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Serial: 1194, RCAF 2349 Manufactured: 1942 at Toronto, Ontario by National Steel Car 870 hp Bristol Mercury engine Maximum speed: 230 mph Stall speed: under 60 mph Empty weight: 4,260 lbs. Loaded weight: 10,000 lbs. Span: 50' 0" Length: 30' 6" Height: 11' 6" The CMF gathered parts to assemble one of these very rare airplanes from 7 different locations, ranging from Texas to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Vancouver Island. Eventually the massive job of restoring the airplane began in late December, 1985. This impressive restoration was accomplished in less than 4 months almost entirely by volunteers under the direction of Mark Zalesky, for display at Expo 86 (as shown in the above photo). Covered in clear plastic sheeting to create the "Gossamer Lysander" at Expo's request, it was featured in the Aviation Plaza. It is currently on display in the museum hangar at Langley Airport. An over-haulable Bristol Mercury engine and the little landing gear bomb racks are sought to complete the restoration. The basic components were donated by the Zalesky family in 1986. General Information The Lysander is a pre-WWII British design. 225 were later built in Canada by National Steel Car in Toronto. Another 104 Lysanders were shipped over from the U.K. Most of the world's few surviving Lysanders are ex-RCAF. The Lysander was a two-seat army cooperation airplane, but its wartime duties qualified it for inclusion as a combat type. Armament consisted of one 0.303 in Browning machine gun operated by the pilot, in each wheel spat, firing outside the propeller disc, and a free Browning in the rear cockpit. Twelve small antipersonnel bombs could be carried under small stub-wings fitted to the spats. The Lysander MkI is powered by an 890 hp Bristol Mercury XII nine-cylinder radial engine and, first went into service in 1938. In WWII they were affectionately know as "Lizzies" and their distinctive appearance caused some people to divide aircraft into two classes -- airplanes and Lysanders! During the war they were used for night fighting, ground attack, target towing, glider towing and air-sea rescue, the latter duty, which involved dropping rubber rafts and survival packs. MkII Lysanders had a 905 hp Bristol Perseus XII engine and the MkIII and 870 hp Mercury XX or XXX. Some MkII's were fitted with twin machine guns in the rear cockpit, these being designated MkIIA. MkIISAS's fitted with long range fuel tank and a side ladder, were used to transport Allied agents into enemy occupied territory and to pick up "evacuees". The British Lysanders were built on a cottage industry basis. Parts were built by small firms and individuals, trucked to other locations where they were assembled into components, taken to yet another location, where they were assembled into an airplane. Parts of the Mosquito and Hawker Hurricanes were also built the same way, as it was the only way that enough airplanes could be built to keep up with the demand. It shows what a country can do it it is fighting for it's life. One of the original STOL or Short Take Off and Landing designs, the Lysander could land and take off in the length of a football field. When the serious fighting got going it was found to be impractical, as it was too big, too heavy and too vulnerable and needed massive support of fuel and mechanics. Lysanders were replaced by small light planes such as the Piper L-4 Cub. Photo: Museum archive | |
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