Save a Shackleton

😮 Sorry for the confusion Rich – best wishes to them both. 🙂

Thanks Howard. (The hip op is my Dad! Both him and Roger are laid up. )

Rich the emailed and posted offers stand, just let me know and please pass on my best wishes to Roger for a speedy recovery. 🙂

We should be able to pin down a presenter, but the real key to success lies with their producer – I may need to call in a favour!

re;

Thanks Rich, I like your positive comments regarding the old Shack. You’ll know that the Cornish Aviation Society squad who have worked on the aircraft each week over the last twenty five or more years are very keen for the aircraft to go to a good home but it seemed to be a case of too little too late when TV tonight showed their report on a campaign seeking to save the aircraft. Don’t expect Cornwall Council to be generous in offering a suitable space on Newquay Airport as they are experiencing major cost pressures.

Which means neither party is making much money?

I’m always positive when it comes to Shackletons! Hopefully details of our plan to save WL795 should have filtered down to the CAS, but I’ll be making sure over the weekend. I can’t go into detail publicly, but all the necessary elements for her survival are covered.

Howard – we’ve tried e-mail, Facebook, and phone. Left two answerphone messages, numerous contact details… no reponse as yet. Our chairman is trying again tomorrow; although he’s on crutches due to a hip replacement op, he’s itching for something ‘Shack’ to do!

Rich,

What method have you used to try and contact BBC Cornwall – telephone, email?

I helped 42 Squadron Association with some publicity / awareness down there a few years ago and I may still have their contacts on file – might that help?

I presume that you have found the information on the BBC website – offices in Plymouth and Truro; if all else fails I can try through my contacts here in Nottingham.

If you prefer you can email me.

Thanks Rich, I like your positive comments regarding the old Shack. You’ll know that the Cornish Aviation Society squad who have worked on the aircraft each week over the last twenty five or more years are very keen for the aircraft to go to a good home but it seemed to be a case of too little too late when TV tonight showed their report on a campaign seeking to save the aircraft. Don’t expect Cornwall Council to be generous in offering a suitable space on Newquay Airport as they are experiencing major cost pressures.

I’m reading the Facebook page for the “Save our Shackleton” campaign and its confuddling the hell out of me. Are they now trying to raise £50k to move the aircraft, or to support the tender they have submitted? They don’t seem to be informing people on their site that want to help, that the bids for the aircraft have had to be in by now.

There’s definitely some bias going on here as BBC Cornwall don’t seem to want to speak to us.

Kernowite,

You’re correct. Tenders had to be with the DSA/DE&S, in hard copy, by no later than this Wednesday. (17th Dec). They also had to include a firm price along with all the necessary documents such as risk assessments and method statements for removal, transport and disposal. Trying to start fundraising at this stage may be too little too late.

One way or another, we’ll attempt to keep WL795 intact, even if it means negotiation with the scrappers if they are the winning tender.

Some interesting thoughts and comments here on the St. Mawgan Shack, and thanks especially to Rich for his insight in to the possible way forward.

Local TV this evening in Cornwall featured the aircraft and suggested there are moves afoot to raise fifty thousand pounds to purchase the aircraft but as far as I am aware, tenders have had to already be submitted for the aircraft plus the TV report seemed to suggest they have no specific home in mind for the aircraft. As a longterm member of the Cornish Aviation Society I recall the immense amount of effort and the equipment that was required to get the Shack down to its present home. Facilities at the slimmed down RAF St. Mawgan of today would surely not be available at the base to undertake the dismantling and moving of the aircraft plus the CAS members are mostly not in the first flush of youth these days.

I appreciate Classic Air force have considerable expertise but there are all manner of suggestions that they are moving from 404 hangar in to a much smaller area. If it comes to being relocated to somewhere on the Newquay airport site, don’t forget it is a large aircraft and would require a suitable sized area where it could be accessible to the public so it seems to be CAF or nothing. I am an annual member of CAF and find them well intentioned but frustrating at times but want them to remain here in Cornwall.

Sadly in the local area we have a highly efficient scrap merchant in the St.Austell area whilst at Newquay Airport Apple Aviation are also well placed for aircraft dismantling, let’s hope it does not come to this.

Thank you for the additional feedback Rich – fingers crossed for a positive outcome.

One of our members makes regular visits there, and had visited last about two weeks prior to the tender going online on the DE&S site. We’re also in regular contact with the Cornish Aviation Society.

There’s not much overall change, the undercarriage still being the main problem. An in depth survey couldn’t be done as a lot of the fasteners are corroded, but the visible portions of the spar booms, webs, and shackles suggest WL795 isn’t quite ready to give up the ghost yet. Moving her will be a challenge unless you have spares or plan on breaking the aircraft down completely.

Rich, did anyone from your group go down to view the aircraft and if so did you get a more up to date appraisal of its condition?

I’ve watched this campaign here and on Facebook. Despite the fanfare, they’re not the only group trying to save the aircraft or the only group trying to keep it in Cornwall. I would love to know how they intend to put the aircraft on a pylon/plinth though – I’m wondering if any research has been done at all into how damaging this was to the Lancasters in Canada that were mounted this way.

Oh well. The tenders should all be in now, so now its just a matter of waiting.

Regards,

Rich

I’m sure that someone will be along in a while to tell us all! 😉

Thanks for the heads up. Doesn’t say where it’s hoped to keep it if they are successful, but presumably it would be St Mawgan airfield!?

Rob

Some news just in from Cornwall http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-30547469

If I hear any more I will pass-on the news, and I hope everyone else will do likewise 🙂

Good luck to them, if your source is correct. Bear in mind it seems to be contrary to all other sources though, so don’t hold your breath (you’ll go a funny colour).

Regards,

Rich

+1

Leuchars?

No Greenham Common.