Lancasters taking off at sunset

A wave of RAF Lancaster bombers takes off from an airfield in eastern England during WWII. Another long and perilous night ahead, they depart westwards into the prevailing wind before turning east to Germany. The nearest, its four Merlin engines are roaring at 3,000rpm, has 25 degrees of flap down to give greater lift with its 'heavy' all-up weight of 60,000lbs (27,000kgs). The undercarriage is beginning to retract.

Black-and-white version also available.