Shackleton WR963

[Dan4th]

The Shack's Predecessor........

Still In Service!



RAF had 53 of them

Danf.

[Sploosher]

I found a longer video on pelican 22
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfo8iBeA ... ure=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKNykYR_jhc

Thanks for those links Hazzer..........stonking stuff

I see from some of the comments that she is airworthy, how much would it cost for her to do a tour over here during the airshow season I wonder, what a crowd puller that would be.......

[Richw_82]

I struggle to see how 1722 can be classed as airworthy. She was grounded by the SAAF in January 2008, and hasn't felt air since.

As for a tour over here, I think that after Pelican 16's ill fated attempt its unlikely they would risk another long flight to the UK even if they put 1722 back in the air. Chances of seeing a flying Shackleton anywhere in the world are extremely slim. However, if things work out right we might be seeing another Shackleton running (taking the total to three!).

Regards,

Rich

[Sploosher]

I struggle to see how 1722 can be classed as airworthy. She was grounded by the SAAF in January 2008, and hasn't felt air since.

As for a tour over here, I think that after Pelican 16's ill fated attempt its unlikely they would risk another long flight to the UK even if they put 1722 back in the air. Chances of seeing a flying Shackleton anywhere in the world are extremely slim. However, if things work out right we might be seeing another Shackleton running (taking the total to three!).

Regards,

Rich

I have every confidence in you and your team Rich............

Looking forward to seeing a Taxi run with the tail wheel off the deck soon............

[Richw_82]

May 26


Today was a day was one of those days where no matter what, you were going to get dirty. We have started working our way through the many oil filters on the Shackleton. First up has been the constant speed unit (CSU) filters, as we have noticed that the No 4 propeller has been a little slow to respond to being asked to come back into fine pitch.

This is the mess we found in there -



So we put a couple of our team on each engine and got cracking. Thankfully the weather was pleasant, though the scope of the work means there's still lots to do, and plenty of mess.



The other CSU filters weren't much better, but they're all clean now. We then moved on to the scavenge filters, including the large mesh filter high up at the back of the engine. Its sits just behind the panel under the exhaust.

Ron Thompson is seen here cleaning around, as we don't want too much oil residue escaping onto the ground, or inside the cowlings.It just makes life difficult for whoever's in there next, and for spotting any leaks or problems.



Here's the mesh filters during cleaning. Its about the size of a pint pot.



More of the same next week, hopefully it will ensure WR963 will be feeling fit and well for the 9th June when Project Propeller 2012 is hosted at Coventry.

Regards,

Rich

[Xplumberlives]

Will you have your missing propeller fitted for that event?

[Richw_82]

Its not looking like it... circumstances beyond my control. Sorry.

No 2 propeller =

[MOD]

Any further news on the tailwheel casting crack Rich? Is this a big problem or one you can easily fix?

ibw

[Richw_82]

2 June

Poor weather meant a lot of today was spent in the hangar. We're despearately trying to prepare the nose section of MR1/T4 VP293 for its first show in a while which is (hopefully) Dawlish this coming weekend. Shortly after that it will be heading to Wellesbourne - both times as part of the Classic Aircraft Trust's publicity/recruiting drive. A lot of work has gone into this, with replacement yokes, seats, and work done to the trailer.

Over on WR963 - she has been pulled forward away from her usual position alonside the Nimrod against the fence, and took up a position near the access road from Shackleton House down to the Airbase hangar.



The reasoning for this is due to the slipstream she generates during running, and the effect it may have on parked aircraft. Normally, not a problem as there's rarely anything parked behind us. However, this Saturday (9th June) ther will be a lot of aircraft due to Project Propeller 2012 being held at Airbase, Coventry.

We did a brief test run and found at low power she still has a nice growl, yet won't blow light aircraft all around the field. I was rather happy, as teh engines are starting to respond to the increased amount of servicing, and whispers of venturing over to the engine test pan for some higher power runs have been heard...

All that will have to wait a little while though, as one more problem made itself known. On putting the towbar back in position after shutting down, a dark line was noticed running up the back of the tailwheel leg casting.

Its cracked.



The moving about done by the tug must have spread it enough that we could see it.

We have a spare unused casting, so in around 14 days time we will be reaching for the jacks and getting it replaced. This means we'll be closing WR963's door to the public for the first time in a few years while it gets changed.


Regards,

Rich


(Ian, re the tailwheel. Its in hand, was writing this up as you posted. )

[Dan4th]

The Shack has a Crack!
(...don't tell Jiggy )

At least you've got a new one!

Better to find it now, I think....

Have any of your veteran aircrew members
said anything about flying P-2 Neptunes
before the Shackletons came on line???????

I know many must have made the switch
back in the "day".....

Danf.

[Xplumberlives]

More good news and just a little bad, nice to know the crack has been spotted and plans are in hand to sort the problem! Will the old piece be repairable to give you another spare?

Keep up the great work guys.

[Kermit]

Great report, Rich, thanks ! Shame about the casting but at least you have a spare. Looking forward to seeing you and The Nose at Wellesbourne
looks like a lot of work ahead, but all worthwhile

[Sploosher]

Thanks for the update Rich........

Shame about the crack but at least you have a spare that you can use.......

Will have to seriuosly think about coming down to see your lady soon.........

[Richw_82]

Dan;

Definitely better to find it now! Regarding the Neptune,I have met one or two guys that were on them, but they only saw brief service, much the same way as the RAF's B29 usage.

Jocelyn;

We finished work on the nose today. It looks much better inside, with the exception of the engineers panels, which we haven't had chance to replace. All being well we should be at Wellesbourne, though as part of the Classic Aircraft Trust effort, rather than solo as SPT.

Gordon;

Open cockpits day in August.


Rich

[Richw_82]

Well, the Shackleton nose has just arrived in Dawlish for their airshow. A lot of hard work over the bank holiday by our team to make this happen, so well done to them all.

Wellesbourne is defintely a go, we'll be there with VP293 either as part of CAT or on our own. Whatever happens, we intend to be there.

[Xplumberlives]

Good, see you there!

[Richw_82]

More from the archives. I came across these three photo's of WL793 being re-sparred at HSA Bitteswell.







It shows quite well what a task and a half it would be to do this again.

Rich

[Sploosher]

Thanks for those pics Rich.............

Its quite a big chunk of metal.........

[Richw_82]

16 June


Working outdoors is a pain in wet weather. Working outdoors, in the rain, while attempting to squeeze into tiny spaces with a big hammer and the tools to remove split pins is slightly worse.

Beggars can't be choosers though.. and we have a tailwheel that desperately need fixing. Armed with the AP, it fell to me to start pulling the thing apart.

First up was to get the towbar off. This must have been off twice in the last couple of years, and it has been painted since which added to its reluctance. Playing with the heights of the jockey wheels and threatening it with no small amount of violence saw it removed.



Its not in that bad condition really, with all the jockey wheels working as they should and the shock absorber still freely travelling. Maintenance of ground equipment always pays off, especially when your kit lives outdoors.

Now there was slightly more room to work in the undercarraige bay than there was before. Only very slightly, and with the door mechanism in place I couldn't really get at the leg itself. It took me an hour to persuade the pins out of the door actuating arms without damaging things, so I could remove the arms from the torque tube on the undercarraige leg. We have to be careful as we don't know how much of this we can get as replacements.



The gear doors were then secured open using a bungee cord. The mechanism locks the doors by going over centre so attaching the bungee in the right position holds them there.



With a few more parts out the way, here's another look at the crack. Cleaning and use of a torch showed it had spread behind and around the mounting for the retract jack. During a few strong gusts of wind I swear I felt it spread.. :eek:



Here's the view from above.



The centering mechanism is disconnected, as is the microswitch. There are just the 8 main bearing block bolts, and the retract jack to remove when we're ready to remove it. As soon as we have a proven good replacement unit, WR963 will be on jacks and off limits for public access while its changed. Hopefully it shouldn't be more than a couple of weeks time.

Inside WR963 our electrical man has been sorting out some intercom issues. We had some weird screaming feedback during one of the last runs, and this time it really wasn't one of us... it was traced to a faulty lead in the pilots position, and a couple of headsets going bad. The leads always tend to get a hard life, as visitors often snag them getting in and out the seats, and the leads are pretty delicate. Good ones are getting harder to find too.

We have a few more new window panels awaiting fitment, but until this drought goes away and we get some summer sun they're going to have to wait a while!


More fun next week....

Regards

Rich

[Xplumberlives]

Thanks for the update Rich

[Gaz]

We were cursing this blasted drought, at Bruntingthorpe, too!

[Jigsaw]

Another great update

[MOD]

Thanks Rich.


Ian

[Richw_82]

If you wondered why things are quiet around here, its as I'm having a couple of weeks off (I have a motor race in France to attend.. ) I've also done a couple of shows recently with the MR1 Shackleton nose to boost public awareness and the coffers a bit. Waddington should be the next one if all goes well.

Things are still carrying on quite nicely on WR963, things are set up so our team will crack on with the maintenance even if one of us is slacking having a little break!

New cockpit side windows are being fitted, and our Ford Transit is being prepared for some major mileage. It has to go down south to pick up a new tailwheel assembly, and then up north to collect something that No 2 engine has been missing for a while..

Rich

[Xplumberlives]

If you wondered why things are quiet around here, its as I'm having a couple of weeks off (I have a motor race in France to attend.. ) I've also done a couple of shows recently with the MR1 Shackleton nose to boost public awareness and the coffers a bit. Waddington should be the next one if all goes well.

Things are still carrying on quite nicely on WR963, things are set up so our team will crack on with the maintenance even if one of us is slacking having a little break!

New cockpit side windows are being fitted, and our Ford Transit is being prepared for some major mileage. It has to go down south to pick up a new tailwheel assembly, and then up north to collect something that No 2 engine has been missing for a while..

Rich

BRAVO Rich and TEAM!