After the Beverley how dare anybody insult the Shackleton, this was a true gentlemen's aircraft, leather seats, multi in-flight entertainment screens, full flow air-con - open a window. You could walk around and discuss the progress of the flight with the pilots/navigators and simple to maintain - I know - I spent 7 years on them. I preferred the MK2/T2 and T4, the MK3 was a bit of an abortion and how Avro's swung that past the Ministry as a Shackleton is still a mystery, must have been after a heavy lunch. I flew in a MK3 from Majunga to St Mawgan - spent a few days in Wheelus after we had a nose "red" - boffins said to fly to Luqa with gear down and locked - did wonders for fuel consumption and aerodynamics. Then I decided to go into civil aviation - I certainly had no intention of working so stayed in the airline business for 35 years - Oh great days.