Long Marston collection

ISTR the aircraft was fully assembled after being released from Cosford

The two engines were sold, one of which went to a fellow forumite. I am sure if you read through the entire thread you may find out who it was.

The Shacks were released from Cosford as there was no real need to teach people the skills required to fix 1940’s aircraft technology. WR974, WR982 and WR985 were bought through the Gatwick Aviation museum.

Kind Regards
Scotty

What set of circumstances caused Cosford to release this Shack?

Just never fully assembled after its move from Cosford. The link in turn links to an earlier set of pictures from 1992. You’ll see the MR3 parked behind the Meteor.

That MR3 looks terrible. Am I right in thinking that it was never fully assembled, rather than it has shed two engines through corrosion? I don’t think the future is to rosy for this one.

This is how things looked in 2011. I can’t imagine things have changed all that much since.
http://www.midlandsheritage.co.uk/miscellaneous/6209-jet-aviation-preservation-group-long-marston-warks.html

With the fate of WL795 being uncertain, is there any progress with this airframe?

Is there any update on the fate of this poor old thing ?

Two engines were sold to help pay for the more from Cosford, also many part not on the airframe are stores underneath it below the bomb bay. The control surfaces are on the floor as well.
There are also spare undercarriages there off the one that was scrapped the body originally going to the collection near Marham,

Has it not been missing two engines for a very long time as well as control surfaces and all the cockpit ???

Hi Geoff,

No idea, we were only ever allowed to take a couple of minor bits. We asked repeatedly whether there would be a chance she would be sold to us for spares and never got a decision. I guess the new owner put up more cash than we did… and I hope he knows exactly what he’s bought, otherwise this could be a re-run of the Blackpool Vulcan story.

We did several times, but the people involved at Long Marston always promised to get back to us and never did. No doubt whoever has purchased it will become known before long if he/she wants to acquire replacements for the bits that are missing.

Hi All,
richw_82,
It just doesn’t make sense that the owner would leave her standing there rotting away along with the other airframes when you and your accomplices have a real opportunity of putting the airframe to good use. The cost like mentioned above will be extortionate if any kind of full restoration is to take place, why the airframe was never donated to your restoration is beyond belief, the only reason I can think of is the thought of spares would rocket in value for other restorations flying or ground running at the time the Shackleton was purchased, being as there haven’t been any looks like the owner shot themselves in the foot and the airframe as far as I can see is just ready for the scrap man now as most of the usable spares I presume would now be seized or be to far gone to be of serviceable quality what a waste.

Geoff.

Restoring this a few years ago would have been a struggle, now it would be very difficult I am sure, I have some stuff but not overly keen to part with it

Hi All,
I always wondered why the team of WR693 never targeted the Long Marston Shackleton for spares, but I am just glad that someone has seen fit to end it’s days of misery as she has been sitting in the current location for years slowly dilapidating and begging for a proper restoration as have all the other airframes good luck fella. :eagerness:

Geoff.

We did several times, but the people involved at Long Marston always promised to get back to us and never did. No doubt whoever has purchased it will become known before long if he/she wants to acquire replacements for the bits that are missing.

You just wonder how many office workers would put up with climbing over the spars?

I think scrapping is going to be the real end of this aircraft. Sooner rather than later.

Kind regards
Scotty

It would make a pretty cramped office (well for me anyway, I’d find an aircraft hangar cramped by the time I had surrounded myself with all the junk I have!)

Its begging out to be spares recovered and put out of its misery! It was imcomplete back in the early 1990’s – since then it has been truely souvenired.

Hi All,
I always wondered why the team of WR693 never targeted the Long Marston Shackleton for spares, but I am just glad that someone has seen fit to end it’s days of misery as she has been sitting in the current location for years slowly dilapidating and begging for a proper restoration as have all the other airframes good luck fella. :eagerness:

Geoff.

Shackleton sold?

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=55134

The landowners are exactly that so I don’t know why you have put them in brackets! The Shackleton was not brought to the airfield by them but for a collection. The engines were removed years ago and sundry other items have been taken not by the landowners but by various people who thought they had a better home for them. So in essence the aircraft has been protested to a degree and if enthusiastic people stopped getting into it probably more so.

After having spoken with the landowners over summer this years just gone, I almost managed to secure a deal for her, however due to some people being morons, that fell through….

WR985 will stay where she is until the earth decides to reclaim her – As you can see she’s in a terrible state inside! 🙁

The T7 in the photo’s belongs to the same chap who owns the Prince on the gate and as Mr Burke says above – The whirlygig belongs to the landowners

Bizarre! The “landowners” are clearly not interested so you wonder why they would not be happy to be shot of it to someone who cares.:(