The Momentum Group Presents: Real Talk Fridays - An Audience with Andy Sturgess
Schedule
Fri Apr 24 2026 at 07:00 pm to 09:00 pm
UTC+01:00Location
Shaftesbury Arts Centre | Shaftesbury, EN
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Building a Lancaster Bomber & Re-Flying the Legendary Dambusters RaidStep inside one of the most extraordinary aviation projects ever undertaken.
In this captivating talk, Andy Sturgess shares the remarkable story of how, over 20 years and more than 10,000 hours, he built a full-size Lancaster Bomber cockpit using original wartime components painstakingly restored and transformed into a fully functioning flight simulator.
With a crew of four, Andy then achieved something truly unique: re-flying the exact route of the Dambusters Raid of May 1943, following the path flown by Flight Lieutenant David Maltby, who breached the Möhne Dam. This historic mission was recreated 80 years to the day, on 16–17 May 2023.
The talk weaves together meticulous research, engineering ingenuity, and vivid storytelling, covering:
• The challenges of sourcing and rebuilding authentic wartime parts
• The evolution and design of the Lancaster Bomber
• The aircraft’s pivotal role in World War II
• The precision and courage required to fly the Dambusters mission
Audience members are warmly encouraged to bring along any relevant WWII artefacts, photographs, or memorabilia to share with Andy, adding a personal and interactive dimension to the evening.
Voluntary contributions are welcomed on the night to help support ongoing efforts to keep the memory of Bomber Command alive and not forgotten.
Further information: lancasterflightuk.co.uk
Tickets: £18 to include grazing board
Location: Rutter Room, 13 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8AR
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Where is it happening?
Shaftesbury Arts Centre, 11 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, SP7 8, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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