'Shackleton Boys'
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 0
From: N. Spain
Of the six aircraft types that I flew in the RAF the Shackleton was the one on which I was the most unhappy. But then, it might just have been Ballykelly.
"Most unhappy" suggests you were also unhappy on the other types. Sorry to hear that.
I personally was really happy at BK.
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Brisbane Australia
I was part of a travelling ground crew on the delivery flight of a new Mk2 Ph3 to 205 Sqn. We travelled via St Mawgan to Luqa,then Kano in N Nigeria, Nairobi,Mauritius, Gan and Changi. It took 8 days. I can remember major details but nitty gritty a bit vague.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 1
From: Cyprus
Perhaps a little off-topic but you've mis-interpreted my comment Shack37. Perhaps I should have written “enjoyed least.” Here's my list of preference for military aircraft.
1. Lancaster. Dual control, maritime reconnaissance. Lots for the Flight Engineer to do.
2. Hastings. Multi-purpose. Plenty to do. Good view of the world rolling by 8,000' or less below. Take-off and landing points not necessarily the same.
3. Nimrod. Very interesting tasks. More comfortable than the Shackleton.
4. Britannia. Technically interesting.
5. Belfast. Taking interesting loads to interesting places.
6. Shackleton.* Noisy, uncomfortable, and flew at uncomfortable heights.
* Ballykelly. Appalling accommodation in 1952, rotten weather. Kinloss rather better.
1. Lancaster. Dual control, maritime reconnaissance. Lots for the Flight Engineer to do.
2. Hastings. Multi-purpose. Plenty to do. Good view of the world rolling by 8,000' or less below. Take-off and landing points not necessarily the same.
3. Nimrod. Very interesting tasks. More comfortable than the Shackleton.
4. Britannia. Technically interesting.
5. Belfast. Taking interesting loads to interesting places.
6. Shackleton.* Noisy, uncomfortable, and flew at uncomfortable heights.
* Ballykelly. Appalling accommodation in 1952, rotten weather. Kinloss rather better.
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 0
From: N. Spain
Perhaps a little off-topic but you've mis-interpreted my comment Shack37. Perhaps I should have written “enjoyed least.” Here's my list of preference for military aircraft.
1. Lancaster. Dual control, maritime reconnaissance. Lots for the Flight Engineer to do.
2. Hastings. Multi-purpose. Plenty to do. Good view of the world rolling by 8,000' or less below. Take-off and landing points not necessarily the same.
3. Nimrod. Very interesting tasks. More comfortable than the Shackleton.
4. Britannia. Technically interesting.
5. Belfast. Taking interesting loads to interesting places.
6. Shackleton.* Noisy, uncomfortable, and flew at uncomfortable heights.
* Ballykelly. Appalling accommodation in 1952, rotten weather. Kinloss rather better.
1. Lancaster. Dual control, maritime reconnaissance. Lots for the Flight Engineer to do.
2. Hastings. Multi-purpose. Plenty to do. Good view of the world rolling by 8,000' or less below. Take-off and landing points not necessarily the same.
3. Nimrod. Very interesting tasks. More comfortable than the Shackleton.
4. Britannia. Technically interesting.
5. Belfast. Taking interesting loads to interesting places.
6. Shackleton.* Noisy, uncomfortable, and flew at uncomfortable heights.
* Ballykelly. Appalling accommodation in 1952, rotten weather. Kinloss rather better.
2. T.O. and landing comment can also be applied to Shackleton!
3. Similar tasks. can´t comment on comfort.
4. But didn´t last long however.
5. As did the Shackleton!
6. Hence the famous Ben Twitch comments. ISK not exactly tropical. Can´t comment on 1952 accommodation, before my time.
Opinions can differ. All the best Lancman.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 11
From: South East of Penge
One Ben Twitch story from c.1952 was when an (unnamed , Canadian?) pilot delivered a replacement Shack from St Eval to BallyKelly. Said aircraft appeared through the mist,flying around Ben Twitch on it's ear hole before rolling out on to the main.
Subsequent Interview "endangering aircraft and crew etc etc ." was cut short by plaintiff pointing out that there was no Crew. Pilot apparently wandered back doing flight doing Eng panel work etc. himself whilst in transit. ( Dad was on 42 Sqn at the time, I was a Quarters' rat) .
Subsequent Interview "endangering aircraft and crew etc etc ." was cut short by plaintiff pointing out that there was no Crew. Pilot apparently wandered back doing flight doing Eng panel work etc. himself whilst in transit. ( Dad was on 42 Sqn at the time, I was a Quarters' rat) .
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 0
From: East Anglia
Having just visited Duxford for the first time in many years I noted that the MR3 in the Restoration Hangar has been turned round revealing these odd boxy, turrety things under the rear fuselage in the vicinity of the tailplane:
They both appear identical from ground level, can anyone satisfy my curiosity as to what they are please?
They both appear identical from ground level, can anyone satisfy my curiosity as to what they are please?
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 746
Likes: 5
From: Northumberland
I flew up to Iceland on a Shack in 1982. We arrived on 4 Jul to hold 'Q' for a week as the E3s were away. I was holding waiting for a course.
We did a flyby and then landed. The whole place was alive as the 4 Jul celebrations were in full swing. 'Are you from a museum'? we were asked on numerous occasions.
Still, the beer was cold and the women warm.......................
We did a flyby and then landed. The whole place was alive as the 4 Jul celebrations were in full swing. 'Are you from a museum'? we were asked on numerous occasions.
Still, the beer was cold and the women warm.......................
Joined: Dec 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 880
Likes: 38
From: Once a Squirrel Heaven (or hell!), Shropshire UK
wrt the cameras, they were 'controlled' by the pneumatic system, so as the air pressure dropped so would they. I think they were removed on the AEW, but certainly fitted on all the MR 2's and 3's.
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 0
From: East Anglia
Thanks all, I had discounted optical cameras because the circular portions appear to be quite opaque now, whether through degradation (are they glass?) or just the dust of decades of storage.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 1
From: Cyprus
www.avroshackleton.com/shakpond.html gives a pretty good impression of Shackleton operations.
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 152
Likes: 9
From: Crawley
When I was on the Orange Harvest bench at St.Mawgan I, along with another fitter was sent to RRE at Pershore. There was a MK11 that had been fitted with an IR Linescan and they had had to modify the OH installation. The Linescan position was set up in the galley, the bunks being removed along with all of the equipment located beneath it. The detection head and associated electronics was in the bomb aimers position.
I'm fairly sure that this was intended to go to 205 Sqdn in Singapore for a special op. In fact the aircraft came through SM a few weeks later. As it turned out the OH didn't work, a cable made locally was faulty. We were amused when the foreman apologised that it would take 30 minutes to make new one because it was pay day. We were lucky if a similar cable could be obtained under three months. I can't remember the aircraft serial no. but I sure that it can be found in Chris Ashworths book. I suspect that there are ex 205 guys who probably remember this one off fit.
pm575
I'm fairly sure that this was intended to go to 205 Sqdn in Singapore for a special op. In fact the aircraft came through SM a few weeks later. As it turned out the OH didn't work, a cable made locally was faulty. We were amused when the foreman apologised that it would take 30 minutes to make new one because it was pay day. We were lucky if a similar cable could be obtained under three months. I can't remember the aircraft serial no. but I sure that it can be found in Chris Ashworths book. I suspect that there are ex 205 guys who probably remember this one off fit.
pm575