Avro Shackleton AEW.2
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A fabulous aircraft to be found at the MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) museum in Manchester is the Avro Shackleton. It is huge and can´t really be seen in its full as museum space is a bit cramped and lots of other aircraft are spread out around it. In a way you get a little bit too close to it to actually see how big it is. The lineage to the famous Lancaster can clearly be seen in its twin fins and tail wheel although the rest breathes Lancaster but in a more updated form, most notably counter rotating propellers turned by massive Griffon 58s and an updated front section. The over all dark grey scheme is very attractive to my eyes and the typical British colours for roundels and warning signs adds a bit of extra make up to this old lady. This particular aircraft was built by Avro in 1954 as a MR.2 serving in the maritime reconnaissance role and later converted to AEW.2 configuration in 1972. The last Shackletons were retired in 1991. Looking at the rivets make me think of an old Airfix model. If you think rivet lines need to be straight and level, have a look at the last photo and think again.
21 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Craig Abrahamson said on May 5, 2018
Beautiful pics, Stellan…thanks for sharin’ ’em with us.
Stellan Schroeder Englund said on May 6, 2018
Thanks, Craig. Hope they are useful in some way.
neil foster said on May 6, 2018
Yeah ,like craig said, I probably visit this place a couple of times a year and have never posted any pics, I feel a bit selfish now a visitor to my country has beaten me to it !! , thanks for posting them Stellan. Did you get any of Tim Peakes Soyuz return capsule ?
N.
Stellan Schroeder Englund said on May 6, 2018
It is easy to be a bit slack when you have a museum like this on your doorstep. No worries. Got some photos of the return capsule, I´ll get back to that in a while. Snug little thing that burned bit of space history. Thanks for checking in, Neil.
Stellan Schroeder Englund said on May 15, 2018
Neil, looking through my photos from a couple of weeks back I remember why I never took more photos of the Soyuz capsule…I had to battle my way through thousands of school children and by the time I had a moment of my own in front of the little sphere I was exhausted. As I had some time over today I thought why not go back to MOSI and get what I missed last time. Capsule gone. Shipped off a couple of days ago to Edinburgh… Lesson learned from this is never put up your reference photography to a “next time”. Adding the two photos I did get two weeks ago. Small it is this thing
2 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Greg Kittinger said on May 6, 2018
nice reference pics – thanks!
Stellan Schroeder Englund said on May 6, 2018
You planning to build one? Revell got one AEW and Airfix got MR and AEW in their catalouges. Airfix even got the specific markings for the one you see in my little walkaround. Pleased you are happy with the photos, Greg!
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on May 6, 2018
Stellan, thanks for posting this. I doubt I’ll ever get to see one in the metal. Nice preservation! Rivets! Someone described this as thousands of rivets flying in close formation.
Stellan Schroeder Englund said on May 6, 2018
You are most welcome, Bernard. Yes, some got the rivets right on models, some are just awful and really all over the place although there are almost none to be seen on the original.
Robert Royes said on May 6, 2018
Nice photos, thanks for sharing. A large aircraft.
Stellan Schroeder Englund said on May 6, 2018
Glad you like them. I´ll see if I can find one showing more of it at a time.
Jeff Bailey said on May 10, 2018
Great photos! Thanks!
Stellan Schroeder Englund said on May 10, 2018
You are welcome, hope you can use them for some inspiration.