Change in aircraft ownership announced

[NAM Updater]

The museum has just issued a joint news release that outlines some nice pre-Christmas news about the ownership of Avro Shackleton WR977 & Avro Vulcan XM594; the following text has also just been posted on the on the museum website.

I thought it worthy of a separate thread!

Joint Newark Air Museum & Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association News Release

Pre-Christmas News For Newark Air Museum

An agreement has been reached between Newark Air Museum (NAM) and the Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association (LLA), that has resulted in the ownership of the Avro Shackleton, WR977 and the Avro Vulcan, XM594 being immediately transferred to NAM.

Both aircraft have been on long-term loan at the NAM site in eastern Nottinghamshire since they were first acquired; back in 1977 for the Shackleton and 1983 for the Vulcan. In recent years the LLA has been the owner of both aircraft and they have provided financial support for recent restoration and repainting work on both aircraft.

The legal papers pertaining to these transfers were signed on December 15th, 2021, thereby helping to secure the long-term future of these two hugely popular exhibits at NAM. An official handover ceremony will be hosted at the museum in early 2022. Conservation surveys have been carried out on both aircraft and the museum volunteers will be undertaking major restoration work on both of their ‘new exhibits’ in the coming months.

Speaking on behalf of NAM, museum trustee, Howard Heeley commented, “Everyone at the museum is extremely grateful to the Chairman and the Committee of the Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association, who have generously agreed to the legal ownership of these aircraft being transferred to us.”

“The Shackleton and Vulcan are both special aircraft, which museum members helped to save back in 1977 and 1983 respectively. We are really honoured to now have sole responsibility for their future care.”

He concluded, “Whilst we have some significant challenges ahead with regards to safeguarding these aircraft, we are sure that both the museum members and the general public will help us look after these aircraft for the benefit of future generations.”

Ray Bainborough, Chairman of the Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association, said, “I am delighted that the Newark Air Museum is taking over the ownership of these two historic aircraft. It has been a privilege for the LLA to have been their owners over the past years, but the time has come for the museum to be both the location for the Shackleton and the Vulcan, and also the legal owner of the two aircraft. This makes sense from a practical point of view and will better ensure the two aircraft continue to be preserved in the years ahead.”

Summary:
Although there is a change of ownership of the Shackleton and Vulcan, from the LLA to the NAM, visitors to the museum will not notice any changes as the two aircraft will remain at their current location.

15th December 2021

Ends 414 words

Notes to Editors
Shackleton WR977
This aircraft was saved from being scrapped at RAF Finningley in the spring of 1977, having been purchased by Stuart Stephenson, MBE, former chairman of the Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association. Thanks to a frantic six-week effort by museum volunteers, to dismantle the aircraft and move it by road to Newark. This remains the largest ever dismantling and move project ever undertaken by the museum in more than fifty years.

Vulcan XM594
Vulcan XM594 was purchased by Stuart Stephenson, MBE, former chairman of the Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association, when it was retired from RAF service in early 1983.
When the Royal Air Force disposed of most of their Vulcan aircraft in 1982/3, XM594 was the only airframe to be flown into a non-licensed airfield. When XM594 touched down at 1315 hours, on Monday 7th February 1983, it became the largest aircraft ever to land on the concrete runways at ex RAF Winthorpe.

[FarnboroJohn]

Good news. Well done!

[NAM Updater]

Thank you, as you might expect everyone at the museum is really pleased!

[NAM Updater]

Things are now starting to move ahead with a project being agreed with a local contractor to install concrete jacking plinths for Shackleton WR977.

Separately, work is also in hand to get Shackleton Mk.3 jacking pads fabricated for use on a major restoration project on this particular aircraft!

More news expected on the Vulcan restoration work in the coming weeks.

[Blackbird]

Great news! Very well done

[NAM Updater]

Thank you, we're all still quite please; and now we're gearing up to even more hard work on the restoration side associated with both aircraft.

[richw_82]

Separately, work is also in hand to get Shackleton Mk.3 jacking pads fabricated for use on a major restoration project on this particular aircraft!

Do you still want to borrow the GA drawing of the jacking pads I found out, or have you found an original to copy?

[NAM Updater]

Access to the GA drawing for. Mk.3 jacking pad would be a huge help - current design has involved a lot of wood whittling!

[richw_82]

No problem.

I can't get across before xmas, as things are a bit hectic - when do you re-open in New Year?

[Tommy]

Congratulations to you and the NAM team, Howard!

[NAM Updater]

Rich, the details of our opening times around Christmas can be found in here http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/Xmas_Opening_2021 but I am more than happy to come over to pick them up from you.

Thanks for the comment Tommy, it was certainly nice to get everything in place before Christmas.

[NAM Updater]

Thank you to Rich and the Shackleton Group at Coventry for the loan of the Avro Shackleton Mk.3 jacking pad drawing to assist with the restoration work on WR977 - I collected them for the museum this morning.

[richw_82]

Always a pleasure to assist our friends! As promised, if we find any more relevant drawings while we're going through them, we'll make sure they find their way over to help with WR977.

[NAM Updater]

Thanks again Rich.

Judging by the reaction this morning from one of the people working on the project the drawing is likely to provide a good deal of beneficial structural information to the project, which until now was unknown - a real Christmas bonus for the WR977 restoration project!

[VRT Southend Vulcan]

Welcome to the ‘Vulcan Owners’ Club’!

Rich

[NAM Updater]

I love that welcome Rich, which I will share with everyone at Newark.

That said, not many can say that they got a Shackleton as part of the deal as well!

Season's greetings to you all down there!!

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/Shackleton-Vulcan-21