Great stuff, reminds of the adverts you see in the back of old ‘Flight’ mags for demobbed aircraft.

A different era I know, but I grew up with the Shackleton Spares adverts in the back of mags, they seemed to have everything for British a/c (inc Shack nose cannons when I enquired!), anyone know who they were and what happened to them?

A bit on the background to the Company here

http://britishaviation-ptp.com/ws_shackleton.html

My contact at Brize has told me that they are not going to be used in the passenger role at all and they will be pure tankers.
Phill

This was announced in the strategic Defense review.

As the support facilities now no longer exist at St Athan for the major and minor servicing the VC-10 will retire soon. Any extension is likely only to be for a few months rather than years. There will be a gap until the full Voyager fleet is delivered. The aircraft can not be that bad as it is already in service in Australia and has just been ordered by India. I am sure any problems with our fleet will be sorted

something had to be done 20 years ago?

Hence the birth of the FSTA proposal which has become the Air Tanker started back in 1997

From Wiki

The need for a new fleet of air-to-air refuelling aircraft was first identified in 1997. The use of PFI rather than purchase was chosen in 2000. The FSTA will be a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) where the RAF will pay for aerial refuelling and air transport missions as required. The RAF will continue to retain responsibility for all military missions, whilst the contractor will own, manage and maintain the aircraft and also provide training facilities and some personnel. The private company will also be able to earn extra revenue by using aircraft for commercial operations when not required by the RAF — the most suitable of which would be leased air-refuelling missions for other European air forces. The RAF however will always have the “first call” on aircraft, being able to mobilise the entire fleet in times of crisis

There is a Mk1 with Wells Reclamation in Somerset

http://www.bloodhoundmkii.org.uk/bh_relics_mk1.htm

The one at Cosford

http://www.bloodhoundmkii.org.uk/bh_relics.htm#cosford3

Is there a formal OSD for the T1s? Won’t the Reds continue to use them for the foreseeable future?

According to Hansard the OSD Date is 2020

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110524/text/110524w0002.htm

Hawk Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date he expects the T1 Hawk training aircraft to be retired. [55484]

Peter Luff: The Hawk T1 current planned out of service date is 2020. The aircraft is scheduled to cease its fast jet pilot training role at RAF Valley by December 2012, by which time it will have been replaced in this role by the Hawk T2 Advanced Jet Trainer. The Hawk T1 will continue to operate in other roles, including as part of the Royal Air Force aerobatic team.

The remains are indeed at Sproughton with Everetts

That looks like overall silver paint to me, admittedly with a blue cast?

DD

Behind the Spitfire is a Vampire T.11 in the standad Silver Scheme. When the image is enlarged the two are different so I think this is the blue colour on the spitfire