Just a bit, its been a long time coming. Testament to whoever rebuilt it, after 20 years in storage it still ran great. There’s a few small niggles to sort, but nothing affecting the engine itself; we had no pneumatics on that side and the generator dropped out.

Next steps are all four engines at once, then a taxy run soon after. Oh, and a load more paperwork to send off to the CAA to shove progress with the return to flight a little further.

Regards,

Rich

For those that couldn’t be there…

The object of Saturday was to remove the front propeller from No 2 engine, fit some new bearing parts, fit the translation unit, and then re-fit the propeller again. With all the upheavals at Coventry, yet again this was all going to be done without the assistance of any kind of crane. Luckily we had a visit by a couple of friends, which boosted manpower a bit.

With a reasonable amount of manpower, this is not too difficult as despite its size and awkwardness the propeller is not too heavy, and with the aid of a couple of platforms it was soon safely off the engine. Then it was swiftly on to fitting the intershaft bearing inner race and retaining nut.

This is a part we’ve been waiting for for a while, as for some unknown reason the No 2 now fitted was the only one in our store missing this item, and at the time it wasn’t noticed. Its just that rare for them to be missing! Chasing up and down the country for a suitable tool to remove one from another engine finally paid off, MerlinPete kindly offering the necessary parts and the loan of a bearing tool.

With that in place, the translation unit is next. This is an oil filled double bearing, produced by Martin Baker, and transfers the pitch of the front propeller to the back propeller, using several rack bolts. The loss of a rack bolt and subsequent break up of one of these was a contributary factor in the loss of the SAAF Shackleton in the Sahara in 1994.

Then it was back up with the front prop, and fitting the pitch change mechanism itself.

At the end of the day we were all very cold, but happy that we are six split pins and a small amount of wire locking away from running the No 2 engine.

The aim is to have WR963 taxying this year, while we raise funds and organise getting her a roof over her head – and if No 2 behaves in the next few days, the goal of taxying is not at all that far off.

Regards,

Rich

Growler – those are great pictures, though it seems the astrodome and gunners windows are kind of spoiling things now with how they’re UV fogged.

Peter – until things calm down at Coventry we can’t really ask or expect too much. Long term we don’t want to be on grass any more either!

Regards,

Rich

despoite my deepest protestations i had to work last saturday so couldnt get over to Coventry did the team manange to get an engine run in? and any plans for a taxi run this year? that way i can book the time off well in advance!

We did, and WR963 ran really well to say there’s been some harsh weather.

I’m on an away mission tomorrow to fetch a Bristol mid upper turret for WR963.. but the rest of the team are going to be after some parts for No 2 engine, the hope is that we can have it running for 9th March – the 64th anniversary of the first Avro Shackleton flight way back in 1949.

Taxy runs are planned for later in the year, as until everything is in place to get the major work done for the return to flight WR963 still has to earn her living.

Kind regards,

Rich