Following on from our last event of the 2015 season, here is a full report on the day’s activities.
Preparations for our event had been ongoing for weeks beforehand, with much discussion amongst members of the Trust arranging how we were going to put on a spectacle for our supporters whilst mindful of the current airport situation regarding Classic Air Force. We have been incredibly lucky to be able to continue our work on site with the airport’s co-operation at all times, and this event was planned to show how we will continue with our project to return-to-flight with WR963. With our neighbouring Nimrod XV232 also planning a ground run, we felt sure we had a crowd-pleaser to come!
Saturday December 5th dawned with crew members arriving from far and wide – indeed some members had travelled all the way from Scotland and North Wales to help us! The weather was forecasted high winds but no rain, not that this would deter operation of two former Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft really
Luckily for us both, we faced into wind on the day! We set up our merchandising stand and Haynes Manual Book-Signing table inside the Hangar, and put the urn on to provide hot soup to warm the spectators....
The aircraft were both prepped by our eager engineering team, and the crowds started to arrive at 1pm. As always, we encourage visits onboard both aircraft to show people what we do and allow many photographs too. The Nimrod crew even had refreshments available in their aircraft galley (we are actively seeking to sort our Shackleton galley too I might add). Some of our guests had a special reason to attend, being ex-Shackleton aircrew, and recent supporters of our 2015 Kickstarter fund-raising project. The lucky few had booked places to be onboard the ground run, so a full briefing was carried out before the appointed time.
As the sun started setting, Nimrod XV232 started her run first, operating both right-hand engines in spectacular and rather noisy style! Once shut down, it was the turn of our Shackleton WR963 to provide some rather different noise complete with flames! The prolonged run also included running up all four engines to high rpm for the first time in darkness, which apart from vibrating through the ground, also showed how the mighty Griffon engine’s exhausts glow in the dark and emit spectacular flames too.... Many photographs and Video footage were taken, and some thought the ground run was never going to end! Eventually the aircraft was shut down and fell silent, to a round of applause from an appreciative audience, some of whom had not realised quite what a spectacle the Shackleton can be in the dark! With only a few relatively minor snags to be dealt with over the winter servicing schedule, the entire SPT team went home both exhausted and elated that we had fulfilled our promise and put on an event quite like no other!
WR963 / G-SKTN - Avro Shackleton MR2 - Shackleton Preservation Trust by
Karl Drage, on Flickr
2016 promises more to come, as our Shackleton is ready to taxy on a more regular basis, as well as carrying our static ground runs. We are also working furiously behind-the-scenes to get the required NDT inspections carried out on the wing spars which is a crucial stage in the project, and this will be carried out subject to hangar availability at Coventry. The SPT are delighted with how much support has been shown towards our project – there is most definitely something magical about the Avro Shackleton!
To find out more about us, please check out our website, and follow us on Twitter and facebook! We are currently running a competition to win one of the new Airfix kits (WR963 of course) as well as offering space on our bomb doors for your name to be carried there for life! Again, our website has all the details!
We are dedicated to this project, and if you would like to support us by way of donations / fund-raising, please check the website for more information on how to help us!
Our branded merchandise range is expanding – another way you can show your support to us!
Even during the winter months, we welcome visitors to see our aircraft, as we have work going on most Saturdays – please contact the Trust to check we are going to be there before planning a visit of course....
Regards
Pete Buckingham
Shackleton Preservation Trust
www.avroshackleton.co.uk
Email:
avroshackletonwr963@gmail.com
Mobile: 07946 251098
Dusk Run Poster 3 big by Pete Buckingham, on Flickr
