Nimrod R1 Out Of Service Function

[Andy Bain]

There will be a function held at RAF Waddington on 31 Mar 11, to celebrate the last flight of the Nimrod R1 (and the end of Nimrod).:(

All ex-51Sqn personnel (serving and non-serving) and other closely associated partners, are invited to email me at: nimrodr1.function(at)gmail.com for details.

You will appreciate that attendance will strictly be by invite only with limited places available and verification of all non-serving attendees will be required before being invited.

"51 Sqn Association" members will be sent separate invites through normal Sqn channels.

Kind Regards

Andy

[thunderbird7]

Bump to the top

[Charlie Luncher]

Will the young lads be on bag emptying duties?:eek:
Charlie sends

[Wensleydale]

I trust that the recent lottery winners will be paying for it all?:ok:

[Distant Voice]

I have lost touch with matters relating to the Nimrod R1's replacement. What will we have to perform the R1's task on 1st April?

DV (Ex 51 Sqd Ops Analysis)

[Sandy Parts]

our Allies - not a problem....according to the politicians who are apparently well advised by our Senior Air Officers....

[Sir George Cayley]

Distant Voice,

A good question for April Fools DAy.

I think the technical answer is Nowt:ok:

Sir George Cayley

[Phoney Tony]

Bounce to the top!

[Jackonicko]

What will we have to perform the R1's task on 1st April?

Not these, just yet:

http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/pugwash09/Aircraft/RC-135.jpg

For the politically correct answer, you'll need to use some or all of these key phrases:

Burden sharing, harmonisation with the USAF, co-manning, special relationship, capability holiday, interoperability, Cold War mission.

But use these words, because words are important. None more so than 'adaptable'.

Adaptable is just a word but it encapsulates the vigilance, flexibility, resilience and agility we will seek to maintain.

and be sure not to use any of these:
Loss of sovereign capability, EWAD, loss of rapid autonomous modification/upgrade capability, inferior capability in some areas, f*ck all, nada, nil, nothing.

Because while our "intention is to remain America's most capable and reliable ally. We recognise that we benefit a great deal from the relationship. In return we will retain the ability to operate independently or in support of the US across the full spectrum of domains and capabilities."

Except those capabilities we flush down the tubes, and except those we will piggy back from the Yanks, and which will be meaningless and empty if ever they choose to turn off the tap. Eg 51, in the future.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/9263F942_5056_A318_A882F60B6FDB3818.jpg

http://www.offutt.af.mil/shared/media/ggallery/hires/AFG-110104-037.jpg

And before you ask, there are no Beefeaters, Bobbies or Pearly Queens in the graphic, as they're all down the back of the Rivet Joint, eating pies.

[Finningley Boy]

I take it that our First Rate Armed Forces, to use the Government description, are about to engage on yet another capability holiday, to use an expression which has become thread bare, since the arrival of T Blair!

Oh dear, I do despair!:}

FB:)

[Phoney Tony]

I think that aim here is to celebrate the retirement of an excellent platform flown and supported by an outstanding team, not to make comment on what we may have lost.

Well done 51 Sqn.

Those that know know.

Those that do not should be thankful!

[Jackonicko]

Tony,

Actually, the stated aim of this thread was to draw attention to a well-earned celebration of one era in the long and proud history of a very distinguished squadron.

Every subsequent post has simply bounced it back to the top.

Paying tribute and celebrating here is, however, an excellent idea. Not just because the R1 came close to clocking up 37 years in service with a single unit, which can't be a routine achievement (did 39 do it with the Canberra?).

But also because this is a unit, and a platform, that has consistently hidden its light in a deep hole, dug under a bushell, and dug at dead of night, very very quietly.

And this has been a world-class capability, a war-winning capability, and a triumph of intelligent procurement and support, representing superb value for money for the taxpayer.

There can be few units whose current peacetime operations come close to equalling or exceeding their wartime glories, but 51 must come closer than most. There must be many ageing ex-Halifax chaps (to say nothing of those who flew Yorks with the Squadron, as a relative of mine did) who do not take some pride in what they know of the Squadron's recent achievements and current reputation.

It's therefore a great pleasure to salute a good, solid, platform, flown by a truly outstanding team, a genuinely elite band and supported by an almost equally impressive one, and I do so effusively and without reservation.

The question was asked, however, "what takes over?"

I answered that question, and I pointed out that we may not be quite as lucky in the future. That does not detract from my salute - if anything it underlines it.

However, I have no doubt that the men and women of 51 will make the very best of whatever they have in their very capable hands in the future, and that the squadron will continue to add to its laurels.

[Jackonicko]

and talking of bouncing it to the top....

[olddog]

Back to the top for old duffers like me who need to be reminded to E Mail Andy before it's tooo late!

[denachtenmai]

Thanks 51 for the best 8 years of my life, so sad to see a remarkable outfit go, hope the goose returns on another platform::D
Regards, Den.

[pr00ne]

R1 out of service delayed by 90 days. Are you going to rearrange the do?

denachtenmai.

The Squadron isn't disbanding. They are going on to fly the RC135 Rivet Joint. Initially with the USAF at Mildenhall while their own 3 aircraft are converted, then with their own fleet.

[olddog]

For the benefit of anyone who has not received official notification. I was informed today that the R1 out of service event on 31 Mar has been cancelled because of unforseen circumstances and will be rescheduled at a future date. Long live the R1, fly safe guys!

[big red .1]

Red noses....check
Floppy shoes....check
Spinning bow tie....check
Squirty flower....check
:ugh:

[denachtenmai]

Thanks for the headsup pr00ne:ok:
Den.

[Grimweasel]

What lottery winners?? do tell.....

[Jackonicko]

I read that the final two jets are assured of good homes when they finally finish flying - one at the E Midlands Aeropark, and one at Duxford. (What a pity that the RAF Museum can't find room for the third....)

I wonder roughly how many hours will these grand old dames have on them when they finally retire?

[Lukeafb1]

Andy,

I don't know whether this has already been pointed out, but for some reason, your email address (nimrodr1.function(at)gmail.com ) is not a recognised email address.

Luke.

Eventually figured out that the correct email address is, I hope: [email protected]

[NutLoose]

Yup, East Mids will get one which means I will see it everyday..... Duxford is the Imperial War Museum. The other was going to Newark but they I believe pulled out when they realised she wouldn't be fully complete and with the costs of moving it etc, have heard various stories from its interior gutted (which one can understand) to having its engines removed when it retires to East Midlands. would be nice to know when it is due in advance, so I can get some piccies of her final flight...... Have some of the Grimrod at Coventry's arrival.

Having to extend its service because of world events sort of tells a tale in itself, what will they do when it is gone and something else kicks off before the Rivet Joint is in place.
One does wonder, if I was selling on some of my cast offs, I wouldn't be selling the prime examples of the fleet, but 3 of the dogs of the fleet.

[SafeSteve]

Had an awesome time on 51 - all too brief and the very first posting of my 15 year career, but managed to remain at Wyton on the Canberras, so still got to see them taking to the sky...and, as someone rightly said, knowing what role they DID perform (loved the Jane's definitions...!!!).

Nice to see them fighting against the fading of the light - as they should!

I'll be sure to ping that e-mail across anyway - when I manage to get back to my own PC!!!

[Evanelpus]

For the benefit of anyone who has not received official notification. I was informed today that the R1 out of service event on 31 Mar has been cancelled because of unforseen circumstances

What a beautiful phrase!

[mmitch]

Perhaps a R1 could be sent to search for any signs of intelligence in Whitehall. ;)
mmitch.

[davejb]

The R1,
despite rumours to the contrary,
has never had sensors capable of discerning such low amplitude signals against the background noise, mmitch.

Dave

[Nozzlefaff]

BBC news reporting that 2 R1s will be kept for a further 3 months. Interesting.

[ACW599]

>Perhaps a R1 could be sent to search for any signs of intelligence in Whitehall.<

The signal-to-noise ratio is far too low, even for an R1's sensors :-)

(edit: sorry, just noticed that mmitch made the same point earlier)

[tramps]

BBC News - Two Nimrod UK spy planes reprieved until June at least (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12707222)

Amazing! You really, really could not make this up. Hope you all have a great party and that something worthwhile comes out of this as well: ok:

[SRENNAPS]

BBC News - Two Nimrod UK spy planes reprieved until June at least


So is anybody hanging their heads in shame, muttering the words “I got it wrong” and then resigning…..like honourable people used to do once:ugh::ugh: