Shackleton WR963

[Richw_82]

Hi Ipso,

I don't have cost details yet, as I mentioned earlier thats one thing I'm working on - and why I'll need to get round other groups with aircraft of a similar size and weight.

The spares situation is good in terms of engines and airframe, we still have quite a bit of the ex RAF stock including engines, propellers, mainwheels, control surfaces and a host of other parts. We're short on certain key hydraulic and electrical items though. There's still plenty of Shackleton parts out there at the moment but the stock is dwindling, and records along with the parts are harder to find.

The critcical item in the Shackleton wing is the rear spar boms in the intermediate wing section; which have a life of around 4,300 hours. Replacing the life expired wing structure should see her good for another 50 years, as annual usage last time this was looked into was anticipated to be 50 - 100 hours per year.

[Xplumberlives]

My own view is that a move to Bruntingthorpe and a few years taxiing may be the most POSSIBLE use of WR963.

You would have public access, be alongside an awful lot of like minded people and have plenty of space.

I don't think getting her back in the air is feasable I'm afraid!

Good luck with whichever route you decide to take, you've all done wonders already.

Dave

[Gaz]

My own view is that a move to Bruntingthorpe and a few years taxiing may be the most POSSIBLE use of WR963.

You would have public access, be alongside an awful lot of like minded people and have plenty of space.

I don't think getting her back in the air is feasable I'm afraid!

Good luck with whichever route you decide to take, you've all done wonders already.

Dave

Biggest problem there is the landlord's ABSOLUTE propeller phobia

[Xplumberlives]

That's why the engines are missing from the Guppy then!

[Gaz]

It's ONE of the reasons he hasn't forked out for time expired replacements

[Hazzer111]

How would she get to Bruntingthorpe? isn't the only way without flying cutting her up and taking wr963 in pieces on lorries?

[Richw_82]

The only true way of getting her out of Coventry (assuming it came to that) would be to break her down for transport. We won't be moving her unless Coventry refuse to allow us to stay.

I'm hoping the Trustee's agree to have another crack at flight. The study (which was a professional independant feasibility study - not done in house) indicates it can be done, the stumbling block was always the financial aspect. But - there's never really been dedicated fundraising out there at the shows for the Shackleton or anywhere else. So in essence, its not been given a fair shot.

[Dan4th]

Numb Idea Du Jour::::::::::::

If you removed the engines and stripped
the airframe of everything you could
remove easily, you might just be able
to move her the fewer than 20 miles to
Bruntingthorpe with a heavy-lift helicopter

All removed pieces would, of course, go by road.....

Bruntingthorpe, however, might not be your
destination of choice

BUT! You would certainly get a great deal of
Media Attention

Never Let It Be Said Dan4th Isn't Creative!!!!!!

Danf.

[Richw_82]

Nice idea Dan, but you have a few issues there... not least of which is the fact the crew of a helicopter will jettison the load if it feels dangerous.

[Hazzer111]

The only true way of getting her out of Coventry (assuming it came to that) would be to break her down for transport. We won't be moving her unless Coventry refuse to allow us to stay.

I'm hoping the Trustee's agree to have another crack at flight. The study (which was a professional independant feasibility study - not done in house) indicates it can be done, the stumbling block was always the financial aspect. But - there's never really been dedicated fundraising out there at the shows for the Shackleton or anywhere else. So in essence, its not been given a fair shot.

What are the chances that they will not let you stay at Coventry

[Richw_82]

At the moment a new parking area has been suggested but not approved. No further information as yet.

[Dan4th]

Nice idea Dan, but you have a few issues there... not least of which is the fact the crew of a helicopter will jettison the load if it feels dangerous.

Seriously, though, it wouldn't be as if
the helicopter crew would just show up
and lift the aircraft....

I'm sure with proper planning and all
due precautions, this idea isn't quite
so wild and off-the-wall as it might
seem at first glance....

After all, an UNCUT airframe is a
GOOD thing!

(And don't forget the Publicity!!!!!!)

File the idea away somewhere safe

Danf.

[Richw_82]

17 Nov

Well, today we started looking at the problem with No 4 propeller and its reluctance to behave. Investigation of the piston assembly showed remains of a seal where it shouldn't be, so it was out with a new piston assembly and the prop kit to remove the old one.



Despite how it looks, Colin isn't taking that hammer to anything vital (though sometimes its soooo tempting...) he was on his way to sort out some of the lifting point blanks. The 'man with hammer' shot was just too tempting to miss.



Up on the riser, and on first sight it appears we had everything we needed to get the piston assembly off. Howls of rage were heard when it was realised that the flask and pastie supply was missing. Still, the team got stuck in and removed the cover plate, drained the oil, undid the rack nuts and got the prop spanners out.



It surprised me just how much effort the nut took to shift. Still I suppose you don't want the prop winding itself off any time its not supposed to.



Spot the difference?

Unfortunately somewhere along the way a mod was done to the piston assembly where the racks mount, and the two aren't identical - the new modified item requiring spacer pieces for it to fit correctly. So, for now we wait as we have to have them made like a lot of other things these days. We're also looking in the bits we have to see if we have another unmodified assembly so we don't get caught out again.

Other work on WR963:

Inside the aircraft our electricians are still trying to revive the PTR 1751 V/UHF radio, so we can use it alongside the PTR 175 - allowing better contact with the tower here at Coventry. It appears the control box is dead - anybody know where we can get a spare? These are the numbers:

Control Radio Station (Plessey Avionics)
PV1754X (Preset/Manual) 630/1/37854/019
10L 7564393 NATO No. 5821-99-756-4393

The next time our team convenes at Coventry will see us working in the store. We're finally going to try and make some sense of the goodies in there, with a view to thinning out some of the stuff we don't need (for example around 15 odd old and new old stock mainwheel tyres and hubs? Utter madness when the shelf life is only a few years....)

Other news:

We've had more contact with the airport, with a meeting being scheduled soon to discuss WR963. We're hoping they want her to stay as much as we do, especially given current plans for her future.

Speaking of which, things are moving along in this respect with our public profile being boosted by the use of VP293. We've already been asked if we can take the MR1 along to nearly a dozen shows next year, so we should be getting out and about a bit more.

The website has also been pulled down for complete overhaul, as we need to make it a bit more user friendly, and try and stop the spam the old one suffered from. We're also going to be using it to raise funds. (terribly sorry! We managed a few years without a begging bowl of sorts.)


In short - direction has been found, morale has returned and we're all back getting on with it to keep Coventry's Shackleton around for a while.


Regards,

Rich

[Hazzer111]

thanks for the update! I hope the meeting goes well!

[Dan4th]

I'm just impressed you got done what
you did!

That difference between the old and
the replacement part must have been
a true delight!!!!!

(...and isn't irony a wonderful thing ?)

Anyhow, I'm sure that all will work out
fine eventually.....

Even with missing bits and pieces, the
aircraft is looking wonderful, don't you
think?

963 is lucky to have you guys by her side

Danf.

[Sploosher]

Thanks for the update and pics Rich, good to see that you are keeping 963 looking spick and span......

as to getting the begging bowl out............dont worry about it, there will be times when it has to be done, but as you say, you have not had to it for the last few years, and I am sure you wont find many, if any, people complaining

As for the Mr1, I am sure taking it to shows around the country will help the cause.

I shall look at the financial donation situation next year when, hopefully, a pay rise may be in the offing.....

[MOD]

Let's hope you stay at Coventry (with hangarage and public access) and the ability to carry out taxi runs..

ibw

[Richw_82]

We'll do what we can. There should be some good news coming with the new website.

[Xplumberlives]

Howls of rage were heard when it was realised that the flask and pastie supply was missing.


In short - direction has been found, morale has returned and we're all back getting on with it to keep Coventry's Shackleton around for a while.

Rich

I hope someone was in trouble for the flask and pastie cock-up!

Good to hear you've all got a very positive outlook!

[Richw_82]

There were mentions of hangings off the large steps, or spread eagling the culprit across a propeller. Disaster was averted by sending someone out to the local shop!

Morale has improved quite a way. Some of it by finding a way around our situation, more of it due to contact recently with the CAA.

[Kermit]

All sounds very positive !
Do ask if you need help, and fingers crossed for a bright future

[Xplumberlives]

All sounds very positive !


Do ask if you need help, and fingers crossed for a bright future

Madam, you could always ensure they're NEVER short of Pasties and a full flask!

I'm sure that would be appreciated!

[Richw_82]

Well, we just lost one of our team to a long battle with illness. Don Arnott, who has been looking after WR963 for nearly 10 years, passed away in hospital last night.

Even as his health deteriorated over the past 18 months, he still came up to Coventry and was a source of advice and knowledge that we knew we could depend on. Several times we had to persuade him to rest when his enthusiasm for the Shackleton overcame what little energy he had to call upon.

Don is going to be badly missed.

[Xplumberlives]

RIP Don!

[Hazzer111]

Rip