Correct number is four, right? 😀

More seriously, we have quite a lot of stuff we’re never going to use, and WL795 could use some of it.

One of the main objectives of our group states:

“To support and encourage other aircraft societies, especially other Shackleton groups.”

As the last Shackleton on a Cornish RAF base, we reckon she’s a worthy recipient, and we have enough manpower to help it happen.

It was a good idea, and it did have its beginning at NAM. We put it to everyone in our group to do the same and it was agreed unanimously.

Thanks for looking for loan items. We’re drawing stuff together from all over for a Coastal Command exhibit.

Regards,

Rich

Camlobe,

A shame you couldn’t make it, it was a great day. Lots of smiles, a few tears, and a lot of people happy to be around a Shackleton again. I’m sure you’ll make it along soon, and we intend to keep 63 going as long as possible, so no worries on that score.

The Trustees meeting held today suggests that the future is brighter than it has been for a while for our old aircraft. 😉

I do indeed know of someone that may need an intershaft bearing! PM me details please if you have them.

Kind regards,

Rich

Hopefully not too long. Reckon you can get up here when we do?

9 July 1991

Avro Shackleton WR963 landed for the last time at Coventry Airport, after being sold by the MOD at an auction at Sotheby’s on 3rd July. Bought by the Shackleton Preservation Trust she has a total of 15483.45 flying hours over some 6800 flights spanning a 47 year career.

9 July 2011

To an assembled crowd of guests, the Lord Mayor of Coventry, and any members of the public lucky enough to be visiting today at AIRBASE, we celebrated 20 years to the day since she arrived.

Invited guests included the family of the late Gp Capt Dave Hencken, who was the last man to take her out on a runway. Also in attendance were members of the current 8 Squadron who had served on Shackletons. It was also great to meet people that had been in the Shackleton Preservation Trust looking after the aircraft in the past 14 years, and put faces to names. I think we may have persuaded some of them to come back from retirement.

First order of the day was a naming ceremony. WR963 now carries names under her cockpit windows. On the Port side, “Gp Capt Dave Hencken” which was unveiled by the Hencken family and 8 Squadron, and the Starboard side “Sqn Ldr John Cubberley”, unveiled by the Lord Mayor and Clive Dickin, AIRBASE’s director.

At 3.15 we got everybody who wanted to be onboard the aircraft for the engine run in, and the first engine began to turn. Everybody seemed to be enjoying it… apart from several of us.

The engines took too long to come on the throttle for such a warm day, and No 1 engine refused to start after three attempts. Faced with shutting down to find the fault, or letting people enjoy the running engines, the taps were opened and No 3 and No 4 engine got some exercise. We had that many people wanting to experience a live Shackleton, that after warming the engines up the crew had to throttle back and let some people out so more could get in! The engine run finished after 45 mins to the sound of polite applause from those that were present.

WR963 is going to get some attention to her engines over the coming weeks, as her servicing is due… so while there were a few scowls at No 1 engine, it didn’t pick the worst time to misbehave.

Our initial thoughts were the booster coil had stopped working but that was found to be buzzing away nicely. However, we got nothing from the priming pump on that side. The fuse had blown and the pump had quit, possibly due to water ingress. Not difficult to change, but it means we need to chase another water leak.

Pictures to be posted as soon as I get them from my tame photographer, as I broke my camera (and no, I wasn’t taking a self portrait. 😀 )

Regards,

Rich