Avro Shackleton MR2 WL795 - 16th Feb 2014

[kjshaw01]

Hi All,

A few of St Mawgan's gate guard taken last Sunday in sunny Cornwall: -





























Kev

[Vulcanone]

Hmmmmm Real Aeroplanes....

Many happy days watching the AEW.2s (and the odd MR.2C) at Binbrook and the other Lincolnshire bases, in the 70s,80s and until 91.

Tim S

[kjshaw01]

Great memories of an amazing aircraft. Hope they get the Coventry one in the air again

Kev

[richw_82]

She's looking good, the CAS are still keeping her fit and well. Last I heard from St Mawgan was that the move up to Classic Air Force is now off, and that she is staying put on the gate - time will tell whether thats a good idea, as the numbers of volunteers working on her are dropping as they get older.

WR963 at Coventry will get in the air again, its just a matter of time and funding. We have 594 hours left on the lower spar booms, and subject to the results of some deep checks into the wing structure we may be able to use them.

If anyone wants to help make it happen sooner, get across to our website and make a donation. £1 or 1p, it matters not - it all helps.

www.avroshackleton.co.uk

Kind regards,

Rich
SPT

[kjshaw01]

Hi Rich,

Well my Grandad's 91 this year so yeah, the volunteers (of which there are now only 3 regular members turning out) are definitely getting older!!!

There is talk of putting her and the new Wessex under cover. How or what they'd use to do that is intriguing, but time will tell.

So many rumours and what if's the last couple of years, to speculate until something is confirmed is becoming a futile exercise to say the least......

Kev

[richw_82]

Hi Kev,

Didn't realise it was you until I saw the website in your signature! Although it seems that CAF aren't taking her over it may be worth seeing if you can persuade a few of their Ground Support Team to come down the hill every now and again.

The rumours of the move have been fairly solid for a few years - we sent a spare tailwheel leg down for when the time came (as hers is badly cracked), and there are a pair of mainwheels up here also earmarked for WL795 if she had to move. Under cover is good though, even if they build a roof over her head where she is.

She's stood guard long enough down there, that Cornwall's last Shackleton* deserves to stay.

Regards,

Rich


* - Yes I know about the T4 at Flambards. Its not complete though, so I didn't count it.

[Morseman]

Lovely photo's. Brings back memories working Shacks on cw from RAF Ballykelly in the 60's. We had several squardrons on the base, good times.

[Victor5]

She's looking in remarkably good condition considering the battering she's probably taken over the last few weeks. Let's hope they can sort something out to keep this beautiful aeroplane looking so good.

[paddyboy]

Hi Kev

She looks beautiful

A proper aircraft, from when Great Britain built such beasts

Rich: nice to meet you at Waddo last year: we will be there again this year, so will be looking out for you

Cheers

Paddyboy

[kjshaw01]

Thanks for all the great comments chaps, and I'm so glad these are evoking some good memories too

Dave H,

Would I be able to place your photo on her FB page for all to view? Fantastic to see her in the air

(The conversion to MR2 took place before she went on the gate, 1990 I think).

Kev

[LTFT5]

A cracking post

Seems just like yesterday she was in the air.

As I have said before, I could watch the Shackleton,at Binbrook, going round all day.

Andy

[kjshaw01]

Thanks Andy, a much missed aircraft for sure

Kev

[richw_82]

Rich: nice to meet you at Waddo last year: we will be there again this year, so will be looking out for you

I'll be there! Not sure which day, and with what (hopefully the Shack nose) but I'll be there somewhere.

Rich

[MarkS]

Lovely ! Never photographed this at the gate . Only living about 10 miles away I have no excuse really !

[kjshaw01]

Thanks Mark, you do have to get past the gate first though

Kev

[buzzer]

Lovely ! Never photographed this at the gate . Only living about 10 miles away I have no excuse really !

Like wise. Never managed to photograph it yet!!
Really need to get a snap of it seeing as she's looking so good at the moment.