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Fighter / Attack:
   Bell P-39 Airacobra
   Bell P-63 Kingcobra
   Brewster Buffalo
   Chance-Vought F-4U Corsair
   Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
   Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
   Douglas A-1 Skyraider
   Douglas A-26 Invader
   Douglas SBD Dauntless
   Fairey Firefly
   Focke-Wulf Fw 190
   Grumman F4F Wildcat
   Grumman F6F Hellcat
   Grumman F7F Tigercat
   Grumman F8F Bearcat
   Grumman TBF Avenger
   Hawker Hurricane
   Hawker Sea Fury
   Lockheed P-38 Lightning
   Messerschmitt Bf-109
   Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen
   North American P-51 Mustang

   Polikarpov I-16
   Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
   Supermarine Spitfire
   Yakovlev Yak-3
   Yakovlev Yak-9


Trainers:
  
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan (C-45)
   Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
   Boeing / Stearman PT-17

   Commonwealth CA-25 Winjeel
   Commonwealth CA-1 Wirraway
   DeHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk
   DeHavilland DH-82 Tiger Moth
   Fairchild PT-19 Cornell
   Hunting / Percival Provost
   Meyers OTW
   Nanchang CJ-6
   Naval Aircraft Factory N3N
   N. Am. BT-9 / BT-14 / Yale
   N. Am. T-6 Texan / SNJ / Harvard
   N. American T-28 Trojan

   Piaggio P149
   Ryan PT-22 Recruit

   Scottish Aviation T1 Bulldog
   Vultee BT-13 Valiant
   Yakovlev Yak-11
   Yakovlev Yak-18
   Yakovlev Yak-52


Bombers:
   Avro Lancaster
   Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
   Boeing B-29 Superfortress
   Bristol Blenheim / Bolingbroke
   Consolidated B-24 Liberator
   Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

   Douglas A-3 Skywarrior
   DeHavilland Mosquito
   Fairey Swordfish
   Heinkel He-111 / Casa 2.111

   Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon / Ventura
   Martin B-26 Marauder
   North American B-25 Mitchell


Transports:
   Beechcraft C-45 (AT-11)

   Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter (KC-97)
   Curtiss C-46 Commando
   Douglas C-47 Skytrain / Dakota
   Douglas C-54 Skymaster

   Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
   Fairchild C-123 Provider
   Grumman C-1 Trader (S-2)
   Lockheed C-60 Lodestar
   Lockheed C-69 Constellation


Utility / Observation / Special Duty:
   Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper
   Aeronca L-16 Grasshopper
   Antonov AN-2 Colt
   Auster AOP 6/9
   Avro 652 Anson
   Avro Shackleton
   British Taylorcraft I-V
   Cessna L-19 / O-1 Bird Dog
   Cessna O-2 Super Skymaster
   Cessna T-50 / UC-78 Bobcat
   Consolidated PBY Catalina

   DeHavilland U-6A / L-20 Beaver
   Fairey Gannet
   Fairey Swordfish
   Fieseler Fi156 Storch
   Grumman S-2 Tracker (C-1)
   Grumman HU-16 Albatross
   Grumman OV-1 Mohawk
   Junkers Ju 52/3m

   Lockheed P2V Neptune
   Max Holste M.H.1521 Broussard
   Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun

   Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman
   North American L-17 Navion
   N. Am./ Rockwell OV-10 Bronco
   Piper L-4 Grasshopper
   Stinson L-5 Sentinel
   Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper
   Westland Lysander


Jets:
   Aero L-29 Delfin
   Aero L-39 Albatros
   Aermacchi MB-326
   Avro Vulcan
   BAC Strikemaster
   Blackburn (BAC) Buccaneer
   Canadair Tutor
   Cessna A-37 Dragonfly
   DeHavilland Vampire
   DeHavilland Venom
   English Electric Canberra
   English Electric Lightning
   Folland Gnat
   Fouga CM-170 Magister
   Gloster Meteor
   Grumman F9F Panther
   Hawker Hunter
   Hispano HA-200 Saeta
   Hunting Jet Provost
   Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
   Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
   McDonnell-Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
   McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom
   Messerschmitt Me-262
   Mikoyan MiG-15
   Mikoyan MiG-17
   Mikoyan MiG-21
   N. Am. F-86 Sabre / FJ-4 Fury
   N. Am. F-100 Super Sabre
   N. Am. / Rockwell T-2 Buckeye
   Northrop T-38 Talon / F-5
   PZL / WSK TS-11 Iskra
   Saab J35 Draken
   Soko G-2A Galeb
   Temco Pinto & Super Pinto


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Avro Shackleton

(Variants/Other Names: See History below)


Avro Shackleton
One of the last two airworthy Shackletons, an AEW.2 WL790 (N790WL) named "Mr. McHenry," was owned by Air Atlantique and The Shackleton Preservation Trust, and was hosted by the Commemorative Air Force in the USA into the mid-2000s. (Image by Max Haynes - MaxAir2Air.com.)
 

History: Designed and built as the RAF’s first dedicated four-engine long-range maritime patrol aircraft, the Avro Shackleton was the final expression of Avro’s classic heavy bombers, the Lancaster and Lincoln. Retaining the wing and landing gear of the Lincoln, the Shackleton had a larger, rounder and shorter fuselage, which provided space for a crew of 10. Armament included two 20mm cannon in the nose, two in a dorsal turret, and two machine guns in the tail plus bombs or depth charges, depending on the mission.

Entering service in 1951, the plane underwent two primary modifications over the years. The MR.2 gained a semi-retractable ‘dustbin’ radome, allowing a 360-degree scan as well as changes allowing the plane to fly with three engines feathered. The Shackleton MR.3 added greater overall capabilities with improved ailerons, wing tip tanks and better crew quarters. By the late 1960’s the Shackleton was being replaced by the Nimrod jet patrol aircraft. However, this grand dame was not finished yet.

Responding to the loss of Airborne Early Warning (AEW) capability with the demise of the Royal Navy’s carriers, twelve Shackletons were pressed into service as AEW.2 aircraft in 1971. The radome was replaced by a ‘guppy’ radar unit forward of the weapons bay, and many internal changes were made to accommodate the electronic gear and radar operators. From 1974 to 1991, the Shackleton AEW.2 flew missions over the North Sea, Arctic Ocean and western Atlantic until relieved by the Boeing E-3D Sentry.

A single Shackleton (Pelican 22) is operated in South Africa as a part of the SAAF "Historic Flight."

Another Shackleton, "WR963," is based at Coventry Airfield in the UK, and is undergoing a refurbishment program which should make it airworthy again in the future. For now, WR963 makes regular engine runs and taxi runs, and is available for tours.

Nicknames: Shack; The Growler; Flying Spark Plug; Old Grey Lady; Shacklebomber; Contra-Rotating Nissen Hut; Bear-Hunter.

Specifications (MR.3):
        Engine: Four 2,455-hp Rolls-Royce Griffon 57A V-12 piston engines (Later versions also had two 2,500-pound thrust Rolls-Royce Viper 203 turbojets)
        Weight: Empty 57,800 lbs., Max Takeoff 98,000 lbs.
        Wing Span: 119ft. 10in.
        Length: 92ft. 6in.
        Height: 23ft. 4in.
        Performance:
            Maximum Speed: 302 mph
            Ceiling: 19,200 ft.
            Range: 3,660 miles
        Armament:
            Two 20-mm cannon in nose
            Up to 10,000 pounds of weapons in under-fuselage bomb bay

Number Built: ~188

Number Still Airworthy: One

Links:
Cornish Aviation Society
The Shackleton Association
The Shackleton Project
Shackleton WL795, RAF St. Mawgan, UK -- Interior and restoration photos.
Shackleton WR963, Coventry, UK

 

 



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