Avro Shackleton Mk3

The Avro Shackleton was a British long-range maritime patrol aircraft for use by the Royal Air Force. It was developed by Avro from the Avro... more

by Ted Denyer

Title

Avro Shackleton Mk3

Artist

Ted Denyer

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

The Avro Shackleton was a British long-range maritime patrol aircraft for use by the Royal Air Force. It was developed by Avro from the Avro Lincoln bomber with a new fuselage. It was originally used primarily in the anti-submarine warfare, and maritime patrol aircraft roles, and was later adapted for airborne early warning (AEW), search and rescue and other roles from 1951 until 1990. The type is named after the polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. All marks suffered from using the Griffon engines, thirsty for fuel and oil, noisy and temperamental with high-maintenance needs. In 1961 Mk.2￿s engines needed top overhauls every 400 hours and went through a spate of ejecting spark plugs from their cylinder heads. It was not unusual to see an engine being changed every day in a unit of 6 aircraft. The Mk.3 was another redesign from the Mk.2 in response to crew complaints. A new tricycle undercarriage was introduced, the fuselage was increased in all main dimensions and had new wings with better ailerons and tip tanks. As a sweetener to the crews, on fourteen hour flights the sound deadening was improved and a proper galley and sleeping space were included.
Max. Speed: 300mph. (480 km/h)
Max. Endurance Time: 14.6 hrs.
Armament: Guns: Twin 20 mm Hispano cannon in the nose .
Bombs: 10,000 lb of bombs, torpedoes, or mines
I flew in these in the 60￿s ￿ Could be boring but a fun aeroplane at times!
This example at The Imperial War Museum, Duxford. U.K.

Uploaded

February 18th, 2014