The SAAF Forum

Hi all,

Does anyone know what the status is of Shackleton 1721, the Shack standing at SAAF Museum - Swartkops?

I found a website where they state that attempts are being made to get the aircraft airworthy again. As far as I'm aware, this will be virtually impossible due to the damage sustained when her protective canopy collapsed.

But none of my queries have been responded to.

Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Hi there, as far as I know and the story was when I was still in the SAAF that the airframe is timexed. It was mostly stripped for all its good and servicable parts for the "disaster" that tried to fly to the Oshkosh airshow in the early ninties. That Shakleton end up in the North African desert from overheating engines and was sripped down by arab savages who had no clue of what an aircraft was.
I hope that answers your question to the one at Swarties.

actually they flew to the UK and not to Oshkosh... i am sure Horace will post a full story about what REALLY happened

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Henk Hugo
Shackleton Project

I have received confirmation from the SAAF Museum OC that, apart from her main spare being timex, she also got clobbered by the Spandome that fell down in a storm in 1997.

Greetings all,

Yes 1721's main spar is time ex, however the airframe is severely bent after the accident as Dean mentioned.

Question to Pegasus - Why do you call the trip to UK a "disaster"?

Don't think it was so much a disaster as a severe case of all things going wrong at once.

Remeber that there was a new set of engines waiting for 1716 in the UK. This would have ensured a "Shack" in SA skies for many years to come.

Have to say this though - Maj. Eric "pinocio" Pienaar did a fantastic job by putting 1716 down without loss of life. Rest in peace Pine - you were one of the masters.

Cheers,

Ghostman