SHACKLETON DATA

POWER PLANTS

Four 12-cylinder, 60° Vee, pressure liquid-cooled, two-speed, single-stage supercharged Rolls-Royce

Griffon engines producing 1960 hp (2435 hp with water methanol) at maximum power.

 Variants    
MR I/T.4MR 2MR 2MR 3MR 3*AEW/T.2
  Ph I/IIPh IIIPh IIIIPh III
57/57A57/57A5857A5858

*and two 2500 lb thrust Rolls-Royce Viper 203 power plants.

PROPELLERS

De Havilland 13 ft-diameter counter-rotating, constant-speed, fully feathering units.

FRONT:Left-hand tractor DF 1 60/3 34/1 or DB 171/334/1 with basic setting and fine pitch 23°, feathered 90°.
REAR:Right-hand tractor DF 1 60/336/1 or DB 171/336/1 with basic setting and fine pitch 24°, feathered 91°.

FUEL SYSTEM

AvGas 100/ 130 NATO F-18.

Tank Capacities (gallons)
 MRI/T.4MR 2MR 2
  Ph I/IIPh III
Tank 12 x 4972 x 4972 x 497
22 x 5412 x 5412 x 570
32 x 2972 x 2972 x 297
42 x 3112 x 3112 x 311
5   
6 (tip)---
Totals*329232923350
 T.2/AEWMR3MR3
  Ph 1/11Ph III
Tank 12 x 4972 x 5392 x 539
22 x 5702 x 5412 x 573
32 x 2972 x 2972 x 297
42 x 3112 x 3112 x 311
- 2 x 1852 x 185
6 (tip) 2 x 251**2 x 253**
Totals*335042484316

* all variants could carry 400 gal auxiliary tanks in the bomb bay.

** wing-tip tanks nominally 256 gal but actual capacity varied.

DIMENSIONS (ft)

 MR I/T.4MR2MR3
Wing span120120119.83
Length77.587.387.3
Height17.517.523.35
Tailplane span333333
Wheel track23.7523.7523.75

AREAS (sq ft)

 MR I/T.4MR 2MR 3
Wing (inc. ailerons)142114211458
Ailerons110.1110.1133.4
Flaps146.96146.96146.96
Tailplane(inc. elevators)285.4285.4285.4
Elevators87.387.387.3
Fins116116116
Rudders106.4106.4106.4

WEIGHTS (lb)

 MR 1/T.4MR 2MR 2/T.2
   Ph III
Empty49,600*51,40059,000
Loaded (normal)82,00084,00089,000
Loaded (max T/0)86,000**86,00095,500
Landing (normal)72,00072,00080,000
Stores load (with full fuel) Approximately6000 lb  
Stores load (max)12,00015,00015,000
 AEW.2MR 3Ph III (Viper)
Empty58,80057,80064,300
Loaded (normal)89,00085,00095,000
Loaded (max T/0)96,100100,000108,000***
Landing (normal)80,00086,00088,000
Stores loadApproximately 6000 lb
(with full fuel) stores load12,00012,000 (max) 

* Ph II T.4 54,500 lb

** Grapple aircraft 87,500 lb

*** MR 3 Ph III (non-Viper) 104,000 lb

PERFORMANCE

Tables showing performance figures need to be used with caution because it is extremely difficult to ensure that the same parameters are being used when obtaining details from different sources. This particularly applies to range and endurance figures, where 'still-air range' usually means the range to dry tanks, but not always, while 'normal' range will have an allowance built in for diversion and/or contingencies. This allowance may be up to 20% of the total fuel, 20% of the 'off-task' fuel (in the case of maritime operations), or, in the case of some Avro calculations for the Shackleton, 10% of the overall fuel. Unless otherwise stated, range and endurance speeds/times assume 20% reserve of total fuel. Maximum speeds are almost meaningless in the case of maritime aircraft, but are included as approximate figures for reference purposes, and wherever possible all those quoted have been cross checked to ensure that they are strictly comparable.

 MR I/T.4MR 2MR 2AEW.2MR 3*
   Ph III  
Max speed @ 12,000 ft**294299286262297
Max cruise @ 10,000 ft **245249249-253
Long-range cruise @1500 5000ft180-200 mph depending on weight
Landing speed**114114116116118
Stalling speed**8888929296
Initial rate of climb (ft/min)1005920900900850
Initial rate of climb (3 engine)(ft/min)592495463460200
Ceiling (ft)20,70020,20018,800-18,600
Range (nm)***216019801720-2300
Radius of 4 hr patrol (nm)780700670-970
Endurance (hrs)(20% reserve)14.814.6131316
Max still air range (nm)30902900278027001660
T/O distance (ft) to 50 ft using Water Methanol375037505460-5550

* Mk 3 Ph III (Viper) had improved T/O performance (4750 ft to clear 50 ft screen), but reduced range and endurance.

** speeds in mph.

*** at 5000 ft at 190 mph (full load - 20% reserve)

Data Conversion

1 nautical mile (nm)= 1. 136 statute miles
1 mile/hour (mph)= 0.88 knots
1 gallon (gal)= 7.2 lb
1 foot= 0.3048 metres
1 nm= 1.828 kilometres
1 sq ft= 0.0929 square metres
1 ft/min= 0.005 m/sec
1 mph= 1.61 km/hr
1 lb= 0.454 kg
1 gal= 4.546 litres

This page was produced by John (Mo) Botwood and has been reproduced with the kind permission of the Botwood family.