An evocative shot out the bomb-aimers window.

Brig-Gen Ben Kriegler, SAAF (Retired) was one of the elite crew who maintained and flew 1722.
 

Interesting image taken by Gordon Clarke.
 

The observant visitor to Ysterplaat will notice that the static display Shackleton (authentic serial number 1720)
has been restored to represent 1717 in the delivery colours of the aircraft in the late 1950s.

The real 1717, once displayed at the Transport Museum at the Midmar dam in Kwazulu-Natal, has since
been sold to a Stanger businessman, and it is believed to have been subsequently been broken up. 

This restoration project was a joint exercise made possible by Air Force Base Ysterplaat and the following
Museum sponsors: The South African Aviation Foundation, The Shackleton Project, 
The Shackleton Trust (Brig-Gen Derrick Page), Dr. Brian Stockland and Mr Kirk Kinnear. 

A major sponsor to this restoration was the well-known De La Rey group of stores. 
They provided the scaffolding and support for the repaint of both 1720 and 1722.
 

WO H. J. "Pottie" Potgieter, project leader of the dedicated team who keep the 'Shack' flying.

A descendant of the Lancaster, the Shackleton is an experience to see and hear.

Often described in terms far from complimentary, the Shackleton is a marvelous aircraft, 
and to be involved in assisting in the protection and upkeep of this important piece of 
aviation history, this "Katherine Hepburn" of the skies, is a remarkable privilege.

The following terms are some of the terms used to describe the Shackleton.

"This aircraft looks like a box of frogs"

"The Shack reminds me irresistibly of an elephant's bottom - gray and wrinkled outside 
and dark and smelly inside."

"10,000 loose rivets flying in close formation".

"The contra-rotating Nissen hut"

A dedicated band of volunteers and reserve SAAF members are involved in maintaining 
this incredible aircraft.

The Prototype Shackelton GR 1 first flew in 1949. The first MR3 flew in 1955. The MR 3 
has a length of 28.2 meters, is 7.11 meters high, and has a wingspan of 36.52 meters. 
Powered by four Rolls Royce Griffon 57A piston engines delivering 1831 kW (2455 hp) each, 
and equipped with contra-rotating propellers, the aircraft can move it's gross mass of 45 360 
kilograms at 486 kilometers per hour at 3657 meters above sea level. With an service ceiling 
of 5852 meters and a range of 6782 kilometers, this aircraft and it's crew of 13 could cruise at 
322 kilometers for hour over a large area.

Armed with 2 x 20mm Hispano cannon in the nose, the bomb bay could carry a large range of 
items. These included three Mk 30 or Mk 44 torpedoes or depth charges, or nine Sonobouy or 
nine 250lb bombs. On search and rescue operations, the Lindholme gear, consisting of a set of 
five containers with supplies, including a dinghy, could also be carried. The use of the SARO lifeboat,
which was fitted to the outside of the bomb-bay doors, was discontinued by the SAAF.