Engineering wise, its possible but as you’ve said, will be expensive. What’s the CAA’s view on it?

From what I can gather in the Feasibility study. The Caa will allow the aircraft to fly on a permit to fly provided the work is done.

the realism is that the aircraft practically needs an entirely new wing, the problem then being the combination of ageing aircraft maintenance combined with new built wing.

there is a flaw in the design of the original shackleton spars, which the CAA require to be rectified for the new spar we would have to have made.

an audit of all lifed components on the aircraft has to be taken and proved to the CAA that the rest of the airframe meets requirements (i know that the tailplane and rudders were new at her last major service)

The report concluded that the aircraft would have to be completely dissasembled. we would probably have the wings and centre section sent off to marshalls or someone like that and have the fuselage and remaining componenets in a hangar where the relevant work can be carried out

the required main tasks are

a) replacement of the top spar booms
b) A major overhaul

not really, massive cost involved in getting her back. and would still require the same amount of work to allow her to be returned to the air in this country, in fact of the two shackletons, in 1991 WR963 was in better condition had less hours on the clock than WL790

The realism is that both airframes are time expired

Cheers for that Baz!

I actually lolled at that 😀

My cat is scared sh1tless of the helicopter so wouldnt go near it 😉

Ive just about managed the hover now 😀