Paphos Shacks's to be destroyed?(2015 UPDATE)

Saw them still at the western end on the ploughed field when I flew out on 17 June this year.

Recently returned from 2-week Cyprus holiday via Paphos airport. Whilst taxying there on both legs, could not see any abandoned aircraft whatsoever – considering the types that were once there. However, Google Earth shows both shacks (and something else) at the far western end of the runway. Image is dated 2013, so unable to offer anything further re their fate. Maybe the next Google update could enlighten.
Rusty

Last time i saw them was on take-off…….what a waste and the victor at st.mawgan

can anyone confirm/deny/comment on the story that NMS was offered one for East Fortune but turned it down so they could be sold as ‘flyers’

Apparently that is what is known as progress…

As for returning an AEW Shackleton as an operational Multi Mission long range ASuW aircraft. I suspect that you have as much chance as we have of restarting the Nimrod production line, or maybe water into wine:dev2:

Tim

Last time i saw them was on take-off…….what a waste and the victor at st.mawgan

As we’ve just discovered (again) we’re short of ASuW capability perhaps repatriate the Shacks? 2.5 Shacks there, 1 at IWM, one at St Mawgan, 1 in Manchester, 1 at Newark……..any more for any more? Oooh that SAAF one in the middle of nowhere…..

Last time (01/12/14) i was there the Provost and the Dodo fuselage where still lying there on the dump. The helicopter mentioned earlier is a Mil Mi 2

The Provost is visible on aerial imagery, located at the South side of the airport.

Dodo is still there as of a couple of weeks ago, whenever anyone I know is in the area I ask them to check.

Last time (01/12/14) i was there the Provost and the Dodo fuselage where still lying there on the dump. The helicopter mentioned earlier is a Mil Mi 2

Meddle, its not that hard to grasp. The Shacks were under threat during the airport redevelopment, fortunately it was realised they are of some value and effort was put into carefully moving them out the way – and hence saved.

As for their eventual fate; its been something everyone has been wondering since about 1994!

Regards

Rich

Another case of Schroedinger’s Shackletons! It seems that 80% of remaining Shackletons have two 8+ year old threads on this forum. One thread is called “Shackleton X under threat!” and the other is called “Shackleton X is saved!”. In the case of the Paphos Shacks it appears these two threads date back to 2006, or around the time they were moved to a new location.

Ah yes poor old XF700.

trying its best to do a tree impression…

Tim

Dakotaman

I presume by wreck you are referring to the fuselage of WR967 better known as Dodo. It was shipped out there in a container.

Tim S

Or possibly XF700 at Nicosia

http://www.demobbed.org.uk/image_view.php?a=17100&s=xf700.jpg

Dakotaman

I presume by wreck you are referring to the fuselage of WR967 better known as Dodo. It was shipped out there in a container.

Tim S

So what has happened to the wreck of the Shackleton and the Jet Provost that are out there ??

Welcome to the forum ProVox and many thanks for your detailed report.

I was escorted by Hermes Duty Manager and had a limited time to view them, about 45 minutes. I took my truck and a ladder to the airport but they would not allow it on the airfield for safety reasons. So, without a ladder, it was impossible to climb up and get a look inside. All the tires are flat and the wheels have sunk into the ground. There is some relatively minor damage, broken glass and an access hatch missing etc. and a few propellers have been taken, presumably to decorate a wall somewhere, but still a full set available? The corrosion is apparent in some places but not too bad considering the time they have been out in the open but generally the sad look is the bleached and peeling paintwork.

The engines should be in relatively good condition with nothing missing as all the cowlings are in place and one engine pod even has a rotting tarp over it. I would expect any oil to be like tar now after all these years. So, eight Griffons could be recovered by someone who was interested enough?

There is a problem however! Nobody is actually sure who owns these aircraft as the original owner never paid the parking fees and owes the Government (CAA) about 20 years of parking fees and I would assume that they repossessed both aircraft in lieu! Hermes did take over the operation at Paphos but even the Hermes senior personnel do not know who owns the Shackletons and the Flamant.

The Cypriot Government (CAA) is owed an awful lot of money (running into tens if not hundreds of thousands of Euros) and they are greedy, as I was informed that the last time the subject came up some years ago, they are expecting to recover most of their ‘losses’ from any sale.

Hi, the e-mail I got back recently from Hermes Airports was that they considered Mr Constantinides to still be the legal owner. I know there have been a number of attempts to secure parts or the entire aircraft, but lack of any decision on the matter has prevented anything useful being done.

Are the Shackleton fuselage and spare Griffons still on the dump near the black Jet Provost?

Regards,

Rich

Thanks for the update, very interesting and welcome to the forums, rather an impressive first post 🙂

Very interesting update – many thanks.

Have you any photos that you are able to post ?

has anybody “actually” had a good close look and walk around these birds, ie all around em, gear bays etc, to ascertain their true condition.?

mjr

I visited the area where these aircraft have been dumped yesterday (11/5/15) along with the Flamant and they are a sorry sight! I walked around them through grass that was shoulder high (with a high risk of snakes in residence!!!).

I was escorted by Hermes Duty Manager and had a limited time to view them, about 45 minutes. I took my truck and a ladder to the airport but they would not allow it on the airfield for safety reasons. So, without a ladder, it was impossible to climb up and get a look inside. All the tires are flat and the wheels have sunk into the ground. There is some relatively minor damage, broken glass and an access hatch missing etc. and a few propellers have been taken, presumably to decorate a wall somewhere, but still a full set available? The corrosion is apparent in some places but not too bad considering the time they have been out in the open but generally the sad look is the bleached and peeling paintwork.

The engines should be in relatively good condition with nothing missing as all the cowlings are in place and one engine pod even has a rotting tarp over it. I would expect any oil to be like tar now after all these years. So, eight Griffons could be recovered by someone who was interested enough?

There is a problem however! Nobody is actually sure who owns these aircraft as the original owner never paid the parking fees and owes the Government (CAA) about 20 years of parking fees and I would assume that they repossessed both aircraft in lieu! Hermes did take over the operation at Paphos but even the Hermes senior personnel do not know who owns the Shackletons and the Flamant.

The Cypriot Government (CAA) is owed an awful lot of money (running into tens if not hundreds of thousands of Euros) and they are greedy, as I was informed that the last time the subject came up some years ago, they are expecting to recover most of their ‘losses’ from any sale.

I asked about a Meteor and Vampire that were rumored to be somewhere in one of the hangars but this seems to be a myth. There is however a helicopter abandoned near the fire station which is still in one piece, although a windscreen panel has a hole in it. It has been there for some time apparently. Sorry but I don’t the type but it appears to have two ‘turbines’ mounted on top and is in military paintwork but no registration marks.