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8 squadron Avro Shackleton AEW.2 WL747 seen landing at its homebase Lossiemouth, July 1988. Note the contra-rotating propellors. Most of these old birds were retired around 1969, when the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod took over their maritime surveillance role. However, due to the fact that the Nimrod AEW.3- project was cancelled, the last few 'Shacks' (being upgraded from MR.2 to AEW.2 in 1971, using the radar systems and domes of the Fairey Gannet) survived until 1991. They were replaced by the Boeing E.3 Sentry, almost 40 years after the start of their active service. The Shackleton was a great aircraft to see and hear, but on board, life and work were hard.