;D I thought I'd do this sort of like a readers rides thread.
There's more than just me working on it and the aircraft isn't any one person's... but hey, it's big, has a thirst for high octane fuel and is about as retro as a big aeroplane can get. So here goes...
Shackleton WR963 is at Coventry under the care of the Shackleton Preservation Trust. Believe it or not this antique, and four others were front line RAF aircraft until 1991. When it was retired, it was the end of the Rolls Royce piston engine in RAF front line service.
Once again I skipped off work and on the 27th went to play with the it. The object of the day was to run three engines (the fourth is still awaiting propellors) and wake her from her winter slumber. We met up with the rest of the group at about 1000hrs (GMT) and quickly set to, with the tailwheel tyres being reinflated, trolley acc charged, and checking all the fuel drains.
My first job was flushing an oil tank, it's the first time I've been up on the wing. Despite the size of it, the fact the aircraft sits tail down means avoiding sliding off the trailing edge can be a tricky task, especially when you are carrying a jerry can and tools. After getting the flushing oil in, it was back down off the wing and under the beast to get it out again! The drain is in a really awkward place and pretty much guarantees the oil to either get on the underside of the aircraft, or the guy undoing the drain.
Thankfully I didn't get too much of it on me but I still stank like a U-boat captain on the way home. Then it was time to pull all the trestles, tools and other paraphenalia out the way, and retire to the cafe for a quick bacon roll. Fed and watered, it was time to wake her up. Ground power was added, the crew boarded, and no3 was selected as being the first to start as apparently it cranks the easiest.
1300hrs (GMT) Engine no3 coughed into life. It started a little reluctantly on the first attempt but cut out after about 30 seconds. The second attempt got it. You've all seen that scene from the movie "Flight of the Phoenix" where everybody's willing the engine to keep turning? It was like that. Cold aeroplane, having been sat all winter (for the last four weeks under a good amount of snow), cold trolley acc batteries, and cold us.
No4 was started next and surprised everybody by starting first attempt, no fuss, shortly followed by no1. No1 took a few attempts to start but has been diagnosed as having a magneto issue, so it did well.
Videos aren't mine, but taken by a friend, also a member of the group. The pictures are mine, I'll have a better camera with me next time!
When the crew throttled her back, I was able to board and sat happily in the Navigators position listening to the three big Rolls Royce Griffons, and all the squeaks and creaks of an old aeroplane coming alive.
All in all I had a great day. Roll on two weeks time, I'll be back for more.
Regards,
Ric
There's more than just me working on it and the aircraft isn't any one person's... but hey, it's big, has a thirst for high octane fuel and is about as retro as a big aeroplane can get. So here goes...
Shackleton WR963 is at Coventry under the care of the Shackleton Preservation Trust. Believe it or not this antique, and four others were front line RAF aircraft until 1991. When it was retired, it was the end of the Rolls Royce piston engine in RAF front line service.
Once again I skipped off work and on the 27th went to play with the it. The object of the day was to run three engines (the fourth is still awaiting propellors) and wake her from her winter slumber. We met up with the rest of the group at about 1000hrs (GMT) and quickly set to, with the tailwheel tyres being reinflated, trolley acc charged, and checking all the fuel drains.
My first job was flushing an oil tank, it's the first time I've been up on the wing. Despite the size of it, the fact the aircraft sits tail down means avoiding sliding off the trailing edge can be a tricky task, especially when you are carrying a jerry can and tools. After getting the flushing oil in, it was back down off the wing and under the beast to get it out again! The drain is in a really awkward place and pretty much guarantees the oil to either get on the underside of the aircraft, or the guy undoing the drain.
Thankfully I didn't get too much of it on me but I still stank like a U-boat captain on the way home. Then it was time to pull all the trestles, tools and other paraphenalia out the way, and retire to the cafe for a quick bacon roll. Fed and watered, it was time to wake her up. Ground power was added, the crew boarded, and no3 was selected as being the first to start as apparently it cranks the easiest.
1300hrs (GMT) Engine no3 coughed into life. It started a little reluctantly on the first attempt but cut out after about 30 seconds. The second attempt got it. You've all seen that scene from the movie "Flight of the Phoenix" where everybody's willing the engine to keep turning? It was like that. Cold aeroplane, having been sat all winter (for the last four weeks under a good amount of snow), cold trolley acc batteries, and cold us.
No4 was started next and surprised everybody by starting first attempt, no fuss, shortly followed by no1. No1 took a few attempts to start but has been diagnosed as having a magneto issue, so it did well.
Videos aren't mine, but taken by a friend, also a member of the group. The pictures are mine, I'll have a better camera with me next time!
When the crew throttled her back, I was able to board and sat happily in the Navigators position listening to the three big Rolls Royce Griffons, and all the squeaks and creaks of an old aeroplane coming alive.
All in all I had a great day. Roll on two weeks time, I'll be back for more.
Regards,
Ric