Just as a point of interest while the information is notable. There may not be any Lancaster VI in service today. My error in understanding what plane Prince was looking for. His associates are known as the "Lancaster 6." Who knows why they are named after a WWII aircraft, probably has nothing to do with the aircraft. But, it was the first thing I keyed in on. I haven't kept an interest in "Blackwater" or Eric Prince. He successfully disappeared out of the focus of the media.
The Lancaster 6 is longhand is the Lancaster B VI. The Brits really should recall their old WWII bombers before the Americans oligarchs turn them into death machines. Even Russia, after the Soviet Union dissolved ended the ownership of military jets from their oligarchs.
We know for a fact Prince has been meeting with Mideast countries. This happened. Prince is lying about his interest in this mess. Oh, the Lancaster 6 is the covert name of the Prince outfit. Just as well to understand the mess that exists in the world.
This description is directly out of Wikipedia. (click here)
The Lancaster 6 is longhand is the Lancaster B VI. The Brits really should recall their old WWII bombers before the Americans oligarchs turn them into death machines. Even Russia, after the Soviet Union dissolved ended the ownership of military jets from their oligarchs.
We know for a fact Prince has been meeting with Mideast countries. This happened. Prince is lying about his interest in this mess. Oh, the Lancaster 6 is the covert name of the Prince outfit. Just as well to understand the mess that exists in the world.
This description is directly out of Wikipedia. (click here)
Nine aircraft converted from B.IIIs. Fitted with Merlin 85/87 which had two-stage superchargers, giving much improved high altitude performance. The B VI could achieve a maximum speed of 313 mph (505 km/h) at 18,200 ft (5,550 m) at 65,000 lb (29,500 kg) takeoff weight and a service ceiling of 28,500 ft (8,690 m) at the same weight. Climb to 28,000 ft (8,500 m) at 65,000 lb (29,500 kg) takeoff weight was accomplished in 44.8 minutes with a maximum climb rate of 1,080 ft/min (5.5 m/s) at 1,000 ft (305 m).[68] A Lancaster B VI was dived to a maximum indicated speed of 350 mph (565 km/h), or Mach 0.72 at 25,000 ft (7,620 m) in June 1944. The Merlin 85/87 series engines were fitted with annular cowlings similar to the Avro Lincoln and three bladed paddle-type propellers were fitted. These aircraft were only used by Pathfinder units; by No. 7 Squadron RAF, No. 83 Squadron RAF, No. 405 Squadron RCAF and by No. 635 Squadron RAF. Often used as a "Master Bomber" the B VI's were allocated to RAF Bomber Command apart from two that were retained by Rolls-Royce for installation and flight testing. Their dorsal and nose turrets were removed and faired-over. The more powerful engines proved troublesome in service and were disliked by ground maintenance staff for their rough running and propensity to 'surge and hunt', making synchronisation impossible. This was caused by variations in the fuel/air mixture and over time would damage the engine. The B VI was withdrawn from operational service in November 1944 and surviving aircraft were used by Rolls-Royce, the Royal Aircraft Establishment and the Bomb Ballistics Unit (BBU) for various testing and experimental duties.
The Wikipedia description is the only one that I am finding that actually lists the Lancaster 6 by number.
I am trying to figure out what war Eric Prince has in mind that he needs this machine? His militia kills with helicopters and now he is going to have a weaponized WWII Bomber?
This is an interesting aspect of the Lancaster as well.
...Some Lancasters (click here) were equipped with H2S ground-mapping radar from 1943 and later with improved H2X radar as well as receivers for “Gee” and “Oboe” radio guidance systems. By the spring of 1944, radar-equipped Lancasters were capable of bombing at night with considerable accuracy, particularly when attacking targets close enough to Britain to be guided by the radio bombing aids. Lancasters played a major role in the preparations for D-Day (June 6, 1944), conducting accurate attacks on bridges, rail yards, and other transportation targets. Less happily, the tail-mounted Monica radar device, adopted in mid-1943 and designed to warn bomber crews of attack from the rear, proved to be a magnet for German night fighters equipped with passive radar receivers tuned to home in on Monica transmissions. Bomber Command remained unaware of the German homing capability for some six months, and many bomber crews paid for this oversight with their lives. In addition, the lack of armament, or even an observer, in most Lancasters’ bellies cost Bomber Command crews dearly, for in late 1943 (and unknown to the British for a considerable time) the Luftwaffe armed night fighters with upward-firing 20-mm (0.8-inch) cannons in the rear fuselage. Bomber Command never developed an effective response to this weapon (which the Germans called Schrage musik, or “jazz music”), and many hundreds of British heavy bombers were destroyed by German fighters firing undetected from beneath at close range....
This machine doesn't even classify as a sports flying vintage aircraft. It is too dangerous. When the USA retires their aircraft of mass destruction they are gutted of all their weaponry and given to VFWs and the like. What the heck have the Brits done with these machines?
The continued use of these planes is not unrealistic. They are uncomplicated to maintain. Think B-52.
I guess this is the aircraft Prince wants.
Antonov An-32 Light Multipurpose Transport Aircraft (click here)
The An-32 has been ordered by various air forces and companies, including the Afghan Air Force (seven), Colombian Army (two), Croatian Air Force (two), Indian Air Force (125), Iraqi Air Force (10), Ministry of Ukraine (four), Air Pass (four), Alada (three), Libyan Arab Air Cargo (four), Million Air Charter (three), Aercarbie (two), Trans-Charter (three) and Selva (four).
So, Eric Prince now wants to compete with sovereign authorities. No. Prince wants to weaponize the aircraft in a way no other sovereign authority has engineered. No. This is an aircraft that belongs to sovereign nations, not the sovereign brother of a Trump cabinet member. Is the Secretary of Education his sister or mother? I don't really care. He can't play general at the expense of other country's national security, including domestic cities of the USA.
The Wikipedia description is the only one that I am finding that actually lists the Lancaster 6 by number.
I am trying to figure out what war Eric Prince has in mind that he needs this machine? His militia kills with helicopters and now he is going to have a weaponized WWII Bomber?
This is an interesting aspect of the Lancaster as well.
...Some Lancasters (click here) were equipped with H2S ground-mapping radar from 1943 and later with improved H2X radar as well as receivers for “Gee” and “Oboe” radio guidance systems. By the spring of 1944, radar-equipped Lancasters were capable of bombing at night with considerable accuracy, particularly when attacking targets close enough to Britain to be guided by the radio bombing aids. Lancasters played a major role in the preparations for D-Day (June 6, 1944), conducting accurate attacks on bridges, rail yards, and other transportation targets. Less happily, the tail-mounted Monica radar device, adopted in mid-1943 and designed to warn bomber crews of attack from the rear, proved to be a magnet for German night fighters equipped with passive radar receivers tuned to home in on Monica transmissions. Bomber Command remained unaware of the German homing capability for some six months, and many bomber crews paid for this oversight with their lives. In addition, the lack of armament, or even an observer, in most Lancasters’ bellies cost Bomber Command crews dearly, for in late 1943 (and unknown to the British for a considerable time) the Luftwaffe armed night fighters with upward-firing 20-mm (0.8-inch) cannons in the rear fuselage. Bomber Command never developed an effective response to this weapon (which the Germans called Schrage musik, or “jazz music”), and many hundreds of British heavy bombers were destroyed by German fighters firing undetected from beneath at close range....
This machine doesn't even classify as a sports flying vintage aircraft. It is too dangerous. When the USA retires their aircraft of mass destruction they are gutted of all their weaponry and given to VFWs and the like. What the heck have the Brits done with these machines?
The continued use of these planes is not unrealistic. They are uncomplicated to maintain. Think B-52.
I guess this is the aircraft Prince wants.
Antonov An-32 Light Multipurpose Transport Aircraft (click here)
The An-32 has been ordered by various air forces and companies, including the Afghan Air Force (seven), Colombian Army (two), Croatian Air Force (two), Indian Air Force (125), Iraqi Air Force (10), Ministry of Ukraine (four), Air Pass (four), Alada (three), Libyan Arab Air Cargo (four), Million Air Charter (three), Aercarbie (two), Trans-Charter (three) and Selva (four).
So, Eric Prince now wants to compete with sovereign authorities. No. Prince wants to weaponize the aircraft in a way no other sovereign authority has engineered. No. This is an aircraft that belongs to sovereign nations, not the sovereign brother of a Trump cabinet member. Is the Secretary of Education his sister or mother? I don't really care. He can't play general at the expense of other country's national security, including domestic cities of the USA.
By David Axe
...If Lancaster 6 (click here) were to acquire side-firing An-26 or An-32 gunships, it would become one of the world’s only private gunship operators. Lancaster 6 did not respond to a request for comment on the Ukraine meeting. And a Prince spokesperson said Prince is not connected to Lancaster 6 “in any way,” despite two sources with close knowledge of Prince’s business dealings who claim the former Blackwater head unofficially calls the shots at the company.
The 2016 meeting, which took place at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kiev, did not result in any aircraft sale. But it was an indication that Prince, who became a globally infamous figure after his corporate soldiers became involved in a 2007 Baghdad firefight that killed 17 civilians, was looking to get back into the war-for-hire business....
