Windsor’s Lancaster bomber undergoing restoration project

 

Reconstruction of the Lancaster bomber, Windsor’s own historically significant warplane, is set for completion two years ahead of schedule.

Since 2006, the project has been under construction by the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association at the No. Seven Elementary Flying School hangar, located at Windsor airport. 

The Lancaster in Windsor is one of 17 left in the world, and one of eight left in Canada. Although the plane will never fly again, the restoration will ensure the aircraft is preserved properly. The project is currently slated for completion in late summer or early fall of 2024, which will make the length of the entire endeavor 18 years.

Don Christopher is the vice president and current acting president of the CHAA, and said a lot of progress has been made, but there is still much work to do.

“We’re coming up to the most challenging part of the restoration, which is the repair of all the damage that was done when it was put on the pedestal in Jackson Park, ” said Christopher. “We’re planning on starting it in the next two or three months, and the repairs will take around a year to a year and a half.”

Christopher also said that over the years, the work force on the project has consisted of many different volunteers.

“We’re all volunteers right now, and it’s an eight man crew,” said Christopher. “There have been many different groups over the many years, and none of the group from 2006 are here now. It’s a different crew now than it was even five years ago. Myself, I’ve been there for eight years, and I plan to see it through to the very end,” said Christopher. 

Windsor city councilor, Fred Francis, said the plane is symbolic of the second World War, and it helps Windsorites remember the sacrifices that were made.

“The Lancaster bomber is part of the city’s history,” said Francis. “It became a hallmark of Windsor that a lot of people grew up with. ”

Francis also said the restoration project is going to take a long time, but that time is needed.

“This is something that I think everyone would want to have restored as fast as possible,” said Francis.“But we’re talking about a very specific type of work, done entirely by volunteers. I think everyone understands that it’s going to take a long, long time.”

The project is not guaranteed to be completed in 2024, as unexpected problems could arise and some parts of the restoration may be more difficult than others, but the CHAA plan to continue working on it until it is done.