FM104 at Downsview. Repairing the damage incurred while it was plinth-mounted in Toronto in 1965–99 is proving to be a long-term task.

At the Canadian Air & Space Museum in Downsview, Toronto, the restoration of Avro Lancaster X FM104 to 1945 configuration is proceeding apace. A team of 17 volunteers has been working primarily on the centre section, which was heavily damaged when FM104 was attached to a plinth for display in a Toronto park in 1965.

The entire centre section floor and parts of the spar webs were torched out for the plinth attachment, resulting in severe structural weakening and initiating areas of significant corrosion. Repairs to the front spar web were recently completed, and the first four stations of centre section flooring are now 80 per cent done. The side panels of the bomb bay are also about 80 per cent rebuilt, and include several new skins and reproduction ribs. The forward gun turret has been completely rebuilt, and a fire-damaged Martin 250 mid-upper turret has been acquired from Aero Trader at Chino, California.