When the Shackleton first took to the air on March 9th 1949 no-one could have imagined that this aircraft would still be in service well into the 1980s. Many aircrafts came and went, but the Shackleton continued its loyal and efficient service to the Royal Air Force for well over thirty years. Over the years, the Shackleton's role remained essentially the same: guardian of the skies over the seas that have throughout history been Britain's lifeline to the rest of the world.