1954 Avro Shackleton Mr2
Discussion
Roy Chadwick named the Shackleton after the famous explorer, due to his wife being a relative of that family.
Another theory about the "spark plug" mast on top of the fuselage is that was where you stuck the big key in order to wind the clockwork motor up. I've seen at least one picture on the internet of them back in 8 Sqn days with the key fitted!
Another theory about the "spark plug" mast on top of the fuselage is that was where you stuck the big key in order to wind the clockwork motor up. I've seen at least one picture on the internet of them back in 8 Sqn days with the key fitted!
Hi all,
Next update from me in a week or so. Life has got a little bit in the way, and stopped me getting to Coventry over the past couple of weeks (my car holed a piston on the M1. Piece of British Leyland junk.).
Anyway.... enough of me.
We're trying to get a few more volunteers for our team, so if you live within reasonable travelling distance of Coventry Airport and fancy giving up a few Saturdays a month to help keep an Avro Shackleton alive, e-mail me please.
Regards,
Rich
biggles2000_99 (at) yahoo.com
Next update from me in a week or so. Life has got a little bit in the way, and stopped me getting to Coventry over the past couple of weeks (my car holed a piston on the M1. Piece of British Leyland junk.).
Anyway.... enough of me.
We're trying to get a few more volunteers for our team, so if you live within reasonable travelling distance of Coventry Airport and fancy giving up a few Saturdays a month to help keep an Avro Shackleton alive, e-mail me please.
Regards,
Rich
biggles2000_99 (at) yahoo.com
Update on the Shackleton:
Airbase is closed for the winter, and will reopen around Easter next year. They are however having a night run photography event on 11 Dec, which I highly recommend. The flames out the exhausts of the big piston engined stuff, and out the back of the DH Venom are really impressive when seen at night.
So what have we been up to?
LAS Aero delivered a box full of the dope and thinner so that was immediately put to work - the port wing root being finished and some of the fuselage joints. We've got through some 12 rolls of the sealing tapes so far, which is about 300 yards, and we still have various little bits like the camera bays still to do! However, we now have very little by way of water coming in, even when it's raining hard.
The guys have been hard at work with the rubbing down in the past couple of weeks, and this showed, with us being able to finish the last grey patch on the port side in no more than half an hour. WR963 is now white on both sides, with just her belly left to do. The grass is keeping it wet though, so we might have to wait until spring. Downside of working outdoors I suppose.
One little problem which is going to get a remedy is the algae is starting to grow back on the unpainted areas of the roof, and causing water run-off to streak the sides. We intend to set about it with some kind of anti bacterial/fungal/vegetation detergent (it's probably some left over Agent Orange they used to kill trees with in Vietnam..) and wash it off before rubbing down the top of the fuselage.
A similar story is at the front where the old paint had steaked the white. This shouldn't happen again, as the entire antiglare panel, and gunners canopy frame has been painted and it really stands out.
A little bad news... while we have managed to stop the evil water creeping into the fuselage and wing structure, it found a new place to hide. Not a good place either, it being inside the Port No 1 fuel tank. I found the first lot, being quite disturbed when with all the other tanks showed good blue coloured fuel from the drains, this one produced vast quantities of colourless odourless (and tasteless..) liquid.
Close to 6 litres of water have been drained from it, and it had made its way into the line and priming pump. It looks as if its been caught just in time, and investigations are ongoing as to how its getting in. The tank cap recesses have been taped up for the moment as they're the prime suspect.
We've filled all the oil tanks ready to test the oil system. Each of the four oil tanks needs 30 gallons, and we were highly amused to find it had all been delivered in US quart bottles...
One thing I must mention: I can't praise our engine guys highly enough. While fitting the pre-oiling pumps they've been working outdoors in awful weather and a couple of them have pressed on despite severe illness. They've managed to pull off a unique install on a 56 year old Shackleton, in less than ideal conditions, which is a monumental achievement.
Once the tests are done and we've established the flow to the cams is good, we'll be buttoning all the cowls up. Then its time to see whether any of them will start. It's highly likely that within the next couple of weeks Coventry will reverberate to the sound of the mighty Rolls Royce Griffon...
Pictures have been posted by our photographer here:
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=...
They're not my photo's to use, so until I get permission I can't really put them up.
Regards,
Rich
Airbase is closed for the winter, and will reopen around Easter next year. They are however having a night run photography event on 11 Dec, which I highly recommend. The flames out the exhausts of the big piston engined stuff, and out the back of the DH Venom are really impressive when seen at night.
So what have we been up to?
LAS Aero delivered a box full of the dope and thinner so that was immediately put to work - the port wing root being finished and some of the fuselage joints. We've got through some 12 rolls of the sealing tapes so far, which is about 300 yards, and we still have various little bits like the camera bays still to do! However, we now have very little by way of water coming in, even when it's raining hard.
The guys have been hard at work with the rubbing down in the past couple of weeks, and this showed, with us being able to finish the last grey patch on the port side in no more than half an hour. WR963 is now white on both sides, with just her belly left to do. The grass is keeping it wet though, so we might have to wait until spring. Downside of working outdoors I suppose.
One little problem which is going to get a remedy is the algae is starting to grow back on the unpainted areas of the roof, and causing water run-off to streak the sides. We intend to set about it with some kind of anti bacterial/fungal/vegetation detergent (it's probably some left over Agent Orange they used to kill trees with in Vietnam..) and wash it off before rubbing down the top of the fuselage.
A similar story is at the front where the old paint had steaked the white. This shouldn't happen again, as the entire antiglare panel, and gunners canopy frame has been painted and it really stands out.
A little bad news... while we have managed to stop the evil water creeping into the fuselage and wing structure, it found a new place to hide. Not a good place either, it being inside the Port No 1 fuel tank. I found the first lot, being quite disturbed when with all the other tanks showed good blue coloured fuel from the drains, this one produced vast quantities of colourless odourless (and tasteless..) liquid.
Close to 6 litres of water have been drained from it, and it had made its way into the line and priming pump. It looks as if its been caught just in time, and investigations are ongoing as to how its getting in. The tank cap recesses have been taped up for the moment as they're the prime suspect.
We've filled all the oil tanks ready to test the oil system. Each of the four oil tanks needs 30 gallons, and we were highly amused to find it had all been delivered in US quart bottles...
One thing I must mention: I can't praise our engine guys highly enough. While fitting the pre-oiling pumps they've been working outdoors in awful weather and a couple of them have pressed on despite severe illness. They've managed to pull off a unique install on a 56 year old Shackleton, in less than ideal conditions, which is a monumental achievement.
Once the tests are done and we've established the flow to the cams is good, we'll be buttoning all the cowls up. Then its time to see whether any of them will start. It's highly likely that within the next couple of weeks Coventry will reverberate to the sound of the mighty Rolls Royce Griffon...
Pictures have been posted by our photographer here:
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=...
They're not my photo's to use, so until I get permission I can't really put them up.
Regards,
Rich
To all those that were wondering what's been happening...
The short answer is - LOTS!!
I will post a proper update later on, but today we finally got to the point where the only thing left to do was see whether the engines would start. No 3 and 4 only, as we have a water problem on the port side; so No 1 and 2 remain silent for now.
No 3 and 4 started without too much difficulty, and they ran great. We treated Coventry to the sound of the Rolls Royce Griffon for about a half hour.
Next job is to get 1 and 2 playing as well. But we're all happy for the moment as at least we know WR963 lives!
Regards,
Rich
The short answer is - LOTS!!
I will post a proper update later on, but today we finally got to the point where the only thing left to do was see whether the engines would start. No 3 and 4 only, as we have a water problem on the port side; so No 1 and 2 remain silent for now.
No 3 and 4 started without too much difficulty, and they ran great. We treated Coventry to the sound of the Rolls Royce Griffon for about a half hour.
Next job is to get 1 and 2 playing as well. But we're all happy for the moment as at least we know WR963 lives!
Regards,
Rich
Eric Mc said:
Noting quite sounds like a Griffon on good song.
How true, I remember very well sitting at the end of the runway at Lossie on pitch black nights when the Shacks were doing circuits 50ft above on full throttle with blue flames coming out of the exhausts, ahhhhh memories......Gary
it's even better from insideHello,
I'm new here. Love to see the interest in the Shackletons. It's sad to see pics of the Shacks deteriorating on Cyprus. However, I do feel that survival in a deteriorating state is better than destruction. To break them up would remove the possibility of rescue. I volunteered 15 years and many thousands of hours to the B-17F "Memphis Belle". During the 1970's, many Memphians felt the airplane was an eyesore that should have been gotten rid of. But beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and the old stripped and neglected B-17 brought much joy to some of us. It survived to be restored to it's former glory. Survival is key. For now, the Shacks on Cyprus sit and wait. Maybe, one day, someone will step up and save them. I hope it might be me with the help of some friends. Time will tell.
For now they sit, forlorn, but not forgotten.
I'm new here. Love to see the interest in the Shackletons. It's sad to see pics of the Shacks deteriorating on Cyprus. However, I do feel that survival in a deteriorating state is better than destruction. To break them up would remove the possibility of rescue. I volunteered 15 years and many thousands of hours to the B-17F "Memphis Belle". During the 1970's, many Memphians felt the airplane was an eyesore that should have been gotten rid of. But beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and the old stripped and neglected B-17 brought much joy to some of us. It survived to be restored to it's former glory. Survival is key. For now, the Shacks on Cyprus sit and wait. Maybe, one day, someone will step up and save them. I hope it might be me with the help of some friends. Time will tell.
For now they sit, forlorn, but not forgotten.
Captain Jack III said:
Hello,
I'm new here. Love to see the interest in the Shackletons. It's sad to see pics of the Shacks deteriorating on Cyprus. However, I do feel that survival in a deteriorating state is better than destruction. To break them up would remove the possibility of rescue. I volunteered 15 years and many thousands of hours to the B-17F "Memphis Belle". During the 1970's, many Memphians felt the airplane was an eyesore that should have been gotten rid of. But beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and the old stripped and neglected B-17 brought much joy to some of us. It survived to be restored to it's former glory. Survival is key. For now, the Shacks on Cyprus sit and wait. Maybe, one day, someone will step up and save them. I hope it might be me with the help of some friends. Time will tell.
For now they sit, forlorn, but not forgotten.
Hi there!I'm new here. Love to see the interest in the Shackletons. It's sad to see pics of the Shacks deteriorating on Cyprus. However, I do feel that survival in a deteriorating state is better than destruction. To break them up would remove the possibility of rescue. I volunteered 15 years and many thousands of hours to the B-17F "Memphis Belle". During the 1970's, many Memphians felt the airplane was an eyesore that should have been gotten rid of. But beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and the old stripped and neglected B-17 brought much joy to some of us. It survived to be restored to it's former glory. Survival is key. For now, the Shacks on Cyprus sit and wait. Maybe, one day, someone will step up and save them. I hope it might be me with the help of some friends. Time will tell.
For now they sit, forlorn, but not forgotten.
We keep trying to make further contact with the airport authorities regarding the two complete Cyprus machines, but so far with no luck. They were flown out there with a rather sizeable spares package which would be of immense use to us.
If they decide to answer us at some point maybe something will be done. The intent a few years back was to display one of them at a viewing area at the airport, but that seems to have fallen through.
If you want to try and save one (or both) go for it - though with WL747 being the youngest she would be the one I'd go for. I imagine they'll be a little more ill-tempered than ours after sitting that long. Let me know if there's any way I can help.
Regards,
Rich
Hi Rich.
Yes I would imagine the Cyprus Shacks would be temperamental, to put it mildly. 20 yrs in the salt air... I can only imagine the engines are seized up, or at the least the plating on the bearings has deteriorated. There is no simple solution. They may have been towed several times with flat tires. Each is missing a prop or 2 it seems. It is doubtful if they could be ferried even after replacement engines had been installed. A close inspection would be required. As for maintaining the Shackleton, I had a few questions. Are there tires available? Are spare props available in the UK? Are spares overall non-existent? I'm not too familiar with the Griffon. Was wondering if the rocker arms have rollers or are the cam lobes in direct contact with the pads as on the Merlin? What worries me about any aircraft engine that has been neglected is the plating on the bearings. A rescue effort would be a monumental task. It is painful to know that they were flown in there and allowed to go so far downhill. A little monthly effort could have averted the situation. I am trying to contact them and did get a response from a woman who offered to forward my letter. But it has been 3 days.... We'll see what happens. The current location places them within walking distance from the beach. Not a good situation. I once found a B-25 that had been allowed to sit near the ocean in Louisiana for 15 yrs. The salt air had eaten large holes in the undersides of the wings.
Mr. McHenry should last quite a long time in Arizona. If I had only known it had been for sale... I would have bought it.
Thanks for responding.
PS. I visited Duxford in the early 90's and was thrilled to see the MK3 up close. What an airplane!
Yes I would imagine the Cyprus Shacks would be temperamental, to put it mildly. 20 yrs in the salt air... I can only imagine the engines are seized up, or at the least the plating on the bearings has deteriorated. There is no simple solution. They may have been towed several times with flat tires. Each is missing a prop or 2 it seems. It is doubtful if they could be ferried even after replacement engines had been installed. A close inspection would be required. As for maintaining the Shackleton, I had a few questions. Are there tires available? Are spare props available in the UK? Are spares overall non-existent? I'm not too familiar with the Griffon. Was wondering if the rocker arms have rollers or are the cam lobes in direct contact with the pads as on the Merlin? What worries me about any aircraft engine that has been neglected is the plating on the bearings. A rescue effort would be a monumental task. It is painful to know that they were flown in there and allowed to go so far downhill. A little monthly effort could have averted the situation. I am trying to contact them and did get a response from a woman who offered to forward my letter. But it has been 3 days.... We'll see what happens. The current location places them within walking distance from the beach. Not a good situation. I once found a B-25 that had been allowed to sit near the ocean in Louisiana for 15 yrs. The salt air had eaten large holes in the undersides of the wings.
Mr. McHenry should last quite a long time in Arizona. If I had only known it had been for sale... I would have bought it.
Thanks for responding.
PS. I visited Duxford in the early 90's and was thrilled to see the MK3 up close. What an airplane!
richw_82 said:
Hi there!
We keep trying to make further contact with the airport authorities regarding the two complete Cyprus machines, but so far with no luck. They were flown out there with a rather sizeable spares package which would be of immense use to us.
If they decide to answer us at some point maybe something will be done. The intent a few years back was to display one of them at a viewing area at the airport, but that seems to have fallen through.
If you want to try and save one (or both) go for it - though with WL747 being the youngest she would be the one I'd go for. I imagine they'll be a little more ill-tempered than ours after sitting that long. Let me know if there's any way I can help.
Regards,
Rich
We keep trying to make further contact with the airport authorities regarding the two complete Cyprus machines, but so far with no luck. They were flown out there with a rather sizeable spares package which would be of immense use to us.
If they decide to answer us at some point maybe something will be done. The intent a few years back was to display one of them at a viewing area at the airport, but that seems to have fallen through.
If you want to try and save one (or both) go for it - though with WL747 being the youngest she would be the one I'd go for. I imagine they'll be a little more ill-tempered than ours after sitting that long. Let me know if there's any way I can help.
Regards,
Rich
Captain Jack III said:
Hi Rich.
Yes I would imagine the Cyprus Shacks would be temperamental, to put it mildly. 20 yrs in the salt air... I can only imagine the engines are seized up, or at the least the plating on the bearings has deteriorated. There is no simple solution. They may have been towed several times with flat tires. Each is missing a prop or 2 it seems. It is doubtful if they could be ferried even after replacement engines had been installed. A close inspection would be required. As for maintaining the Shackleton, I had a few questions. Are there tires available? Are spare props available in the UK? Are spares overall non-existent? I'm not too familiar with the Griffon. Was wondering if the rocker arms have rollers or are the cam lobes in direct contact with the pads as on the Merlin? What worries me about any aircraft engine that has been neglected is the plating on the bearings. A rescue effort would be a monumental task. It is painful to know that they were flown in there and allowed to go so far downhill. A little monthly effort could have averted the situation. I am trying to contact them and did get a response from a woman who offered to forward my letter. But it has been 3 days.... We'll see what happens. The current location places them within walking distance from the beach. Not a good situation. I once found a B-25 that had been allowed to sit near the ocean in Louisiana for 15 yrs. The salt air had eaten large holes in the undersides of the wings.
Mr. McHenry should last quite a long time in Arizona. If I had only known it had been for sale... I would have bought it.
Thanks for responding.
PS. I visited Duxford in the early 90's and was thrilled to see the MK3 up close. What an airplane!
Captain Jack,Yes I would imagine the Cyprus Shacks would be temperamental, to put it mildly. 20 yrs in the salt air... I can only imagine the engines are seized up, or at the least the plating on the bearings has deteriorated. There is no simple solution. They may have been towed several times with flat tires. Each is missing a prop or 2 it seems. It is doubtful if they could be ferried even after replacement engines had been installed. A close inspection would be required. As for maintaining the Shackleton, I had a few questions. Are there tires available? Are spare props available in the UK? Are spares overall non-existent? I'm not too familiar with the Griffon. Was wondering if the rocker arms have rollers or are the cam lobes in direct contact with the pads as on the Merlin? What worries me about any aircraft engine that has been neglected is the plating on the bearings. A rescue effort would be a monumental task. It is painful to know that they were flown in there and allowed to go so far downhill. A little monthly effort could have averted the situation. I am trying to contact them and did get a response from a woman who offered to forward my letter. But it has been 3 days.... We'll see what happens. The current location places them within walking distance from the beach. Not a good situation. I once found a B-25 that had been allowed to sit near the ocean in Louisiana for 15 yrs. The salt air had eaten large holes in the undersides of the wings.
Mr. McHenry should last quite a long time in Arizona. If I had only known it had been for sale... I would have bought it.
Thanks for responding.
PS. I visited Duxford in the early 90's and was thrilled to see the MK3 up close. What an airplane!
There are a lot of good photo's here:
http://s708.photobucket.com/albums/ww86/carts320/S...
'757 is missing a propeller from no 2 and no 4 engines, while '747 seems to be fairly complete. The escape hatches are all open, and there's obviously been some things disconnected in the wing roots as the flaps are all at odd angles.
The tires and wheels are in awful state, which is why they had to be craned to their current position. They've sank into the floor a little and are resting on their bomb doors now. Tires can be found though, and most of the Lancaster's around are using Shackleton tires now. As for replacement engines, there were a few kicking around with the spares package on the airport. There is also a guy here:
http://www.cyprusshackletonparts.com/
He has some of the spares that were held off site. We have bought stuff from him in the past. There is more stuff around in various places if you know where to look. I can't really say more on an open forum..
The camshafts on the Griffon are similar to the Merlin in that they are a cam, with pads in direct contact with the lobes. If they have insufficient oiling (pre oiling, or a bad feed) they will tear the lobes up. That's assuming the engines will turn.
Let me know how you get on with the airport, either on here or on my e-mail address
biggles2000_99 (at) yahoo.com
If ever you're going to be in the UK, let me know and we'll organise a look around WR963 for you, to get you acquainted with a Shackleton properly.
Regards,
Rich
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