Decades of Dedication: Handmade Lancaster Cockpit Replica Opens to Visitors

A handmade Lancaster bomber cockpit replica built by engineer Leon Ellison over decades has arrived at Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre in Lincolnshire. The museum plans to transform it into a fully functioning flight simulator, with visitors currently able to experience it through guided tours.

A meticulously crafted replica of an Avro Lancaster bomber's cockpit, built over many years by electronics engineer and aviator Leon Ellison, has arrived at Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre in Lincolnshire. The arrival on Thursday marked the fulfilment of his dying wish to donate the creation to the museum, where it will serve both as an educational resource and the foundation for a planned interactive flight simulator experience.

Leon's family described him as a

"mad genius"

for his decades-long labour in crafting the replica in his garden workshop. His son Adrian, 57, witnessed the cockpit's arrival and reflected on his father's legacy.

"I am so proud and I think he would be as well if he could look down on us. He would be amazed that his creation has garnered so much attention."

A picture of Léon Ellison, wearing a light shirt and a purple jumper, sat in a restaurant or pub. He has white hair and glasses. — Leon Ellison spent decades researching and building the replica

What inspired Leon's lifelong project?

Leon's fascination with the Lancaster stemmed from watching the 1955 film depicting the famous Dambusters raid of World War Two. The film, starring Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave, chronicled the 1943 sortie that targeted German dams in the industrial Ruhr valley. This sparked decades of meticulous research into the Avro Lancaster bomber, during which Leon combined his expertise as an electronics engineer and physicist with his own aviation experience to construct an accurate replica of the aircraft's front section.

A head and shoulders shot of Adrian Ellison, who is stood in front of the replica cockpit, smiling at the camera. He is bald and is wearing black glasses, a light blue blazer and a white shirt. — Adrian Ellison says his dad was a "mad genius"

Adrian explained his father's multifaceted background:

"He was a mad genius. He was an electronics engineer, a physicist. He was an aviator in his own right."

This combination of skills proved essential to the authenticity of the cockpit, which includes positions for the pilot, flight engineer, navigator and wireless operator.

Why does this location matter?

RAF Metheringham, situated near the visitor centre, served as the wartime home of 106 Squadron's Lancaster bombers from November 1943 until the end of the war. The proximity to this historic airfield made it the natural choice for Leon's bequest.

"He had let us know in his wishes that he would like it to go to the museum so it could be appreciated by many and used also as an educational tool,"

Adrian said.

"Letting it go... it was very poignant. There was a lump in the throat as it departed. But I knew it was coming to the right place and seeing it here, it just looks as if it fits."

The inside of the Lancaster bomber cockpit, with its control column - effectively a steering wheel - on the left and controls on the right. — Engineers want to eventually use the replica as a fully working simulator

What are the plans for the replica?

Currently displayed as a static exhibit, the replica is now being prepared for public access as a one-to-one guided experience lasting 10–15 minutes. The visitor centre's long-term ambition extends far beyond its present form. Engineers aim to transform the cockpit into a fully functioning flight simulator, allowing visitors to virtually experience the Dambusters' raid. To realise this vision, the museum is raising £50,000.

The centre's collection materials now explicitly describe the acquisition as an "Avro Lancaster forward-section replica and simulator", reflecting the planned evolution of the exhibit. The visitor centre is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The cockpit being winched over the garden where it was built, with large cables holding it upright. — The cockpit was lifted out of Leon's garden in Binfield, Berkshire

How does this compare to surviving aircraft?

Barry Walker, a trustee and volunteer at the airfield, noted that only two airworthy Lancaster bombers remain in existence—one based at RAF Coningsby, operated by the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and another in Canada. The replica therefore offers a unique opportunity for the vast majority of visitors.

"The replica gives our visitors an opportunity to experience what it would have been like for the crews."

Walker emphasised the educational dimension, noting that the visitor centre hosts youth groups regularly.

"Our intention is to get the children onto the static exhibit to show them what it would have been like compared to modern aircraft."

A head and shoulders shot of Barry Walker, who is stood in front of the replica cockpit, smiling at the camera. He has short, blond hair and is wearing a black suit jacket, a white shirt and a black and white patterned tie. — Barry Walker says the replica is a "tangible representation of what a Lancaster would have been like"

Squadron Leader Paul Wise from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight praised Leon's craftsmanship, describing the replica as a

"double take"

of the operational aircraft.

"The classic telltale for me, really, is when I jump onto the aircraft, my hands are going in exactly the right places of where they would on the real aeroplane. I'm hoping that when the general public get to come on board this aircraft, this simulator, they will have the same feeling as we get every single time we climb on board our Lancaster."

Paul wise sat in the replica cockpit. He is smiling at the camera and is wearing RAF uniform. — Sqn Ldr Paul Wise says Leon's creation is "amazing"

What was the historical significance of the Dambusters raid?

The Dambusters raids, launched from RAF Scampton, also in Lincolnshire, exacted a severe toll on Bomber Command. Of the 19 bombers involved in the operation, eight were shot down. Among the 133 aircrew members who participated, 53 were killed and three were captured. The raid remains one of the most celebrated operations of the Second World War, and Leon's replica serves as a tangible link to the experiences of those who flew these missions.

Key Facts

Leon Ellison spent decades building a full-size replica of a Lancaster bomber's cockpit in his garden workshop in Binfield, Berkshire.
The replica includes positions for pilot, flight engineer, navigator and wireless operator, reflecting the aircraft's operational crew layout.
Only two airworthy Lancaster bombers survive globally, making this replica a significant educational resource.
The visitor centre is raising £50,000 to convert the static exhibit into a fully functioning flight simulator.
The Dambusters raid of 1943 resulted in eight of 19 bombers being lost, with 53 of 133 aircrew killed.