Shackleton WR963

[Hazzer111]

Thanks for the update!

[Dan4th]

Taken earlier today by one of our visitors. Full 'growl'.

WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!



I am IMPRESSED!!!!!!!!!!

Danf.

[Leebee0]

Well done Rich and all involved . Sorry I could not be there today but can now look forward to the day she moves again under her own power.

Thanks for the update talk soon.

Cheers

Lee.

[Aceyone]

Fantastic,a wonderful achievement

[Kermit]

Brilliant ! Wish I could have been there... Well done all involved, cant wait to see her move !! What a day that ll be...

[Dagger_id]

Great job!Congrats for the achievement!

[Ramshornvortex]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-21726075

[Dan4th]

Don't you just LOVE Yoo Toob??????????



The SOUND, The SOUND

Danf.

[Sploosher]

2 months (ish) to go........

[Richw_82]

Hi chaps,

Apologies for neglecting this thread a bit, my day job got in the way of my aviation activities a little. Normal service will resume shortly.

For those that missed the last one the next ground run will be in April, probably towards the end of the month. Reason? As well as fitting in with our schedule, we're also looking at taxying WR963. With this in mind we've been enquiring about the brief use of a hangar again to get the mainwheels swapped; a job we had hoped to do a while ago which was put on hold due to unforseen circumstances.

We've also had some very positive meetings with Coventry Airport's operators regarding hangar space in the future, taxying, public access and a raft of other issues. The amount oi assistance they are giving us is phenomenal - and we can't thank them enough.

Its safe to say WR963 is going to remain the "Coventry Shackleton".

Regards,

Rich

[Xplumberlives]

Thanks for the good news Rich

[Mackrick]

Things are coming together Rich keep up the good work.

[Mike]

Don't want to appear thick - even though I am but....with contra-rotating props, how does it work? I presume one prop is direct drive, and the other is geared off the shaft.

If I remember correctly,There is a translation Unit that enables the props. to contra rotate. I was part of an engine change crew on our search and rescue Shacklebomber of 205 Sqdn. that was detached to R.A.F. Gan in the Indian Ocean during the early 60's. The unit had 32 splitpinned bolts and were a pain to fit.

[RLN]

Thanks. I just knew that there would be a simple explanation.

[Richw_82]

Hi all,

Sorry for the lack of updates. There's quite a bit going on in the background; but its stuff that doesn't really show on '963 herself. I'll attach an update shortly.

However... I come bearing good news.

On Saturday 11th May WR963 will be carrying out her monthly ground run, at Coventry Airport. Engine start is at 1pm, local time, access is through the West Gate at Baginton, and limited parking spaces are available near the DC6 Diner. While there's no entry price to get in to the airport to see WR963, sadly we are having to now charge for access into the aircraft itself, both static and during the ground runs. Its now £5 for aircraft tours and £25 for a place on the Shackleton during ground runs.

Remember.. this is currently the only place in the UK where you can see, hear and feel a live Shackleton, and one of only two left running in the world, so if you're out and about come down and say hello!

Regards,

Rich

[Mackrick]

Thanks for the news Rich hope the runs go ok

[Bubbles]

Thanks, you just had to clash with the Tigers V Quins semi didn't you!

[Sploosher]

£5 and £25 seems well worth it................hope you get lots of takers.......

[Richw_82]

Thanks, you just had to clash with the Tigers V Quins semi didn't you!

No worries, there'll be another run next month. And the month after, and the month after...

[Richw_82]

Hi all,

It seems I've been slacking slightly in my efforts to keep this thread up to date. So here's a bit of a round up from the last couple of months...

The archive/drawings

These were supposed to be going to Avro Heritage Woodford, but that now appears to have fallen through, developments at their end meaning they can't currently accomodate them. As a result we now have to try to find room for 16 large steel boxes of original Avro drawings. We're now looking at options that will keep them on site for the moment.

This is the kind of thing we've been finding during the audit of this stuff, and we've got 15 boxes to go. If anyone wants to help take on some of this monumental task of checking and logging all these drawings, please pm me. We could really use the help.






Want to strengthen your Shackleton for Operation Grapple? No problem. Want to rebuild any number of Avro standard stores carriers? No problem. Some of this stuff is mind blowing.

Wheels and tyres

We're still holding back from taxying WR963, though we have been talking about a test run down the taxyway in the near future. The worry is not so much the brakes, as they seem to be behaving with no audible leaks from the pneumatic sacs, but the state of the tyres after 20 years outdoors exposed to UV. The cracks are too large for comfort, and the last thing we need is a blown tyre causing the airport problems.

Last summer we dug through our store and came up with two new tyres, wheels and inner tubes, and also some axles for good measure. We then set about building them up into usable new mainwheel units. With the help of blue_2 one weekend we got the tyres mounted but never finished them off due to hangar and jacking issues.

Well, the hangar grows emptier as CAF move south, so the wheels were completed.




The jacks have been sent away for overhaul and should be back in a few weeks time. Once we have the new wheels fitted, we will be looking for an available date for one of our pilot friends to taxy WR963.

Engine runs

The next engine run (June) has been postponed, as on the last one water ingress into the Port No 1 fuel tank had got into the priming system and seized the pump. This meant we could only run No 3 and 4 engines, as we had no priming available on the port side. Suggestions were made that one of the bigger members of our team should set to with the easystart and hand prop the two Griffons but the idea was met with reluctance...

So we set to trying to find the water ingress. The problem has been worsening through winter and we had been taping the cap up - but eventually we couldn't ignore it any longer. The culprit is the tank filler cap seal, and it was replaced, then some fuel resistant sealer added just to beef things up. The drain is positioned so the cap can be submerged in nearly a half inch depth of water before it drains away, which is far from ideal.




The priming pump is awkward to replace but will take about an hour. We're not putting the new pump on until the tank is proved to be resisting the effects of repeated downpours of British summertime.

The pump sits up in the wheel well, on the back of the engine bulkhead -



and if the cooling pipes to the generator weren't in the way you would see the pump itself. This is what it looks like off the aircraft -




Return to flight

We've got about as far down the path as we can go now without engaging the support of some other companies. One of the most immediate things we needed to do was get an organisation on board that are approved by the CAA to do design assessments, reports and the like. In WR963's case this involves a pre and post spar boom replacement report too, due to the nature of the spar issue. We had a company in mind, and we have made contact with them regarding this work. We're all really hoping they will take up the role.


Regards,

Rich

[Mackrick]

Great update as always Rich, an interesting read, you certainly have a lot of kit squirreled away.

[Richw_82]

Only small update from this weekend due to most of the team being up and down the UK like mad men chasing leads on parts and taking the MR1/T4 nose out to shows. It goes out again next weekend to Cosford.

One interesting event that happened this weekend though was the locating of a number of new old stock spar joints and pins..

This ticks off one rather large item on the list of kit needed to re spar our Shackleton.

[Blue_2]

Well how lucky is that?!

[Mackrick]

Thanks for the update Rich.....

[Dan4th]

One interesting event that happened this weekend though was the locating of a number of new old stock spar joints and pins....This ticks off one rather large item on the list of kit needed to re spar our Shackleton.

I believe everything happens for a reason, Rich, and
it's obvious to me that someone "up there" wants for
you guys to get that aircraft back up in the sky!

Brief it might have been, but your report is of great
interest to those of us on here

Danf.