Pima Shackleton owned by..?

Thanks Richard,
from what I understand previous to that reply you posted, she is down for a complete repaint but was lower down the priority list which is understandable. She will one day look her best again!

There have been various rumors for some time about Kermit having an interest in the aircraft but if its anything like a lot of the other big birds he has bought and flown for a short period then hangar ed up it may be only a passing fad ??

From what ‘ve seen and read, Mr. Weeks likes flying his aircraft, but that usually means single engine types where he seems to be comfortable as PIC.

Why doesn’t he fly his large aircraft?
Perhaps he doesn’t have anyone he can use as co-pilot, flight engineer, etc.
After all, there can’t be many people in central Florida with those qualifications…let alone someone to give him a check-out on his several multi-engine types.

If I were him, (yeah, that’s like saying ‘If I were Prince Edward’..:) )
I’d find a multi-engine pilot with plenty of hours on the C-47/B-17 or Lancaster and add him to the payroll to be the resident ME PIC..then send him around to get experiance in the Collings Foundation Liberator, and get some B-25 time (at least that would be easy)…but that would still leave the issue of gaining experiance in the Martin B-26 and Mosquito. But since they’re both extinct as airworthy examples, getting current would be difficult (yes, I know that his Mossie probably isn’t airworthy without major work).

I really can’t blame him much for not flying his ME types with the necessary crew and experience issues noted. To say nothing of the cost and maintenance. I can certainly see it would be much more fun to take up the Mustang or Duck for an hour or two than have the hassle of getting the Liberator in the air at huge expense, onlyto be rewarded by heavy controls and a fuel bill that would bankrupt lesser men.

You’ve got to give him credit, he flies what he seems to be comfortable with. No sense in doing something foolish just to show off your collection.

Hi all,

I sent a message to James Stemm, Curator of Collections at Pima Air & Space Museum – complete with a link to this thread. I’ve just had a message back from him with a definitive answer, posted below.

“The Shackleton was an outright donation to the museum. It has most certainly not been sold to Kermit Weeks or anyone else. Of all the planes we own that is one of the few he hasn’t ever asked about. We do intend to repaint the aircraft however I can’t tell you when that is going to happen. I had hoped to get it done soon after arrival but as often happens other priorities have gotten in the way. Rest assured the Shackleton is an important and valued part of our collection.”

AA had planned to return her to the uk circa 2007/2008 I believe what put paid to this idea was

A) her instant grounding once back in the uk
B) the horrendous cost involved in terms of logistics should she drop a donk at one of the bases she stopped at along her way
C) the thought of loosing a donk or two mid atlantic…

Rich knows the details I think 🙂

From an extremely reliable source the aircraft was donated to the museum by AA the aircraft was in a bit of a shaky state and was getting near the end of her useful flying life that is one reason why she was not considered for a flight back across the pond.There is only one Growler that has any chance of flying again and that we all know is at Coventry .

There have been various rumors for some time about Kermit having an interest in the aircraft but if its anything like a lot of the other big birds he has bought and flown for a short period then hangar ed up it may be only a passing fad ??
Or just as usual speculation gone mad a man who likes big aeroplanes with a big bank balance.:diablo::diablo::diablo:

I cant see that it will deteriorate much at Pima. Paint has probably faded a bit, and they may have painted the perspex blue, but it should stay in pretty good shape for a long time to come!

I’m sure it was donated to Pima by Air Atlantique. I’m trying to find out for definite what has happened, though I think there has been some confusion here.

The rumour mill has been working over this aircraft recently, but I don’t think she’s going anywhere.

Regards,

Rich

She was as far as im aware? :confused:

Heard some pretty dire rumours about her too…