Warbird Information Exchange

Saw a photo in Chuck Gardner's post below of the CAF AVRO Shackleton AEW.2 WL790 taken a couple of weeks ago at the CAF Airshow 2004 in Midland. I read on another site that the aircraft is owned by Air Atlantique in England, and is on loan to the CAF. Can anyone confirm this, as the aircraft is not listed on the CAF website as one in their inventory. The plane is purportedly the only flyable Shackleton remaining.

The Shackelton at Midland is indeed owned by Air Atlantique, and on loan to the CAF becuase the CAA will not give them a Permit to Fly in the UK. It was for a time based at the Polar Avaition Musuem up here in Minnesota. As for it being the only airworthy Shckelton I'm not sure, there may still be one or two in South Africa.

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Dan Johnson

Thanks, Dan

I believe I read recently that the one in the South African Air Force Historical Flight is no longer airworthy, making the one in Midland the sole surviving airworthy one.

Walt McKinney

The Shack in South Africa flew about a month back, was that its last flight ?
Lets hope not.

Is the one at Coventry taxing yet ?

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www.fireworks-zone.info

Hi all
I had a very brief look at the Shack at Midland when I was there in early October. It certainly looked a bit rough. I'm not sure it could classed as strictly airworthy.
Any ideas??
Cheers
Andy

Hey Guys, indeed, the Shack has not flown in about three years... and the blazing sun has not been extremely kind to the bird... would really like to see her airborne again, albeit without the large radome..... the crew had talked about removing the radome, really cleaning up the airframe and allowing the front bomb bay doors to be used....... or at least thats what I remember the last time I talked with them at Midland...... Happy Holidays,
Alan

Well, looks like this Shack is now in Pima.

Here is an old youtube vid newly posted of her flying.

http://youtu.be/QbREbvgOaZU

(how do YT?)

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There is something deeply wrong with a society more offended by breasts than by entrails.

That one could be returned to flying condition, if you have 1.1 million to replace the spar (Thats what grounded her in the first place)

Of course, there are others...



http://www.panoramio.com/photo/77087046 ... google.com

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The spar issue is only a problem in the UK, and its the heart of the problem but not the entire problem! Many other countries such as the USA seems happy for the aircraft to fly so long as regular NDT is carried out to ensure its in good health. I've read WL790's last NDT report, and she was still in good fettle, despite having some 14,900 hours flown..

Don't forget the long term aim was always to bring her home to the UK. When a UK Permit to Fly continually refused (unless a spar job and various other parts were done) it made the costs too great. While she could have operated for longer in the USA, she was retired as it was getting toward the point she would need overhauling anyway.

Incidentally the basic spar material cost was around £78,000 about 4 years ago. Doing the work though was estimated at between £3 - 5 million. There's not just the top and bottom booms on front and rear spars to replace, there's various other parts. All the skin attachment hardware - as the skins are screwed to the spar, and each of the screws is a different length - the undercarraige bearers, engine bearers, tailplane attachments... there's about 3 pages of close typed A4 on a lifed items list. All has to be replaced or have sufficient remaining life if you want to fly a Shackleton (any Shackleton) in the UK.

Rich W

Yes, but the reason it ended up going to Pima was that the props are all about timed out and that work wasn't going to be cheap either. As such, they chose to send it to Pima for permanent static display.

There are several threads on here (just search WL790) documenting its final few months in Midland and the flight to Pima. Hopefully James will be able to elaborate on the restoration progress as they were doing a lot of work to get her properly sealed up and repainted for long term display.

The Shack has been here since 2008. It is actually scheduled to be the next aircraft to go into the restoration hangar once the KB-50 and the Banshee are finished.

James

James; do you have any pics to share of the KB-50 and/or the interior?
Thanks, I love that airplane

James, can you bring us uptodate on the other restorations there at Pima, thanks.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Sure, I can do that.

Current projects:
KB-50J -- 90% polished and repainted. Finishing painting the underside and insignia. Should be out on display by the middle of November.

F2H-2P Banshee -- 95% finished. Last of the insignia and markings should be done by the middle of next week. This is a new aircraft for the collection. It was formerly on display in New York.

Cessna 120 -- Currently stripping old paint and performing repairs. Probably 4 to 6 weeks to completion as a wild guess.

Aeronca L-3B -- This one is has been in storage at the museum since the 1970s and requires significant repair and is missing several of the control surfaces. It is a long term project. Completion will depend on if we can find replacement controls or if we have to get the plans and make them. It will eventually be restored to its Arizona CAP markings.

P-39N -- About 90% completed. All the major parts have been put back together and the plane is sitting on its gear. Currently fabricating fairings and misc. parts. The plane was a New Guinea recovery and since the USAAF records do not have its actual assignment history we will be painting it as a plane from the 110th TRS unless better info comes up between now and when we're ready to paint.

Recently completed - F-5B, MiG-15, N3N firebomber, Jet Provost, Vampire.

Photos of most of these are available on our website http://www.pimaair.org/aircraft.php

Steve, I don't have any KB-50 photos right now because I'm out of town for a few days. I'll try to remember to take a few when I get back next week.
James