The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum made a special announcement this morning regarding its prized Avro Lancaster bomber.

The Lancaster has been completely restored and is one of only two of its kind remaining in the world. In an interview on Morning Live, museum president Dave Rohrer says those two rare planes will get their chance to fly together.

“We are taking the last flying Canadian-built Lancaster, the only one of 430 that were built in Malton, Ontario, to England this summer to fly with the famous Battle of Britain memorial flight Lancaster of the Royal Air Force for the month of August.”

“We’ll be leaving Hamilton on the 4th of August and staying over with our friends at the Royal Air Force base Coningsby Battle of Britain memorial flight, and we’ll fly the last two flying Lancasters in formation with their fighters in tribute to all the Canadians who served in World War II, and all the Canadians that served at home building these airplanes and RCAF veterans and Commonwealth veterans.”

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, never to be repeated.”

Before the Lancaster makes the trip, some work has to be done.

“We’re doing some avionics upgrades. The number two engine is off, that’s because we have a new overhauled number two engine to put on.”

For the past quarter-century the World War II bomber has been flying the skies above Hamilton after its successful restoration.