Thanks Rich,
Just a thing, you may or may not be able to answer this, talking to a good friend last night regarding the project, he donated money to SPT, and the hanger appeal through the website, he was wondering if this money gets transferred over to yourselves or if it stays with SPT until its fate is decided? Hes not on here hence the question.
Thanks.

I don’t think any money with SPT can be transferred; there are some Charities Commission rules regarding this. I’m not well enough informed to say what can or can’t happen if the SPT got wound up – sorry.

I am sure that I do not need to say this, but I will anyway; we at Gatwick Aviation Museum fully support your efforts and will help out wherever we can. It’s just a shame we are so far apart.

Good luck with your efforts. We will be going through some of our spares stock soon and know we have some Mk2 stuff, let you know and you’re welcome to what we find.

Thanks Peter, you know as ever we’ll be there to help you guys and WR982 “Juliet” as much as we can. You’re right about the distance – if we had both aircraft at a similar location I can only imagine how well they would both do, and what a sound eight Griffons would make..

Kind regards,

Rich

Hi Merlin85;

I’ll try and answer as best I can.

I’ve not said SPT is dormant, its just not involved in WR963’s maintenance or operation. Not only was there the issues with some of the members of that Trust and the direction they were taking, there was discussion (some of it ongoing) with the Charities Commission as to whether the focus on WR963 was meeting the Trusts objects properly, in that the Trust exists for the ‘advancement of the education of the public in military aviation history, by the preservation and display on the air and on the ground of Shackleton and other military and historical aircraft.’ rather than the restoration to flight of Avro Shackleton WR963. It remains for the Charities Commission to decide what will happen in due course, but with less than the required number of Trustees and no sign of any resolution with those that make up its membership, its likely SPT will get wound up.

The website currently has no webmaster, and I will be investigating if and why the button on there is still live – it shouldn’t be. The website was started by me a few years ago and went through several revamps, and several webmasters, before returning to my control about a month ago.

The Trust don’t own WR963, and never have. The aircraft went frm RAF ownership, to David Liddell-Grainger, to Air Atlantique, to my father – Dave Woods. As you can see in the pdf document you posted the link to the statement “The Shackleton aircraft which is the subject of Trust activities is not owned by the Trust.” is in there. The CAA registration was filed by my Father, who is Chairman of the Trust, the registration document being his name but registered to the Shackleton Preservation Trust due to their activitie taking place on the aircraft. Accurate at the time, now soon to be changed when SPT’s future is clear; and the CAA were happy at that when they queried the accuracy and what was intended back in October.

There are some spares held by the Trust, but not those held off site. You will not get six Rolls Royce Griffons and a barn full of other airframe bits valued at £9k, as is listed as the Trusts assets in 2012…! What isn’t available online are the end of year reports, which more accurately explain fixed assets and such – they state what the Trust holds for itself, and more importantly what are held on behalf of other people for use on WR963 or achieving the objects of the Trust. A lot of the tools, the MR1/T4 nose, and many other parts are privately owned. Rather importantly the Trust does hold the Design Rights and drawing archive, though the contract states that they go back to BAE if anything happens that means they can’t be cared for.

The sale of the engine was a deal done by SPT on behalf of the owners at the time (Air Atlantique) for a time expired engine to come off WR963 and go to Dubai, and a new engine from the parts stock (also Air Atlantique’s at that time) to go on the aircraft. There was a deal at the time which would see all the work undertaken by SPT, including manpower installing the engine in Dubai, and any profit from the sale would come back to SPT. As a lot of this happened before I started working on WR963 I’m not exactly sure of who got what for why.

Kickstarter was set up and run by me, and you can still find it on their platform. I didn’t do it for the Trust I did it as a private individual and you’ll see in their guidance you can’t raise money for a charity. The only mention on there of SPT is my thankyou message, as it would have helped the Trust see WR963 fly. The money is still sat waiting to be used on NDT, as I’ve kicked off more than once if ANYONE (SPT/maintenance team…anyone!) has dared to suggest using it for anything else. The hangar appeal I have no idea about as I left WR963/SPT in November last year and only returned recently to stop the whole thing collapsing.

A badly run charity, particularly in the last year or so. Which is why despite the good parts over the years I won’t be sad if SPT gets wound up.

As things stand –

SPT may end up getting wound up, as its current structure prevents it form operating in accordance with Charities Commission guidelines, or its own Trust Deed. So while not dormant, its pretty much a spent force.

Avro Shackelton WR963 and her spares were purchased by my father, Dave Woods from Air Atlantique in 2012. The SPT Trustees at the time were unwilling to take on the liability of the aircraft as it looked as though the Airport was closing and the ‘Airbase’ museum was moving to Cornwall. WR963 would have to survive on its own, something they didn’t think could be done. Dave took the gamble, and saved the aircraft. So far despite your comment that things are poorly run, he’s not done a too bad job given that the aircraft is still in one piece and in better condition now than it was.

Avro Shackleton WR963 is running as a privately owned aircraft, with all the pitfalls that come along with it. No tax free donations, gift aid, nothing. But there’s nothing saying we can’t sell places on taxy runs, or on ground run ups, or charge the public to come and crawl all over her. Similarly there’s nothing saying we can’t sell any merchandise we create or buy.

There is a team of very good friends that nursed WR963 back to health from 2009 – 2014 back on the scene making sure that come hell or high water the aircraft will survive. She might even fly. If it has to be funded purely out of our own pockets then so be it. There’s nobody asking you to put money in a bowl, but if you want a ride with the engines running, you’ll have to pay for it. Fuel isn’t free. Its that simple.

Come down to Coventry whether you choose to help financially or not. Have a look at the aircraft and be welcome.

Kind regards,

Rich

They will be available to the public, just as the few that were carried out back in April were.

I believe most of the problems are now sorted to a large extent, and the current team are still working on building things up to make this year better than the last. The goal is constant progress with the aircraft; and whatever issues arise that is the focus at all times.

I’ve seen new parts coming in such as bombsights and turret parts, and there’s rumblings about getting the full length bomb doors (finally) done, so I’m looking forward to next year!