Shackleton at Pima
 

I've recently returned from a pilgrimage to Pima and Davis Monthan. It really is worth the effort to go there, the variety of aircraft and the relaxed way in which the museum is run is beyond compare. Davis Monthan and AMARG are a little different as it is an active USAF base.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the Titan missile silo at Green Bank. Although visitors to Pima are encouraged to visit the silo the staff there have a very indifferent attitude to their customers. We were up against the clock when we reached the site and were told it was a one hour guided tour with no exceptions, this included a 30 min film show. We asked that perhaps we might miss out the film and be escorted no further than the upper level of the silo. Whilst this request was being ripped to shreds another visitor entered and was remonstrated with for turning up at the last moment for a tour. No customer excellence awards here I hope.

Anyhow, the earlier part of the day at Pima was fantastic. Abandoned to one side of the exotic hardware was Kermit Weeks' Avro Shackleton, not quite as far gone as the Paphos pair, but not looking as good as the museum exhibits. It was a strange feeling to walk round the aircraft in the Arizona desert, the last time I'd done this was on the flightline at 8Sqn. Unbelievably the smell was still the same.

Because the Shack is privately owned and just renting space at the museum the guide could not expand on what was going to happen to the aircraft. Does anybody out there know any more?

Open to correction, but I was under the impression that the Shackleton still belonged to Atlantic Air/Air Atlantique at Coventry, England. I thought it was donated to Pima as it was consdered too expensive to maintain. I didn't think there was any connection to Kermit Week's at all.

The Shackleton was donated to Pima, and the when we asked as to its fate shortly after it arrived we were told that it was to be repainted and put on display.

WL790 didn't belong to Kermit Weeks, though if it does now I'm sure there's a few people at Coventry that would want to know how!

I'll ask about the place and see what I can find out.

Hi all,

I sent a message to James Stemm, Curator of Collections at Pima Air & Space Museum - complete with a link to this thread. I've just had a message back from him with a definitive answer, posted below.

"The Shackleton was an outright donation to the museum. It has most certainly not been sold to Kermit Weeks or anyone else. Of all the planes we own that is one of the few he hasn't ever asked about. We do intend to repaint the aircraft however I can't tell you when that is going to happen. I had hoped to get it done soon after arrival but as often happens other priorities have gotten in the way. Rest assured the Shackleton is an important and valued part of our collection."


Akrotiri bad boy: James has also asked me to pass on his sincere apologies for the way you were treated at the Titan Missile Museum. He has passed that information on to his bosses so it can be addressed.

Richard

Thank you very much, please check your pm's

Akro