Lancaster Bomber arrives at Duxford for maintenance

The UK’s last flying Avro Lancaster bomber, PA474, has touched down at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire for months of routine maintenance. 

The aircraft, which is normally based at the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, arrived on Wednesday following the conclusion of the 2025 display season.

PA474 will undergo an extensive maintenance programme with the Aircraft Restoration Company, specialists in the restoration, maintenance, and operation of vintage aircraft. During this period, the Lancaster will be absent from air displays in 2026.

There are only two airworthy Lancasters left in the world, according to the Royal Air Force, making PA474 a rare and treasured part of the UK’s aviation heritage.

The work involves stripping the aircraft down - a process that occurs every eight years - with the hope of a “speedy return” to the skies.

While the Lancaster is out of action next year, the BBMF’s other aircraft - including five Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a C-47 Dakota, and two Chipmunks - will continue to be seen in flight from May to October. The unit’s C-47 Dakota transport aircraft will fly alongside the Spitfires and Hurricanes during displays.

The maintenance period at Duxford ensures that this iconic bomber, a symbol of the RAF’s history and resilience, will continue to inspire generations to come.