Nimrod entry into service

[pmills575]

Is it an oversight or is there no interest in the fact that the 40th anniversary of the Nimrod entering service on the 2nd of October 1969 has passed without comments?

Maybe it's because it happened at St. Mawgan and not in Scotland!

pmills575

[Madbob]

The real reason is the Gawdon Brown doesn't want to remind everyone, not least the next of kin of those lost on board XV230, that the Nimrod is way past its "sell by" date.:(

It would also draw attention to the delay into service of the MR4A. It is also sobering to recall that we once had 46 Nimrods to be replaced now by less than 10.:ugh:

MB

[Spam_UK]

Theres whisky for sale at ISK to celebrate 40 years of Nimrods, and also another bottle for 70 years of Kinloss itself!

[betty swallox]

Madbob,
saw a couple in the circuit at Kinloss today. So, wrong. Not past their "sell by" as your puerile "banter" suggests.

[Pontius Navigator]

BS, I think he was using poetic licence to point out the age of the aircraft.

We still remember the rapid development and obsolescence of aircraft during WW2 and the relatively short life of post-war aircraft such as Valiant, Victor 1 and Vulcan 1 with an equally rapid turn-over of fighter types.

In contrast, since the 1960s, we have seen what would have been staggering longevity of even fighter types - Tornados 1982-, Dominie 1966, C130 ditto, VC10 ditto. We still have to get our minds around airframe lives of 30-40 years.

Interesting when you consider the lives of modern warships. The Ark is coming to the end of its life at a mere 25 years.

[anita gofradump]

Not past their "sell by" as your puerile "banter" suggests.

Moving quickly towards it though BS, wouldn't you agree?

[changeitnot]

But all have had major servicings during their lifetimes, and had knackered components replaced. No different really to the AT fleet. Just because it's of a certain age doesn't mean it should be dammed. Lots of various elderly aircraft still giving good service worldwide.

[DADDY-OH!]

I could've sworn I saw a 'Mighty Hunter' with a 40th Anniversary paint job just t'other day.
:ok:

[Wensleydale]

Is it an oversight or is there no interest in the fact that the 40th anniversary of the Nimrod entering service on the 2nd of October 1969 has passed without comments?



To answer the question: No interest. Sorry.

[Madbob]

BS

When I did my METS course at Finningley in 1981 two of my contemporaries were posted to 236 OCU at St. Mawgan. To find that one could graduate from Cranwell from 45(R) Sqn today (nearly 30 years later) and be posted to the essentially the same aircraft tells a pretty damming story of failed procurement programmes. This would apply to postings to Nimrods, VC10s, Tristars and C130K as all remain a posting option to a METS graduate.

The MR4A, the FSTA, A400M and C130J programmes were/are all late and your guess is a good as mine as to when the A400 and FSTA will actually arrive.

At least the other METS posting options such as Shackleton, Andover, Canberra, Vulcan and Victor have been put out to grass. I assure you I was not being puerile - the fact is I was being very serious - perhaps you can correct me if you think the above is factually incorrect.

MB

[Wader2]

Madbob, you make a weak case.

You fail to recognise that aircraft are maintained to increasingly long safe-life standards. I am not entering the Nimrod crash debate but of the types you mentioned,

Shackleton 1949-1990 - 41 years
Canberra 1949-2006 - 57 years but some still flying
Victor 1952-1993 - 41 years - accept that this involved two designs
Vulcan 1953-1984 - 31 years - ditto
VC10 1962 - 47 years
Andover 1965-1994 - 29 years - some still flying. Their short service was a result of defence policy changes and economics and nothing to do with capability or airframe life.
Dominie 1965- 44 years
Puma 1968- 41 years

You will see that lives of 40 plus years are the historical norm and not an exception. The MRA4 is extensively rebuilt. Using the above in-service dates for a Mk 1 it will certainly be well passed 60 when it retires but with more recent design and construction techniques that should not be an issue.

[311 fan]

Just been ISK way for the past 2 weeks and the 40th annivesary paint job was doing its circuit bashing duties some of the days. Nice paint job!
Good to see you again.My favourite part of the UK.

[enginesuck]

The Nimrod Fleet has never been in better shape IMHO , post the hot air duct replacements and recent maintenance reacting to husbandry issues etc etc ive never seen them in such good nick its been a lot of work and it would be a shame to see them retire in 18 months.

[BEagle]

Perhaps they should have used this infamous paint job to commemorate 40 years of the Mighty Muncher:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/nw969/Internet/XV246Flying****e.jpg

:eek:

In the Spring of 1969, I was on detachment at RAF Kinloss as a very junior Flt Cdt. I was sleeping off my 14+ hours trip in a Mk3ph3 Shacklebomber when my room was shaken by an almighty roar - it was the pre-production Mk1 Nimrod showing off its capabilities. And very impressive it was too!

Trip home at the end of the detachment was unusual - driven to RNAS Lossiemouth by some lunatic Wg Cdr in the RAF's last Standard Vanguard estate car, then down to Yeovilton in a Sea Vampire flown by a friend of my father. About 22 hours less than the train journey had taken!

[vecvechookattack]

It will be sad to see the Nimrod go but its had its day and no longer has a role (other then flying displays). Great aircraft in the 1970's but no longer viable

[Fat Chris]

What on earth are you talking about? Do you even know?

[DaveyBoy]

vecvechookattack: Nice trolling, sailor -- and you even got a bite!

I hope your Service is prepared to be annihilated by Nimrod MR2s yet again over the next 7 days of Joint Warrior :-)

[enginesuck]

No longer has a role ? Actually its a platform which still has a lot to offer in several different roles

[Finnpog]

Including short range ACM, if I remember the AIM9L's correctly.:ok::E

[incubus]

No longer has a role ? Actually its a platform which still has a lot to offer in several different roles
So he was right: it no longer has a role, now it has many.
(Yes, I know it had multiple roles anyway)

[Roland Pulfrew]

Is it an oversight or is there no interest in the fact that the 40th anniversary of the Nimrod entering service on the 2nd of October 1969 has passed without comments?

pmills575

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v142/MikePix/RIAT/2009/NimrodFairfordXV226.jpg

:hmm:

Picture courtesy of MikeH from Airshows.co.uk

[Akrotiri bad boy]

Spam
Who's behind the whisky you mention, is it the rebuilt distillery in Forres?
Many thanks in salivatory antcipation

Akro

[RumPunch]

I have to admit the 40 on the tail plane looks terrible, It would have been more apt to keep XV240 flying and give it a new paint job.

[getsometimein]

Cost to repaint a jet and service it.. A fortune

Cost to repaint half a tail on a jet with hours left.. Peanuts.

[monkeytamer]

Akro,
The 70th whisky has been bottled by Gordon & McPhail of Elgin and it tastes rather nice :ok:

I believe the 40 years of the Nimrod is also by Gordon & McPhail.

MT

[Neptunus Rex]

Monkeytamer

Gordon & McPhail are the bottlers/retailers, but who is the Distiller?

:confused:

[zedder]

Given that Gordon & McPhail own Benroamach, the smart money is on that. Haven't opened mine yet to see if it's the Traditional or something 'better'.

I can certainly vouch for the Benromach that was distilled in 1939. A bottle was presented to both Kinloss and Lossiemouth to mark the Stn's 70th Anniversaries. We had a 'taster' during the Dinner at which it was presented.

RAF - News by Date (http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=587873C0-1143-EC82-2E73347BD283BC0D)

[richlear]

What is that painted on the bomb bay doors? I cannot make it out...a bunch of squadron crests?

[Spam_UK]

Yea it's a bunch of Sqn Crests, and a nimrod as per the 40th Anniversary design. What you'll also see on 226 at the moment is also a massive NLS Zap on next to the Port Rear Door (seems they forgot NLS when doing the bomb doors!)

[Duncan D'Sorderlee]

'They' didn't forget NLS; NLS just didn't have an official crest. Still they managed to get an unofficial crest on the jet.:D

Duncs:ok:

[Pontius Navigator]

OK, I saw they were sqn badges. Now which one?

Sqns obviously - 42, 120, 201, 203, 206, 230 OCU
probably Kinloss - St Mawgan - Luqa
leaves 4

possibly 18 Gp, Pitreavie, Mountbatten, Northwood?

[camelspyyder]

that would be 236 OCU aka 38(R) Sqn so theres another one...

perhaps someone from Kinloss who's actually seen it can enlighten us

CS

[Daf Hucker]

Close up of bomb-bay artwork



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2614/3762840751_1493665d6b_b.jpg

[Distant Voice]

Let us not forget that the first Nimrod to enter service was XV230.

DV

[Duncan D'Sorderlee]

Mate,

Those of us at ISK have not forgotten.

Duncs:ok:

[Distant Voice]

The Nimrod Fleet has never been in better shape IMHO, post the hot air duct replacements ...........

What a pitty the ducts were not replaced when the problem was identified in early 2005.

DV

[deeceethree]

The Nimrod Fleet has never been in better shape IMHO ....But it is still an ancient derivative of the Comet, for goodness sake. As an airframe it is outdated and inefficient.

The MRA4 is extensively rebuilt.And it is still a Comet derivative, outdated and inefficient as an airframe!

The Nimrod has become nothing more than a vague link between the RAF/MOD in order to keep paying for British Waste Of Space's pension fund. The money continually spent on the Nimrod is hardly what any sane person would call good value. :rolleyes:

[Mightycrewseven]

Pontius: OK, I saw they were sqn badges. Now which one?

Sqns obviously - 42, 120, 201, 203, 206, 230 OCU
probably Kinloss - St Mawgan - Luqa
leaves 4

possibly 18 Gp, Pitreavie, Mountbatten, Northwood?
Yesterday 17:30

From Daf Huker's close up, the 5th from left crest is RAF Waddington Stn crest leading on to the 7th from left, which is the 51 Sqn crest. I guess then that the nimrod anniversary is not just exclusive to the kipper fleet!

[Jackonicko]

I can identify 11 of the 13 badges. Left to right, they are:

Kinloss, St Mawgan, Wyton, Luqa, Waddington, 42, 51, 120, 201, 203, 206, unknown?, unknown?

[Jackonicko]

I can identify 11 of the 13 badges. Left to right, they are:

Kinloss, St Mawgan, Wyton, Luqa, Waddington, 42, 51, 120, 201, 203, 206, unknown?, unknown?

[XV277]

Last one is 236 OCU

[lonsdale2]

Last but one is prob 56 Sqn.

As the Reserve Sqn to the C2ISR OEU.

But why no 38 Sqn? It was the reserve sqn to 236 OCU at St Mawgan.

[camelspyyder]

From the colouring its more likely 57 than 56 but why???

I've checked all command, group, and base possibilities and come up blank.

Could someone at Kinloss nip outside and have a look...

CS

[enginesuck]

One of them is for one of the old MU s Maintenance units. IIRC hope this helps

[lonsdale2]

I should have looked before!
On the back cover of 'Power to the Hunter' by Jim Hughes are the unit crests/badges/whatever of all the Kinloss based Units.
The last but one on the bomb doors is for the NMSU (Nimrod Major Servicing Unit) with a motto of COMHNADH DO'N T-SEALGAIR - whatever that means.

PS Just found it 'Assistance to the Hunter' in Gaelic

[om15]

Distant Voice,

XV230 had another first, it was the first aircraft to go through NMSU for a major, I have a group photo taken on 1 June 1971, a small team of us handing back the aircraft on completion.

BR om15

[enginesuck]

XV230 was the first a/c to go through EQ (equalized maintenance) too . Now can we get off the subject of 230 and move on ?

[camelspyyder]

Terrane Ltd. - Official Supplier to the World's Armed Forces (http://www.terrane.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?Cat1=&Cat2=&Cat3=96&CodeSearch=&Cat1Sub=&Cat2Sub=&Cat3Sub=148&ProductID=2434)

CS:ok:

[RumPunch]

Yeah Lonsdale I think thats a Phoenix as the motto of the NMSU Crest , it makes sense as for those that mind the old NMSU bar where the SNCOs mess lies now was the Phoenix (many a good night between that and the Hilton and Basset I think) :ok:

Great paintjob on the bomb doors though , surely that was not done by Kinloss painters was it?

[enginesuck]

You say painters. more like sticker monkeys ! I think the tail is painted the bomb door crests are stickers/ transfers. Anyway painters and finishers are now civvies so are probably not contracted to show creative flair/ judgement/can do attitude/a great job achieved for the good of the service. etc etc

[Pontius Navigator]

Anyway painters and finishers are now civvies so are probably not contracted to show creative flair/ judgement/can do attitude/a great job achieved for the good of the service. etc etc

Serco got the contract.

As for 'can do' it depends on the management. I know where my contract is flexed and what I can reasonable ask them to do on the edge of the contract.

[enginesuck]

To be fair my previous comment was a bit out of line and a snipe which was misdirected, due to a gripe with another civillianised section with which i have to deal on occasion. I happen to know the Serco site manager at ISK and a he is a proffesional and decent chap, im sure XV226s paint job was a set specification anyway.

[Pontius Navigator]

ES, ty, I happen to know your site manager's boss too. He is a retired sqn ldr and a straight chap keen to balance expections of the customer with the demands of the company.

[Tappers Dad]

http://www.cae.com/news/details.ashx?lng=English&location=InvestorsNR&showEvents=False&count=0&id=954&year=2009

As part of the United Kingdom’s Military Flying Training System (MFTS) program, Lockheed Martin has awarded CAE a contract to provide ground-based tactical mission training solutions for the UK military. CAE will provide tactical mission trainers to be used for training rear crews and observers in aircraft platforms such as the Nimrod maritime reconnaissance aircraft and Merlin maritime helicopter.

Is this what they call Urgent Operational Requirements after all the MRA4 should be in service in the new year.

[Roland Pulfrew]

TD

The clue is in your quote:

As part of the United Kingdom’s Military Flying Training System (MFTS) program

ie not tactical mission training systems for MRA4 but tactical mission training systems for MFTS to train those destined for MRA4 and Merlin.

[Gainesy]

Don't suppose they had a Coastal Command sticker?