Shackleton WR963

[Dan4th]

Now, THAT'S what I call a B-R-O-A-D
Hint

Here's to a Joyous Reunion!

(...'bout time, btw )

Danf.

[Richw_82]

Its only the back prop out of the pair but its built, balanced and ready to collect. The front prop will be going up to the same builders. Our team can't take credit for it - it's the skill and effort of the guys at Flight Engineering in Carlisle.

https://sites.google.com/site/flightengineeringuk/home

[Dan4th]

They look like a good outfit!

Make sure you invite the workers
down for a meet and greet once
everything's up and working

VERY Good News, I think......

Danf.

[Mayfly]

Rich will Airbase move to Newquay affect you at all?

[Richw_82]

Things may change a little once CAT/Airbase move, in that visits will have to be by appointment, but our work won't stop unless we're asked to move WR963 some place else. Currently we're planning on staying at Coventry.

Rich

[Mayfly]

That's good news

[Vulcan Bomber]

Things may change a little once CAT/Airbase move, in that visits will have to be by appointment, but our work won't stop unless we're asked to move WR963 some place else. Currently we're planning on staying at Coventry.

Rich

Could you not become part of the Midlands Air Museum??

[MOD]

Has M Collett now given you WR963? As he said he would.

There have been comments on the internet that have said that Coventry Council want to close Bagington and redevelop the site. If so where would you go?


ibw

[Richw_82]

WR963 is the SPT's aircraft. She was handed over to the SPT when they were part of ASCET in 2007, as part of the intent back then to get her back in the air, and this has since been confirmed. I can't go into detail as this is one of the few private matters of our Trust.

Regarding the airport; there is a substantial redevelopment looming, but only around the edges. The airport will only undergo minor changes, which involves a new entrance off Rowley Road and the closure of the West Gate.

As for becoming part of Midland Air Museum, if any move curtailed ground running the Shackleton,or removed our groups independance, then it wouldn't even be considered. I don't think we'll be part of MAM, now or in the future.


Regards,

Rich

[Xplumberlives]

Nice and succinct Rich!

[Mayfly]

Rich were you with the cockpit at Waddington today?

[Richw_82]

Hi Mayfly,

Yes, I was! I did a few stints in the MR1 nose, along with several of the SPT and Trevor and Clive from CAT. A good airshow, plenty of visitors, and not a bad day.

Rich

[Sploosher]

Its good to see that 963 is not moving from her home........

now, about getting her back into the air................

[Richw_82]

now, about getting her back into the air................

The thought's never crossed my mind.

[Richw_82]

Look at that... I go away for two weeks and there's no updates. Typical.



Normal service resumed tomorrow folks, and on the list is fitting a generator to No 2 engine, some more cockpit side window work, and taking part in a search worthy of Indiana Jones for some more propeller parts - so we can have the front prop built while we fit the back one. Sunday sees the away team off down south to fetch the replacement tailwheel assembly.

We have some more new members on the team and the pace of work is now going to get stepped up. With Airbase moving away from us, we don't have much time for letting the public see something special before access gets a bit difficult.

Regards

Rich

[Xplumberlives]

Looking forward to seeing her with EIGHT working props Rich!

[Richw_82]

23 July

Well, my car related wanderings have passed for the year so I'm back at Coventry of a weekend.

As you'll have realised from other threads, rumblings around the internet, and from what you hear around Coventry, things are a little unsteady at the moment with the upcoming move of most of the Classic Air Force (was Classic Aircraft Trust, Classic Flight) to Newquay. Hot on the heels of this is the proposal for the redevelopment of the airport, to include areas close to where WR963 currently stands.

We don't yet know for sure whether we will have to move. While the latest news is that we are good to remain for at least two years, the final say is going to be with the airport owners once they take over the fenced area that Airbase currently occupies at the end of September.

With this in mind a Trustee's meeting was called and various methods of moving a Shackleton were discussed, and old plans from previous bad and good times dusted off. All methods of moving the aircraft were discussed, including the one that would involve seeing WR963 leave by her own efforts... which would be very slightly mad and glorious all in one. I'm of mixed feelings over that. As it stands, we have a couple of plans in place, but until things become a bit more stable, we're just carrying on as before, with one slight exception.

If we want the public to be able to see WR963 taxy, we have to do it before the end of September.

So we now have a target...

Saturday

While I was away we gained two more volunteers, who have previously worked on the Vulcan at Wellesbourne, so are used to the problems big Avro's pose. Working with a couple more of our team and with a set of 'giraffe' steps in place, they are tackling the cockpit side windows. New sliding items are in place and look great. The larger fixed windows that sit just behind these are being worked on, but are slightly more difficult to remove, as the frame is secured using a mix of very small crews and a number of Avdel rivets.

When these windows are done it will leave only one eyebrow piece, and the very top windows to replace. Its amazing the difference it makes looking at the aircraft, so we'll have to get the bungees replaced and start using the cockpit cover more to stop UV deterioration. We're already starting to scowl at the astrodome and front gunners cupola as they're letting things down badly now, having almost deteriorated to a milky white.

Over on No 2 engine, - yes, the long dormant new engine - efforts have started to get it ready to wake up. We have a built up rear propeller to collect from Carlisle (thanks to Flight Engineering) and the generator was located in our store by the tag left on it by our electrician. Having lugged this heavy beast the hundred yard or so across to the Shack, we started to scratch our heads about how to get it in...

We were hoping to drop it in from above, but the large engine mount supports and priming supply pipes put a halt on this idea. There simply wasn't room. In the end a combination of manpower and ratchet straps had it lifted up from in the undercarriage bay, and the retaining clamp locked it in place. I had this unenviable task of threading myself between spar web and generator as I am told my body is about the right size for it (lanky thin git apparently...) The steady bracket will be sorted next week, as the bracket is locally manufactured and was slightly 'off' in dimensions.

A short trip out to the store was made to look for any front prop parts for the front prop, and to see if we could find an Elsan toilet for the Lancaster team at East Kirkby. A fruitless search on both counts, as it looks like the Elsan I remembered seeing was the one we traded for some turret parts. I'm sure there was more than one so we'll keep our eyes open.

A little bit of touch up paint is being done under the wings, as one constant niggle that we have never had time to rectify is the missing serial number and roundels! Strangely no-one has commented on this...?

Sunday

Mark Chitty and Vic Marriot set off down to Cornwall to visit a gent by the name Barry Wallond. A couple of posts ago we showed the state of the crack in the tailwheel assembly on WR963, and that a Canberra unit would serve as a replacement. Barry had a replacement, and offered it to us.

Mark and Vic collected the leg from Barry, decided not to go for a paddle, and the new leg is now safely back on site. Next weekend will see us searching out jacking adapters and seeing about getting the job sorted.


Pictures to follow shortly as I wasn't on the camera this weekend.

Regards,

Rich

[Xplumberlives]

Keep up the good work, I'm looking forward for a reason to come over later in the year!

[Jigsaw]

Brilliant update Thanks for all that info

[Sploosher]

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

[Richw_82]

Slight change of plan; and for the better.

The guys at Flight Engineering have pulled out the stops and have gone and got the front prop built too! So some time this coming week we're collecting both front and rear prop for No 2...

[Cluny]

Excellent

[Dan4th]

Now you will REALLY have to invite
them for a meet-and-greet with 963

Make it an event and you won't be sorry!

Danf.

[Xplumberlives]

Slight change of plan; and for the better.

The guys at Flight Engineering have pulled out the stops and have gone and got the front prop built too! So some time this coming week we're collecting both front and rear prop for No 2...

GREAT news Rich, I'm very hopeful of being available for the first public showing of all four engines and eight props running, can't be long now!

[Richw_82]

The next engine run is in three weeks time. It depends on how well we do at getting the props hung and the engine deinhibited as to whether it will all four engines, or just three again.