Shackleton taxy run planned - co-pilots seat up for grabs.
 

Hi all,

I know a lot of you are already following our efforts to return WR963 at Coventry to flight. Well, we're now planning something a little interesting as a fundraising measure.

We've started a Kickstarter project - basically a crowdfunding attempt - to help raise funding for NDT and structural inspections, and the Trustees have come up with some great rewards for backers of the project.

Smaller rewards include taking the co-pilots seat during a run-up of the engines, and engraved Griffon pistons. The biggest and best reward is the offer of taking the co-pilots seat during a taxy run of the aircraft this summer.... as far as we're aware there's nowhere else in the world the public can get their hands on the throttles of an Avro 4-engined heavy, and nowhere you will get chance to taxy the aircraft from one of the best seats in the beast!

Here's the link -


https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...turn-to-flight


Kind regards,

Rich

Hi chaps - we're up past £6k with 20 days still to go!

This is the first ever time we've had the begging bowl out in public; and we've held it off as long as possible (some five years or so since we started heading this direction). Please, please help - even if its just £1 it will make a difference. The team are putting in heroic work on the aircraft; Saturday saw the removal of both of No 4's propellers, a reduction gear "GITS" seal, the refitting of it all and a successful run-up of the engine.

There is more to come and the endoscope we put into WR963's wing a couple of weeks ago showed promising results. We can deliver a flying Shackleton... we just need help!

Kind regards,

Rich W

Rich - suggest that cross link to this on the Mil Aircrew thread. There may well be a load of ex-kipper fleet Shack crews willing to donate that will more readily see it on that forum

Good idea, I've posted it up.

I did put it on the end of a thread in there regarding our Shack, but you can't find it unless you read right to the end.

Regards,

Rich

Hi all,

With 13 days to go we're just over £8000 towards our structural inspections. We really need your help if we're going to make it!

Besides the taxi run, there are also Griffon pistons, a Michael Rondot Shackleton print, polo shirts and other things available as rewards for different levels of support. We know the Kickstarter platform is a bit clunky to use and requires sign up; but we really would appreciate it if people could take the time - even if its £1 it helps get WR963 closer to flight.

We haven't had the begging bowl out until now, having made it from a dead aeroplane up to a taxying, live and growling Avro masterpiece. We need help to go that little bit further.

Again, help if you can; or share the information if you can't directly.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...turn-to-flight

Kind regards,
Rich

6 days to go and less than £1500 to hit the target! Please help us if you can by pledging or sharing the link, it makes all the difference.

First public engine run of the year is on May 2nd for Airbase's reopening, so if you haven't heard the Griffon growl this year now's your chance! This is only a static run-up - WR963 has moved under her own power a couple of times since september, but not far due to being unable to maintain the pneumatic pressure on the failed side. We intend to have the port brake sorted shortly, so taxi runs will resume asap.

Kind regards,

Rich W

Thanks to all that made it happen, we hit (and surpassed) the target!

As soon as the Kickstarter ends, we'll be cracking on sorting the rewards out, and also getting things organised to get deep inside some parts of WR963 that haven't seen daylight since her last major.

Regards,

Rich