Two Avro Lancaster bombers have flown in formation for the first time in more than 50 years, with the duo set to appear at numerous air shows and events in the UK over the coming weeks.

Performed from the Royal Air Force’s Coningsby base in Lincolnshire on 13 August, the historic sortie involved the last two airworthy Lancasters. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Coningsby-based example – nicknamed “Thumper” – was joined by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s “Vera”. The latter arrived in the UK late last week, following a ferry flight from Mount Hope, Ontario.

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“The two Lancasters will visit some 60 air shows and public events across the UK over the next five weeks,” the RAF says. This schedule will begin with daily appearances atEastbourne Airshow, which runs from 14-17 August.

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Some 7,377 Lancasters were produced, according to the RAF. The service says 3,500 of this number were lost on operations during the Second World War, and another roughly 200 destroyed or written off in accidents.

Source: FlightGlobal.com