

 

[Edward]

I wonder with the advent of 3D printing, how much longer issues like this for vintage aircraft will be solved? In fact, how much easier will it be for more WWII aircraft to become airworthy on parts that have been non-existent for years.

Probably depends on the quality of the parts printed - both in terms of accuracy of reproduction and durability of material. That said, I remember reading an article about Jay Leno using 3D printed bits in his vintage cars, so it's looking likely. I've been keeping an eye on 3D printing for some years now, though moreso from the legal implications side (they're big news in certain areas of copyright infringement, not least in relation to proprietary wargaming miniatures and associated bits). Once somebody produces one that's affordable and facilitates a business that sells legitimate software to print an MP3 into a 45RPM or 33RPM vinyl record, I'm in...