Avro Shackleton
Military Aircraft

The Avro Shackleton was named in honour of Sir Ernest Shackleton the famous polar explorer, it was designed by Avro's chief designer Roy Chadwick for the RAF (Royal Air Force) as a maritime patrol aircraft and was based on Avro's 1944 WW2 Lancaster replacement bomber the Lincoln heavy bomber.

The Avro Shackleton replaced the Short Sunderland flying boat and was primarily used by the RAF in ASW (anti-submarine warfare), AEW (airborne early warning) and SAR (search and rescue) roles from 1951 to 1990 although it's ASW and SAR roles were taken over from 1969 by the Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod with the Shackleton eventually only being used in the AEW role and would have been retired from even this role if the Fairey Gannet had not been itself retired. A total of 185 Avro Shackletons were produced and had the reputation of being a real "bone shaker" a result of it's four Rolls-Royce Griffon engines.

It is of note although the RAF was the primary user of the Avro Shackleton, eight were supplied to the South African Air Force who operated them from 1957 until 1984.

Avro Shackleton Specifications:

• Crew: 10
• Length: 87 ft 4 in (26.61 m)
• Wingspan: 120 ft (36.58 m)
• Height: 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m)
• Empty weight: 51,400 lb (23,300 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 86,000 lb (39,000 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 4,258 imperial gallons (19,360 L)
• Engines: Four 1,960 hp (1,460 kW) Rolls-Royce Griffon 57 liquid-cooled V12 engines
• Maximum speed: 260 knots (300 mph, 480 km/h)
• Range: 1,950 nm (2,250 mi, 3,620 km)
• Endurance: 14.6 hr
• Service ceiling 20,200 ft (6,200 m)

Armament:

• Twin nose mounted 20 mm Hispano cannon
• Nine bombs
• Three torpedoes
• Depth charges