Hi all,
Glad that you like progress so far, and many thanks to Pete (hunterxf382) for putting the video up. We would have taxied further but we lost a brake sac/bag on the port mainwheel, so we lost pneumatic pressure. This meant we had to turn around and come back before we couldn't stop properly. We have new brake sacs, so its someting that can be fixed fairly easily.
We're trying to get space to do the NDT checks on the spar booms this winter, but it can't be done outdoors as we have to remove quite a few access panels, some of the trailing edge, and the main landing gear doors and valences; so we're going to be begging and pleading for hangarage again.
In terms of fundraising, we are working through a Heritage Lottery Fund application to support a large amount of the money needed to get WR963/G-SKTN in the air again, though if anyone wants to donate in the meantime it all goes into the aircraft. None of us in the SPT are taking any kind of renumeration out of this.
Shackman -
It was a pleasure meeting you and we'll hopefully see you again soon. Sorry that circumstances put our taxying of the Shackleton so late in the day that you couldn't stay to watch.
denachtenmai -
We have the bottom section of ASV21, we have the original drawings for the middle section, and we're searching for a set of rams. It might mean a trip out to Cyprus to rob XF700 at Nicosia as she still has them in. As for the bomb doors, again - its back to the manufacturers drawings and out with the rivets. The fixings at the forward end of the original bomb bay are still there, we just need to sort out the Bitteswell induced hacksaw job.
linedog -
We needed a stand out colour scheme at the time, and by putting the aircraft back in the white it made her instantly recognisible. The plan for the next repaint is looking like being 205 Sqn colours, so back to grey with a white top and the light blue spinners. We also get to keep the (working!) Orange Harvest 'spark plug' rather than removing it and trying to refit the mid upper turret cupola we have. The eventual configuration we want to get our Shack back to is MR2 Phase III.
Kind regards,
Rich Woods
Shackleton Preservation Trust
Last edited by Richard Woods; 2nd Oct 2014 at 13:20.