Avro Shackleton.
The Royal Air Force Avro Shackleton, a descendent of the Avro
Lancaster, was used as for Anti Submarine, maritime patrol and search and
rescue duties. Aviation art prints of the Avro Shackleton by leading aviation artist Ivan
Berryman, Gerald Coulson and Geoff Lea available from aviation prints.co.uk.
The first prototype flew on 9th March
1949. The Shackleton was a development of the famous Avro Lancaster
Bomber. and the Shackleton was designed for use for coastal Command. The
First RAF squadrons to be equipped with the aircraft were NO. 120 squadron
at Kinloss in 1951 followed by another 7 squadrons by 1953. The MR2 mark aircrafts
began replacing the mK1's in 1954.. These aircraft saw long service with
the last MR3 being retired in 1971 but a Airborne early warning
variant joined no 8 squadron in January 1972.
Crew: six to ten. Speed: 302
mph. range: 4215 at 200 mph at 1500 feet. Service ceiling
19,200 feet. Armament: two 20mm Hispano cannon in nose, two 20mm
Hispano cannon in B.17 dorsal turret. Two .50in machine guns in tail
End of an Era by Gerald Coulson Entering service in 1951, the Shackleton has been seen worldwide
performing anti-submarine and search and rescue duties prior to the
installation of the radar necessary for the airborne early warning role in
1972 wit No.8 squadron. Phased out during1991, and superseded by the Boeing E-3 Sentries
(AWACS),
only six remain and are still called upon to assist for search and rescue
sorties and the dubious honour of operating in the conditions depicted in
this painting. After forty years of sterling service the Shackleton
deserves a tribute.
Bowing Out (Shackleton) by Ivan Berryman The remarkable Avro Shackleton provided the RAF with stalwart service
for no less than 43 years. These charming giants lumbering into the
1990's and into the hearts of literally thousands of servicemen, ex-servicemen
and enthusiasts alike before finally signing off in July 1991. This
is AEW.2 WL757 "Brian" based at Lossiemouth. The last RAF
unit to operate the Shackleton before its replacement with the long
overdue Boeing Sentry AEW. An appealing and emotive painting of one
of British aviation's most charismatic aeroplanes.
