'Griffons' growl again.

[Batchy]

Today I made the short journey down to the Gatwick aviation museum, to see Avro Shackleton WR982 perform a full four engine ground run during one the museums regular open days.

Thankfully the recent poor weather gave way to better conditions this afternoon and allowed the crew to start the engines for their first public run for a number of years. The sound of four RR Griffon's on full song is something I will remember for a long time.

I would like to thank Peter Vallance and his volunteers for keeping the Shack alive.

Thanks for the heads up Peter (Mills), I wouldn't have known about the run without your post.

Septic.














Couldn't resist squeezing this shot in G-VIXN (XS587).

[chevvron]

The only prettier noise is the BBMF Lanc.

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!]

That's certainly a very cheerful looking airplane

[mustpost]

Tragic attack of growth on the wing tho'......
Nice photies
M

[Agaricus bisporus]

Jeez, those Griffons sure had to push a lot of Bernouillis!

[Midland 331]

Super photos! I recall a 5-ship over Teesside just before withdrawal. Very "Bomber Command"!

I wonder if high-hours chappies suffered hearing loss in later life, akin to Argonaut/F27/etc crew...?

r

[shack]

I like most ex-kipper fleet drivers am high tone deaf thanks to the mighty Griffon and the whirling props.

[bluesilk]

Fantastic piccies of the Shack. Lots of hours on the mk3 phase 3 and high tone deaf like everyone else, but I can almost hear those engines just looking at the pics. Thanks for posting them.

[Midland 331]

Audible growling here:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPn65t7BQUk

r

[Seloco]

I too made the pilgrimage to Gatwick on Sunday (thanks to Mrs S's forebearance!) and revelled in the experience of 48 cylinders and 24 blades in glorious harmony. A revelation though was to explore the inside of the Shackleton and experience just how difficult it is to move around, thanks to what seems like about 13 spars passing through the fuselage at knee height! How great too to hear from enthusiasts like Peter Mills who could clearly impart what it was really like to work inside for 14 hours on end.

All in all a super visit; how great it would be to find a way to get at least some of that priceless hardware under cover!

[5 Greens]

Just had the pleasure to be at the right place & time, to be in the CVT Shack for its fortnightly engine runs! Lovely

[boguing]

I could cycle to Gatwick. Any chance that you could let me know when it's going to happen again?

[Shack37]

Drooling all over the keyboard, great pictures, thanks for posting them. Seeing numbers 3 & 4 engines blasting away with the steps still in place looked a bit odd though.

[pmills575]

Not sure if we'll be runnning again publically again soon, the fuel costs £1.24/litre +vat; so about £400 for the day. We would need to get enough visitors to cover that cost. Should it happen again I will post a notice on this forum (plus other places). Thanks to all who attended and supported both the RAFA and GAM.

Peter Mills
Gatwick Aviation Museum

[allyn]

Rats!

Had I known this was happening, I would have come down and shot some video!

[Shackman]

I'm sorry I can't post the noise as well, but a 6 -ship sounded better (and the 9 - ship !!!)

[pmills575]

Engineering team at Gatwick Aviation Museum

This picture was taken just after the run on Sunday the 30th March.
We are a fortunate museum in that the average of our engineering volunteers is about 35! (Peter Vallance far right)



Peter Mills
GAM

[virgo]

What was the occasion, Shackman ? Got any more piccies ?

(I think I posted some interesting ones of a Sharjah flypast somewhere on PPRuNe some time ago............?)

[Croqueteer]

For those that don't already know, a Shackleton memorial monument is being unveiled at the National Arboritum near Lichfield on the 4th June.

[Shackman]

Re formation:

Practising for the 205 Sqn disbandment parade 1971. Don W****e leading us into the only Cu nim he could find!

PS. What's this about a memorial at the National Aboretum please?