18/08/2026
A full size Lancaster print has been installed in the Dakota Hangar next to the replica Lancaster nose section simulator, recently donated by the family of the late Leon Ellison.
The Lancaster simulator was built over twenty years by Leon and is very accurate inside and fully equipped.
To show the scale of a real Lancaster and where the simulator section fits in, we had the full size image printed on a single piece of light weight flag type material, it is 21.2m long and 3.9m high.
The very high definition image was created for us by Piotr Forkasiewicz and generously donated by him.
The print was supplied by Jamprint Design & Printing Limited.
It is of a 106 Squadron Lancaster that operated from RAF Metheringham in 1944, ZN-L, ME668. This aircraft was chosen, one of five ZN-L’s, mainly as we have some original photos of it and its crew as well as the full story about what happened to it.
We wanted to have a ZN-L as the “L” is a tribute to Leon Ellison, hence the “Leon” on the nose as well.
This is the first time we have had a “Lancaster” in a hangar at the former RAF Metheringham in 80 years, quite an occasion.
The installation was achieved by a team of six MAVC engineering volunteers over two days, some hard work but well worth it.