In pictures: Lancaster in tribute to Bomber Command fallen

Pictures have been released of the only airworthy Lancaster in the UK as it took to the skies after being grounded due to an engine fire in May.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's (BBMF) Lancaster, known as Thumper, based at RAF Coningsby, took to the skies for a test flight on Monday.

This was followed by a flypast over the newly created Bomber Command memorial spire in Lincoln.

Pilot Flt Lt Tim Dunlop said it was great to have her in the air again.

The Lancaster crew back in flight after the aircraft was grounded in May

On Wednesday, the Lancaster flew over the newly created Bomber Command memorial spire in Lincoln

This shot of the spire was taken from inside the aircraft

Attending the flypast was Bomber Command veteran Donald Nicholson, from Tyne and Wear, who said he was "on top of the bloody world"

The spire is 102ft (31.09m) high - the length of the wingspan of a Lancaster Bomber

It has been built as a memorial to the thousands of crewmen who served in Bomber Command during World War Two

The Battle of Britain Memorial Lancaster missed most of the display season after a fire damaged one of its engines

Flt Lt Tim Dunlop (pictured) said the flight over the memorial spire was a fitting tribute to the 55,573 men who lost their lives serving in Bomber Command

The BBMF said it would look to fly Thumper again before it is grounded over the winter.

The team will also feature in a BBC documentary on Sunday.