I was an RAF airframe fitter during the cold war and had the privilege of working on the 'Shack' for a small period. Sadly never on the Mk3's only the 8 Squadron Mk2's (tail draggers). I never forget watching them go out on certain ops. We would all come out of the ops building and watch them do their 'mag drops' at the end of the runway what a SUPERB noise ( I imagine somehow akin to Lancaster's taking off on missions! The ROAR of the 4 Griffons early in the misty mornings on the threshold was OUTSTANDING. We always fondly thought of the neighbour's getting woken up so early! At 23:23 'during the day' we were forbidden to mention certain items in the aircraft to ANYONE that didnt 'need to know' - the Orange Harvest, (to most people the 'GIANT SPARK PLUG' on the fuselage roof! One hazard for groundcrew was the contra rotating props. We were trained to marshal these aircraft m(waving ping pong bats as most call it) before being allowed out to do it alone as they can be mesmerizing and there was a incident of one chap walking into the props many moons ago. We were told that 'Shack flight engineers were all deaf in their right ear' from the constant roar of 2 engines 10 feet from their right ear. Even with bone domes on you can still hear this. I still have all my flight kit (which I use for private flying these days). These were ANALOG sure but in a nuke conflict EMP couldn't wipe out all your instruments! Such a shame at least ONE cant be returned to FLIGHT CONDITION for displays or the youngsters will never even KNOW about this valuable asset to the RAF until Nimrod took over. I know there are companies in the UK who can do this as they are returning a THIRD Lancaster to airworthiness. Had the honour of seeing TWO flying in the UK at Farnborough and elsewhere. Oh yes and the 'in flight thunderbucket' at the back isnt good to use in turbulence...............I'll leave your imaginations to that! It was know the pilot would sometimes throw the aircraft around to keep users alert. 🤨 At the end he briefly shows the 'tail gunner' position (rear observer) and I went up on several sorties and have laid down on the mattress that used to be at the back , superb view!. We all owe a great debt to these crews keeping the UK safe - sadly now it may all possibly go pear shaped at any time with that despot in Moscow, having his eyes on world domination. GREAT VIDEO.

May I add a little. WR977 figures prominently in my log book. I flew on Shackletons on 201 Sqdn from late 1961 to Jan 1965 and many hours were on WR977. The normal crew of ten was two pilots, two navigators, an engineer, then typically one AEoP and four signallers. As a signaller and later an AEoP ( Air electronics) I could be very busy or very idle. During long transit trips the galley would test our cuisinery skills, we had great rations. The wireless op' would read all the checks, pre-taxi, pre flight/take off/joining/landing etc with a question and response from the pilot. On operational exercises out of VHF range a wireless op could send position reports of shipping in a "what, where, whither, when" format using info given by the navigator. Coded weather info from and to the aircraft could also be exchanged. Operational sorties could require receipt only of hourly coded broadcasts from Coastal Command HQ and we had occasional practice with a KL7 machine, quite secret at the time and in the bag was an axe to smash it up if required! It was a big sin to miss a broadcast. The drum settings for the KL7 machine were changed and broadcast. Without them the KL7 was useless. A trailing aerial could be wound out for reception of the lower frequencies. Once "on task" was called everything needed got manned. Radar, sonics, Orange Harvest(an S and X band radar detector), the beam positions for flares, smoke floats, camera and lookouts could be busy. If anyone saw anything "mark mark" would be shouted and out went a smoke float from the beam shute. If depth charges or other hardware was dropped from the bomb bay the tail got manned for a visual results assessment. A 50/50 zero line error report would be full marks for two depth charges(dropped from 100ft) straddling a submarine, 'the "nut cracker" effect! On long trips in the tropics the nearby Elsan toilet was not helpful. At the nose of the aircraft a signaller would man the 20mm guns but I only saw them fitted once. Practice would entail dropping a smoke float and trying to hit it with short bursts. The noise and vibration was substantial. The siggy on the key was more than useful in event of emergencies, ditching etc and HF communication was always maintained on long trips albeit sometimes with difficulty. The most rewarding trips were SAR for which a crew was permanently on standby. We aimed to get airborne within ten minutes in daytime and 20 mins at night. Much ground crew cooperation enabled such a feat. It was fairly common as soon as wheels were up that the many smokers lit up the cigarettes or pipes. A thick fug soon developed. "Fags out" was in the checks at pre-joining. Ten hour trips were common, my longest was just over eighteen hours.

@Aircrewinterview

6 жыл бұрын

A great read, cheers for the info David.

@sconniepanda5835

6 жыл бұрын

I knew an RAF policeman with the same name as you

@davidwardley9774

6 жыл бұрын

Darn it, and I thought I was unique...:-))

@kennyhenderson3415

6 жыл бұрын

My dad was flight engineer on this shack

@jiva1955

2 жыл бұрын

777

No bullshit. No hype. No exaggeration, in fact just the opposite. Who better to give a guided tour of an aircraft than a man who actually piloted one.

@JohnSmith-pd1fz

3 жыл бұрын

@Kingsley Andrew Well hooray for you.

@JohnSmith-pd1fz

3 жыл бұрын

@Marco Roy Well hooray for you too.

When I was a schoolboy in the mid 1950s the most impressive feat of aviation I had ever seen was a low level fly-past of a Shackleton at the Farnborough air show with three of its four powerplants turned off, and it went 100% safely.

Great to get a tour from someone who was operational on a Shackleton. £1 for a tour, now that's great value.

Excellent, I haven't seen WR977 for a long long time. My father was a Flight Engineer on this aircraft whilst in No.42 Squadron in the mid to late 60's, and later on Nimrods with 120 Sq at Kinloss. I still have his logbook. It would have been at St Mawgan as I was born at St Eval and he was flying WR the month before I was born!! I believe, as a family we helped with assisting making WR977 open to the public as it was relatively local to us in Lincs. I once met some of the flight crew whilst visiting following his death in the early 90's. I was sitting in the Flight Eng's seat as a daft young 20 something and the pilot and co pilot seats were occupied by two gentlemen who knew Flt L George Hosie. It was a heart warming moment and we had an excellent chat. It brings a lump to my throat seeing this, but also a huge sense of pride. I know that my Mother strove to help out Newark as much as possible in the following years. Anyway thanks again, the only thing missing is the roar of the Griffins !!!!

@robinindevon

3 жыл бұрын

Yes great to se where our fathers did their day job. My father was also a Flight Engineer at St Mawgan in the late 50's (I was born in the Merrymoor Inn at Mawgan Porth) and then at Kinloss and Wildenwraath. He went on to Beverleys in Transport Command afterwards and then into civvi stret with British Caledonian, 707's and DC10's.

Lovely chatting to you today in the Shackleton. Many thanks!

That was brilliant, a nice down to earth guy too, thank you ☺

@Aircrewinterview

6 жыл бұрын

You're welcome :)

Good old WR977. I was a member of Newark Aircraft Museum many moons ago. One weekend when we had an event on me and a few of the other members had more than a drink or two in the gliding club. I was going to sleep in my car (a MK2 Escort so that should tell you how long ago this was) one of the guys said they were using the bunks in the Shackleton, did i want to use the rear observers couch. I thought it was a great idea. I soon regretted it. IT WAS FREEZING. it was the coldest most uncomfortable night I have ever had. Still, it was a great weekend and I certainly enjoyed my time at the museum.

As an ex commercial pilot may I say how much I the presentation, thank you Brian. It is really interesting to hear from someone who actually spent time on the aircraft. Thank you

Great tour! Fond memories of this machine visiting Andøya Air Base in the Norwegian Arctic in the 1990s!

THnk u for your good will to share with us, those knowledges!

Excellent video- many thanks.

Great video, fascinating and such such a good walkthrough!

A brilliant look round the Shackleton, thank you! I remember as a young boy in 1962 flying from Heathrow to St Mawgan in Cornwall and of course we landed near to where the Shackleton were based on the other side of the airfield. I can't remember if I saw any at that time but we were staying in Newquay and we would regularly see the Shackleton's flying over very close to our holiday place. For an eight year old aircraft mad son of a former RAF Sergeant I was in heaven!

great video Brian and respect to your training and your memory.

Amazing detailed presentation of this marvelous aircraft. thanks Brian !

Excellent video. Seen this aircraft many times at Newark Air Museum.

Very informative presentation. That's about everything someone needs to know about the Shackleton.

This was great, one of the best I've seen so far - keep up the great work:)

@Aircrewinterview

6 жыл бұрын

Cheers :)

Gem of a video, great narration. Thanks for posting.

@Aircrewinterview

6 жыл бұрын

You're welcome.

I think I might have met this chap a few weeks ago when I took my Grandson to the Museum? We were very lucky as on that day there was a former RAF Pilot in both the Shackleton and the Vulcan and it was a privilege to have met them both. They were so knowledgeable and happy to share experiences and answer questions, we were both very impressed. If it was Mr Withers (I apologise as we did not swap names) but if it was, thank you, as I say a privilege Sir, and yes an honour too.

@Aircrewinterview

Жыл бұрын

Nice one.

Excellent,thanks guys

Excellent - thank you

Nice! I remember the sync indicators from a Viscount that once flew us to Danmark and we were allowed and invited to visit the cockpit.

I used to watch the Shack fly out and over Elgin during the 70's, it was beautiful to my young eyes, and sounded amazing.

I had a tour of the Shack with Brian in 2017, my mate was with me and his brother flew the Shackleton. Brian had heard his name but they'd never actually met.

Fantastic stuff, thanks for making it. Subscribed!

@Aircrewinterview

7 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated.

I absolutely love the flight deck !!

I would have never guessed that it that that much in it by looking at it from the outside. Very interesting video.

The part about the radioactive compass was funny. "I sat this far away for 2000 hours. I don't think 5 min will hurt unless they actually eat the thing."😂😂

What an excellent video, thank you! Subscribed. :-)

Thanks so much for not plastering 'music' and irritating distracting sound effects across everything. Thankyou.

the aircraft is soo beautifully built that the cockpit is very easy to navigate,

“The Blue Silk radar”. Has a nice ring to it. Gotta love those Rainbow codes.

great videos and content from one aircraft lover to another i really appreciate your videos very informative gibe you a perspective you cant get from a book in some cases keep up the good work thanks

@Aircrewinterview

6 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated and it’s always gratifying when the viewer enjoys the time and effort you spent into creating them.

@thedude69692009

6 жыл бұрын

I certainly do appreciate it thanks again

@wernerlubbe482

2 жыл бұрын

@@Aircrewinterview Thank you very much and very informative

Nice tour! SP-2H and P-3B Navigator and Tactical Navigator, U.S. Navy ret.

@orionfixr7713

5 жыл бұрын

My first day on a flight line my partner and I were assigned the task of wiping down the port side engine cowl on a SP2 from an engine oil leak. Our aircraft when I mustered out 6 years later was the P-3 Orion . Ahhhhh, …..memories. Thank you for your service .

I remember these aircraft whilst stationed at RAF Lossiemouth. They would fly over daily with their exhausts glowing red hot and that beautiful hum of the engines. Fond memories of 8 Squadron and bygone era. Always sad when a squadron stands down.

Fantastic! Thank you!

@Aircrewinterview

6 жыл бұрын

+David Andrews you’re welcome, David.

I might have flown with Brian. I was an Air Cadet and flew a dozen flights with Shackleton T4's at Kinloss MOTU 1963 -65. Then another dozen or so flights with 120, 201 and 206 sqns. Some of the names I remember, are W/Cdr Bates a student on MOTU...S/Ldr? Kinch...Wimble...King...Mannings...Perry...Smith...Ashworth...Taylor...and a Nav on 206 called 'Taff' Phillips. I also flew in a Navy Tiger Moth at Lossiemouth...and the pilot was a Shack pilot on 120 at Kinloss, called Dave Inness...a very nice man. Great 'Griffon' days...oh!...and Gypsy Major ones as well.

@andychappell8344

Ай бұрын

Had one memorable flight as an Air Cadet with 120 Sqn. at Aldergrove in mid 1950s. We were doing a/s runs over Lough Neagh. Andy Chappell

Great video,thanks

@Aircrewinterview

7 жыл бұрын

Cheers Simon.

Ive been in this aircraft at Newark absolutely wonderful smell...a mixture of leather....fuel.....elecric wiring and bakelite...

Really interesting video what a great guy.

@Aircrewinterview

6 жыл бұрын

Paul V a very knowledgable bloke.

True gent is Brian, Keen ornithologist is Brian, When at RAF Wyton Brian was OI/C the RAF Wyton Ornithologist Club and I was the secretary. After leaving the RAF I worked for sometime with one of Brian’s sons in Cambridgeshire.

32:00 - "The reason why the Coastal Command was also known as Eating Command" - First class British humor for you :D

OUTSTANDING!!!!!

It was said somewhere that Shackletons were to have been soundproofed but never were, so that the crews had to put up with the din of the Griffon engines (and they were noisy: maroon-painted Fairey Fireflies (converted to target-drone spec.) would fly over my area from the local airport in the late '50s and they made a racket).

Authentic turbulence effect 😮

Another cracking video! I'm sure I've met Brian, I've had a guided tour in that Shackleton and I'm positive it was him, a nice bloke 👍

@Aircrewinterview

6 жыл бұрын

lab rat Cheers. He is indeed and I believe he does the tours on a regular basis.

@distortedreality4603

6 жыл бұрын

Aircrew Interview Were you at the Scampton air show yesterday? I thought I saw you having a pint outside the bar, I wasn't 100% sure it was you otherwise I would have said hello

@Aircrewinterview

6 жыл бұрын

lab rat that I was indeed so it probably was. Hopefully at the next event you can come by and say hello.

@distortedreality4603

6 жыл бұрын

Aircrew Interview I certainly will, I said to my wife i thought it was you, she said go and say hello, next time I'll have a pint with you lol

@Aircrewinterview

6 жыл бұрын

lab rat sounds good to me!

05:20 “best not to get them mixed up” 😂😂😂 Also, ash trays on the control columns, leather seats... How civilised! Wonder where the cognac was kept?

@benwilson6145

4 жыл бұрын

Never cognac on a Lossiemouth based aircraft, must be a nice Malt, maybe from Speyside.

@stephensmith4480

4 жыл бұрын

@@benwilson6145 Along with a fine Cigar. A truly interesting well presented piece of our history.

Have we got the video of the outside tour he talks about?

thanks for sharing

@Aircrewinterview

7 жыл бұрын

you're welcome.

Amazing!

@Aircrewinterview

6 жыл бұрын

Cheers!

I bet he'd like to fuel her up and go. We followed one into Leuchars the one time I landed there in XX105. I was in the experimental observer station so I only saw her through the window as we overshot the glideslope. Be nice, it was a work in progress and the first to provide a modern glass cockpit experience for navigation.

Would love to know more about this aircraft is this fella still about who flew this?

My good friend Tony Withers was a Nav on Shacks, from about 68 I think. Same surname, did you know him?

Great video. Just a pity that there are so many ads. Constantly interrupted by ads.

Shackleton Flyer down For any who recall Jim Barr from Bedfordshire He's with us no more

What a thoroughly lovely man Brian is. I winced when he hit his head.

@AdamHWarren

5 жыл бұрын

It's reassuring to have had cold-war countermeasures in the hands, among others, of such a congenial gentleman.

My dad did his national service and said he flew in these on maritime patrol. Sadly he passed away last year. My father never really told me anything about his past, that generation have a bad habit of not talking about their personal history.

Hugely frustrating to be constantly interrupted by ads.,

My great grandfather used to be the radio operator

Is it me,or did he seem a bit uncomfortable talking about the nuclear weapons handling features of the aircraft?

What was the alternative name for a Shack? Something like 100 thousand rivets flying in close formation. I flew sometimes as a passenger for something to do when stationed on Gan in the Maldives. I took some great photographs as one could open the windows.

@sgkingly8392

2 жыл бұрын

Yep. The one i have heard is 40 thousand rivets flying in approximately close formation

Is he any relation to Martin of Black Buck fame?

@Aircrewinterview

3 жыл бұрын

I don’t believe so.

Is he related to Bill Withers of Op. Blackbuck/VForce fame?

@Aircrewinterview

7 жыл бұрын

I am not sure tbh.

@MOPARdave999

6 жыл бұрын

I think you mean Martin

@alansimpson596

6 жыл бұрын

I am an aviation enthusiast and several years ago a book entitled Vulcan To The Sky was published. It was largely dedicated to Operation Blackbuck, the Vulcan flight to bomb the runway at the Falklands. It was the longest bombing flight in history at that time and captained by Martin Withers. I wrote to him asking if he would sign a copy of my book. He agreed and I sent it to him. It was returned fully signed and accompanied by a lovely letter. It's one of my most treasured possessions.

Por favor pueden traducir al español

Did Brian Withers fly the Nimrod as well ?

@Aircrewinterview

4 жыл бұрын

He did indeed.

Shak was brilliant, nimrod were great, now 2022, we have nothing 😀

We sale ex CCCP military, gas turbine HIND, tank, Ural truck, Warbirds MIG 23's. Repair rubuilt jet engine, gas turbine. Brian very know much Avro, lovely nice aircraft. Shackleton is easy get fly again. We strip plane apart replace rebuilt everything to fly again. Sorry bad English spell. Greeting from Russia, Girood Airfield Hangers.. ❤️

This guy is funny- nuclear release here, normal release here. Best not to get them mixed up.

It’s a big Annoying when every time this guy talks about a part of the instrument panel, the camera person zooms in but then, just as I’m trying to get a good look, zooms out again!

Shackletons don't bother me............

Shackleton? Sorry, you'll have to speak up 🙂

Short of breath.... better go see a doctor about that