SAAF Shackletons 1970 - 2008 (Updated 13-4-13)

[comet4]

Hopefully something a little different.
The SAAF operated Shackletons from 1957 to 1984. Pictures 1 and 2 were taken by me at an airshow in Durban in 1970.
After their retirement, Shackleton 1722 continued as a display aircraft. Pictures 3 and 4 were taken at a South African airshow in 2006. The pictures were given to me by Stefaan Bouwer, an historian and author of several books on the SAAF.
I was visiting Cape Town in 2008 and was fortunate to be invited to a ceremony at Ysterplaat AFB to mark the official retirement of 1722. The airframe apparently still had some hours left but they eventually ran out of aircrew!
I was also fortunate to be allowed to tag onto the official photographer and took Pictures 5 and 6 which show the engine run and final water cannon salute.
Picture 7 shows the aircrew and SAAF Museum staff. As you can see they are not exactly spring chickens!
After the ceremony, we were allowed inside the aircraft where I took Picture 8
Graham


Picture 1


Picture 2


Picture 3


Picture 4


Picture 5


Picture 6


Picture 7


Picture 8

[NAM Updater]

Proper aeroplanes - a great set featuring one of my favourite types!

[Dragon Rapide]

What a splendid set of pictures and reminds how much we miss the old Shack. Was 1722 the last flyer in SA?

[iainpeden]

Has anyone got pictures of the one that force landed in the Sahara on its way to Fairford - I'm hazarding a guess at 1992-96 ish.

[comet4]

1722 was indeed the last airworthy Shackleton, not only in South Africa but in the world.
The only other SAAF Shackleton that remained airworthy after it's retirement in 1984 was 1716, which crashed in 1994 on it's way to Fairford. If you put "SAAF Shackleton 1716" into your search engine, you can read the full story.
Surprisingly, out of the 8 Shackleton MR.3's delivered, 4 are still existing.
1720 is gate guard at Ysterplaat AFB, Cape Town.
1721 is on display at the SAAF Museum, Swartkops, Pretoria.
1722 is usually in the SAAF Museum hangar at Ysterplaat. This hangar is on the live side of the airfield and is not readily accessible to visitors.
1723 is on top of a filling station in Soweto, Johannesburg! It was exchanged for the Vickers Viking that was there previously.
Graham

[24left]

I took this at Ysterplaat but it is 1717. There is a good DVD about that ditching in the Sahara also.

[comet4]

Hi 24left,
You are correct in stating that the Shackleton at Ysterplaat is serialled 1717, however there is a bit of a story here.
The original 1717 was on display at Midmar Dam in Natal but was eventually removed and broken up. For some reason the SAAF has painted 1720 to look like 1717 when it was delivered in 1957. You will notice the old Springbok roundels instead of the later castle roundels. I'm sure there must be a reason for changing the serial but I don't know what it is.
Graham

[24left]

Ive never understood why people change serials. Imagine if Bravo November the Chinook got written off. Why would someone ever want to paint up another one in that colour/scheme/serial (which no doubt come Duxford/Hendon time they would)?!! Its either the real thing or its nothing. A bit like one of the Canberras at Coventry I think painted up in some other one's scheme, I may be wrong but I recall something along those lines, don't understand it.

[st24]

Lovley stuff, nearly 20 years on I'm still in mourning over the loss of 1716.....

[jwarnerxh558]

Has anyone got pictures of the one that force landed in the Sahara on its way to Fairford - I'm hazarding a guess at 1992-96 ish.

im pretty sure it was 1994

[DeanW]

Fascinating images. Would love to see the Coventry Shack in the air!

[24left]

Up to date video of it recently

http://www.askexpertdoctor.com/blog/news/981/

http://www.saairforce.co.za/forum/viewt ... f=2&t=1255

Video available to buy

http://www.saairforce.co.za/reviews/28/ ... 6-videodvd

http://www.aviationshop.co.za/functions ... oduct=3327

[comet4]

A quick update of this thread. Shackleton 1720 - painted as 1717 - which was on static display in front of the NCO's mess at Ysterplaat AFB in Cape Town for many years, was sadly broken up on 12th March 2013.

Speculation has it that it was due to corrosion - it had been considered a safety hazard

Below is a picture of 1720 in happier times

[Blackbird]

I was there in February and didn't realise it was about to disappear! I got luckier than I realised!


I have to say I found the museum very disappointing. The very helpful chap told me I would have been able to see the other exhibits if I came on a Saturday - but there was nothing to say that on their website - and I was going to be a couple of hundred miles away.... and I was there on a Friday !!

C'est la vie

Andy

[comet4]

I have to say I found the museum very disappointing. The very helpful chap told me I would have been able to see the other exhibits if I came on a Saturday - but there was nothing to say that on their website - and I was going to be a couple of hundred miles away.... and I was there on a Friday !!

C'est la vie

Andy

Andy is quite correct - the museum at Ysterplaat is a bit disappointing with only the Ventura, Alouette, Vampire and Impala I on display. Unfortunately, the rest of the aircraft collection is on the operational side of the base and is not readily accessible to the public. Over the years, I've got to know the curator and he usually takes me live side if I am visiting Cape Town. Last time I visited, in 2011, the following aircraft were available for me to view - Mirage F1, Sikorsky S.55, Sabre, Impala I, Wasp, Mirage III, Harvard, Frelon, Albatross (Piaggio 166), Shackleton 1722. Also there was the "coelacanth Dakata" (which was the aircraft that brought the first coelacanth - a prehistoric fish) back to South Africa in 1938.
As well as the main museum at Swartkop, near Pretoria, there is also a nice branch of the SAAf Museum at Port Elizabeth where they have been restoring the ex RAF Museum Oxford which was exchanged for a Ventura.
It probably pays when visiting foreign countries to contact the museums before you travel.

Graham

[King Cobra]

Some nice pics of a great aircraft. Thanks for sharing.