Avro Shackleton WR963 Project thread

[Camlobe]

Feel absolutely gutted tonight. Haven't been around for a while so decided to catch up with the world and see how Rich and the gang are getting on with '63 (not that I have any interest of course).

Picked up that 'Boots' Henken is no longer with us. Gutted.

Group Captain Dave 'Boots' Henken had a long association with Shacks well before he joined us on the Mighty 8 as 'Boss' in the mid-80's. Boots was one of those larger-than-life guys who led by example with a total can-do attitude. He demanded the maximum out of everyone, and gave his maximum in return. An ex-Halton 'Brat', Boots understood how aircraft worked, and because of this 'insider knowledge' was able to get the best out of an aircraft, and was able to shoot down any engineering 'bullsh!tter'. Life was never quiet or boring while he was around, and especially while he was 'running the show'.

Many happy memories from those days, and a couple from his later career as the Defence Attache in Brussels.

Mo has commented on the red noses. The story behind these was typical off-the-cuff Boots. Following the five-ship flight to Woodford for the 40th Anniversary, Boots was insistant that 8 Sqn would outdo the single red-nosed Harrier - by having ALL the Shacks do the Rudolph. Cue a bunch of guys trying to scrounge red paint from the BAe staff. No idea where it came from, but brushes and steps were also provided (long way up, you know). Wet paint duly slapped on, five Shacks flew back to Lossie, only to be greeted by a very upset squadron painter (Mac). It took him ages to get the red off. Actually he missed a bit - Mr Rusty still has some red edges.

There was the Iclandic rescue trip where Boots quickly threw together a scratch crew to personally deliver spares to a broken Shack at the US Naval Air Station Keflavik causing panic amongst the 'septics' because a 'Lewtenant Kernal' was coming, the France and Cyprus trip that went on and on and on..., the little 90 year old French lady who we kept awake by being 'excessivly boistrous' over many drinks in Boots' room next door, the Corporal in Akrotiri MT who gave him a Mini instead of a Cavalier, the static wicks being torn off by 'shrubs' followed by the mainwheel sinking into tarmac ('shrubs' were Boots' description of 15 foot tall trees), the ground-looping Chippie, the Boots operational procedures to deal with the brake-sac problems, the list goes on.

After the Shacks were retired from RAF service, WL747 and WL757 were flown out to Paphos. Some considerable time later, Boots and a few others (names omitted to protect the guilty) flew a Shack around Cyprus for five hours...but that is another story.

A true leader, excellent pilot, great boss, superb host, he will be sadly missed, but remembered by all who met him.

camlobe

[Mo Botwood]

Camlobe
Do you know anybody that can remember that music for the girls?

Mo

[richw_82]

963 also still carries bits of the comic relief red nose. More of it came to light when we were preparing her for the white scheme. I never really realised what it was until I read something posted (possibly by camlobe?) across on pprune, and saw the photo's of the event.

It's a shame that a Shackleton isn't able to salute him on his way... but the closest any of them has been to flying in the UK in the last few years was by his own doing.. Gp Capt Dave Hencken was at the controls when 963 very nearly got airborne on her trip out onto Coventry's runway a few years ago.

Reports vary as to whether she got air under the mainwheels or not. The few photo's I have seen show the oleos at full stretch. By all accounts Dave was up for taking 963 for any further 'fast taxi' runs in the future.

The next time 963 runs her engines, there will be a lot of the older members of our team thinking of him, I'm sure.

Rich

[Camlobe]

Mo,

It has been a while. There is more snow on the roof and the grey matter is not what it used to be.

Re the song, It was always after I had consumed far too much alcohol, and it was a battle between Boots and the 'D Day Dodgers (Boots own version)' and Mike Duguid's 'Hindustani Granny'. If I remember correctly, D Day Dodgers was to the tune of Lile Marlane.

Hope this helps.

Rich,

I had a chuckle to learn '63's nose also has the evidence. Not bad for a slap-on brush job. Don't remember if it was even aircraft paint.

camlobe

[Mo Botwood]

Camlobe
I wish it were one of 'em. All I remember is approaching Lossie and an orchestral martial thinggy being played.

Glad to hear you still have snow.

Mo

[richw_82]

Gp Capt Dave Hencken giving 963 some exercise a little while ago.


His funeral was today.

[TwinOtter23]

Blue skies Dave!

[pagen01]

963 also still carries bits of the comic relief red nose. More of it came to light when we were preparing her for the white scheme. I never really realised what it was until I read something posted (possibly by camlobe?) across on pprune, and saw the photo's of the event.

You should have, I posted these pics in the previous '963 thread!

[richw_82]

Those are probably where I saw the red nose first then. To be honest I can't remember. They are great photo's!

Speaking of photo's, I haven't been posting any on here of late, because there has been no major changes. The stuff we're doing at the minute is all for the painting. Rest assured the next couple of weeks will see significant changes, and there will be pics.


19 March, work day


A busy day today helped by the weather. Wall to wall sunshine meant we could get progress made on the prep work for the paint, and not a moment too soon... it's being delivered on Monday and the major white and grey bits will be done and finished next weekend. All the team worked until sunset, going away from the aircraft exhausted but happy.

963 is ready for moving (she has to shuffle over a bit soon anyway to make room for DC-6 G-SIXC to get past) and will hopefully be going indoors for the paint for a couple of days. We will be having a four day paintathon, the intention being to only have roundels and stencils left to do afterward.

Other work was ongoing, with two of the badly clouded cockpit quarter windows being replaced with newly manufactured ones. We still have a lot of the glazing to replace but it is getting done bit by bit!

We have found that one of the fuel tank cocks on the port side is leaking, so that has been added to the ever growing list of tasks we have to sort out before running engines on that side. But, she's an old aeroplane so we can forgive her, and none of us are worried about getting the spanners out again once the painting is done.

The trolley acc has had a couple of its batteries replaced by those sourced for us by alanl; it appears it may have brought it up to a healthy condition again.

A nice surprise was a visit by a forum member, TT18Timbo. Sorry if I seemed a little distracted! It was a long day... hopefully next time we'll have more chance of a chat without you being held to ransom. Old aircraft in exchange for shopping trips..

Regards,

Rich

[RPSmith]

This afternoon (Weds) the Shackleton was being towed indoors. When I left (about 3.15) they hadn't managed it yet - it'll be a VERY tight fit.

Roger Smith.

[pagen01]

To get WL795 into a T2 hangar we had to take the outer wing sections of, which didn't matter as we had to remove the wings down to the inner engines anyway.
Are they doing this or towing it in sideways?

[richw_82]

I'll find out better tomorrow! Looks like they took advantage of the good weather and moved her in ahead of schedule.

So now you all know...

Thanks to the generous people at Airbase, we've got the hangar for the weekend to get the rest of the white and grey painting (and as much else as we can) done.

Regards,

Rich

[RPSmith]

It'll fit in the hangar ok (not sure if it's a T2) but there is a timber and polythene structure (possibly) in the way.

Roger Smith.

[Peter]

14 hour work party!! Just kidding hopefully you can make use of the time in the warmth and a huge THANK you to AIRBASE for allowing the Shack into the warm albeit for a temp stay!

[Nashio966]

I hope Richard doesnt mind me posting this, I got this picture message earlier today from him

[richw_82]

Wow.. what a day! From the first e-mails last night saying 963 was in the hangar a day early, everything went nuts.

I loaded up the car with as much painting materials as I could this morning and set off for Coventry, eager to see what was going on there. I couldn't believe how busy the place was... it seemed as if everything was being worked on at once. If what I've seen today is anything to go by, Airbase's second season is going to be a cracker.

Arriving to find everything sunny and bright I made my way over to where the Shackleton now wasn't, to drop the paint off. I'm sure this was where we left it?



Best go look inside then. There she is!! Asking around the place and a figure of 17 years was arrived at since she last saw the inside of a hangar.





Two of our guys were already hard at work starting to mask up the windows and cover the floor, as was requested of us. The team are all in good spirits, even when asked to unroll the plastic floor covering again (and again) for the camera..

Airbase have been kind enough to kick a lot of other stuff outside for this one weekend, so we are NOT going to make a mess.

I have to compliment the ground handlers though, they've put 963 in the hangar bang on the centre line with barely feet to spare on the wingtips. This is how close it is:



As you can see it's a snug fit.

Helping out with the masking, I had to take this shot, as it was too good to miss:



The DC3 was started up later in the afternoon outside, and made a really very pleasing amount of noise. :diablo:

Being at the west end of the hangar meant we got the sunshine for longer, which was rather nice. 963 looked that happy in there it was rather tempting to let the tires down so we don't have to move out, squat in the aircraft, or just paint a line on the floor that's Shackleton shaped with a "reserved" sign on it...







Various other things happened today... we're losing our old crew portakabin in favour of a room in the hangar, and I was given access to a place that I could have spent hours in (not the pub, Blue_2!!!) the 'Shackleton Design Office'.

In a small room off the hangar is every drawing that exists for the Shackleton, all the mod details, and God knows what else. It's a treasure trove. Apparently we hold the design rights to the aircraft now, having all the master copies of the drawings and prints. There is a phenomenal amount of information in there.

More good news on the horizon too regarding undercarraige servicing, propellers, and all sorts of other things that are lined up over the next few months... but you'll just have to wait and see for now.

The first paint should be going on her tomorrow... I won't be there (day job. ) but I will be back on Saturday and Sunday for more Shackleton shenannigans.


Peter: today was 11 hours all in. I'm guessing the guys will work tomorrow the same. Saturday and Sunday we don't plan on going home until most things (apart from markings) are done.

Ben: No problem with the pic posting, though that was just sent more to make you green with envy.


Regards,

Rich


Diary dates (engine runs):

Sat 16 April - Friends of WR963 gathering
Fri 22 April - Airbase re-opening

[pagen01]

Great news and updates Rich!

[Nashio966]

Im so gutted about work dude

If money was no object id be living up there!

[alanl]

I have to compliment the ground handlers though, they've put 963 in the hangar bang on the centre line with barely feet to spare on the wingtips. This is how close it is:


As you can see it's a snug fit.Regards,Rich

Gary and Dave are your guys Rich.

Ref your old cabin,no offence,but it will certainly improve the vista for vistors no end when it is gone!
At least you will be warmer in the winter!
If I get chance,I will pop in tomorrow and see it inside.
Alan

[Nashio966]

Thinking about letting her tyres down :diablo:

What about that *cough* main wheel change *cough* that needs doing *cough*

[richw_82]

Gary and Dave are your guys Rich.

Ref your old cabin,no offence,but it will certainly improve the vista for vistors no end when it is gone!
At least you will be warmer in the winter!
If I get chance,I will pop in tomorrow and see it inside.
Alan

Gary and Dave did an awesome job. It can't have been easy to be that precise.

No offence taken regarding the cabin, it is rather past its best. We were just a bit distressed that a second move might have killed it completely leaving us homeless, until we were given the upgrade!

There should be plenty pf people around tomorrow I'm sure they'll be happy to have a visitor. Don't get too close though, or you might get roped into helping paint!

Ben... mainwheels eh? Cunning...

In seriousness we are looking at having the oleo legs overhauled at some point in the near fuure to stop the leaks and them sinking. The mainwheels will probably get done at the same time.

Regards,

Rich

[Peter]

Rich, a couple of things..
in the last pic is she smiling..?
Also wish she could get her missing prop put on while in the warm hangar but understandable.
and lastly, now that shes off the grass would itb e possible to get something solid for her wheels to rest on? Looks like the tug had some trouble extricating her from the grass??

[richw_82]

Peter,

WR963 is definitely smiling!

I've had no panicky phone calls today while stck in my office so I can only assume things are going well down there. I'll be back down tomorrow, and staying until Sunday night to see as much as possible done.

The prop IS a pain in the backside, but it's in the process of being sorted out and I'm content to let that run it's course. We won't be able to have it built or fitted this weekend but hopefully it won't be too long before it's back where it should be.

We have been told we won't be going to our winter spot, and that 963 is going to be parked next to the Nimrod. We're investigating having plates put down for the mainwheels once we get positioned, to stop any sinkage.

The large bits of torn up grass weren't caused by 963, it our old tug - it had a locked wheel and had to be removed from the end of the tow bar!


Regards,

Rich

[alanl]

I've since been informed that Mark was driving and Dave and Gary were directing,so apologies to Mark!

[Nashio966]

Just got some pictures from richard, By god she looks magnificent, will upload later

[CanberraA84-232]

Quick curio here,

you mentioned before that you guys hold the "design rights" to the Shacklecaster, is that the same as the "design authority" required to fly the aircraft?

[Nashio966]

I believe so, the rights and authority were bought from (Bae? i think) At considerable cost

Just sorting new pictures out now

Here we go This was WR963 as of yesterday afternoon

[CanberraA84-232]

I believe so, the rights and authority were bought from (Bae? i think) At considerable cost

Well at least that would make the paperwork side of a return to flight project a millionth of a percent easier!

Does anyone know if 1722 still flies or has she finally gone Lifex?

[Nashio966]

As far as im aware she has something like 30/40 hours left on the frame which richard seemed to say isnt enough to train new pilots etc - I think she could fly if need be, but I dont think she does?

If that makes any sense - And yais, the review of WR963 done originally concluded that the realism of it was that she would almost certainly need a new wing built.

That said, at the time of her lower boom replacement in the 80's ALL of the wing webs were brand new as well as the majority of the other parts of the wing structure, If the paperwork exists that proves this, it may prove easier to fly her should the money ever materialize.

Her tailplane is new as well (comparatively) something like 7000/8000 hours on it. That said we have two spare fins

Im so gutted about this weekend, my work means that I only get two saturdays off every 6

[richw_82]

Wow... what a weekend! I didn't make Friday due to work but I arrived bright and early Saturday morning, and I've only just got back.

Saturday we worked long into the night, pausing only briefly for food and once in shock, when one of the female members of our painting team dropped into conversation that she was a pole dancing instructor...

In terms of numbers, we've had around 20 people working on the Shackleton this weekend, which is kind of a record for us. Even the elder members of the group can't remember seeing that many people working on her in the 12 years that she has been in their care.

Unfortunately we got beaten by time, WR963 isn't finished. Various gremlins crept into the mix too. While for the most part 963 has been well behaved during her hangar time, she has tried marking her spot when one of the bomb bay hydraulic rams started leaking. Even so, the hydraulics have held pressure for just over a week with the doors only just starting to creep open. This and various other small leaks caused problems with contaminating paint.

Then the paint we had for the roundels/fin flashes started reacting, so they'll get redone next weekend. Luckily we noticed it after the first fin flash, so we didn't have to worry about any large areas. We overestimated the need for some colours, and underestimated others, but on the whole she's about 90% done.

Got some photo's for you all... cheer's again Ben for doing a mini-update while I was offline.














These last two were taken right before we left.






With regards to 963's spar, there was some paperwork kicking around that listed all the remaining life on components, though I didn't get chance to read it thoroughly; it was collated during the feasibility study done some years ago. She's not going flying anytime soon, though we are working to get her to taxying status as soon as we can.

As for 1722, when I asked I was told there was insufficient life left on her to train new crew, as I believe most of her original crew are now retired. I'll try and clarify it but I know she hasn't flown in a couple of years and was suffering from hydraulic issues the last I heard.

Regards,

Rich