View Full Version : Last Nimrod Mission
Daf Hucker
25th Jun 2011, 14:03
The last Nimrod mission took place yesterday when XW664 flew back to Waddington. A sad day and very much the end of an era. There will be a couple of more flights for the OSD fly-past and hopefully two delivery flights.
TheSmiter
25th Jun 2011, 16:39
I did wonder if it had been extended when Mrs Smiter's Mail came out with this (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2007974/Libya-war-Were-tracking-Gaddafi-moves-lair-lair-says-Nato.html) today but apparently not! I guess the drones and Edinburgh will have to track the big fella from lair to lair by themselves now. Oh well, never mind.
Sad day indeed Daf but at least they'll be going to good homes. :ok:
Lincolnshire Poacher
25th Jun 2011, 16:56
Do you happen to know where they will be going?
Shaggy Sheep Driver
25th Jun 2011, 17:00
Are these the two R1s? And yes, does anyone know where they are being retired to?
And isn't that Daily Wail picture captioned as an R1 actually an MR2 (R1s have no MAD boom, innit)?
grandfer
25th Jun 2011, 17:10
So I assume their replacements , the dreaded "Jointed Rivets" will be arriving any day now then ?:mad::mad:
Cpt_Pugwash
25th Jun 2011, 18:16
Now i am puzzled! The buzz at ShabbyWood was that they had been extended to November. Guess you can't always trust the rumour mill.:{
davejb
25th Jun 2011, 20:15
SSD,
Photo Search Results | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=XV232)
- you expected accuracy from a British journo?
Dave
fergineer
25th Jun 2011, 20:47
G'day Daf.....Yep a sad day and the end of an era......what you gonna do now or will it be more golf. Hotel Ferg is here if you need a rest.
NutLoose
25th Jun 2011, 20:56
Anyone know when the R1 is slated to arrive at EGNX so I can take my camera in to record it........ BTW one of the MR4 noses has been donated to Cranfield Uni for cockpit design studies or the like.....
sturb199
25th Jun 2011, 21:37
So I assume their replacements , the dreaded "Jointed Rivets" will be arriving any day now then ?
Nah the GR4 will take that role on too!!!!! :rolleyes:
Willard Whyte
25th Jun 2011, 23:08
How nice they allowed a final fly past at the forthcoming Waddington Air Show.
Ahh. Bugger.
TEEEJ
25th Jun 2011, 23:46
XW664 on return to RAF Waddington. Well done 51 Squadron on a job well done!
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/5866537524_7ee17d9b6d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40812808@N06/5866537524/)
NIMROD-R1-XW664 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40812808@N06/5866537524/) by llihmot (http://www.flickr.com/people/40812808@N06/), on Flickr
TJ
Daf Hucker
26th Jun 2011, 13:42
Fergineer, don't tempt me! Unfortunately the current spouse is Mrs Hucker III, consequently the golf will have to wait for a decade or two :(
Daf Hucker
28th Jun 2011, 18:45
The old girl was sent off with dignity today. A good day provided by 51 Sqn and Waddington. 64 will be going to East Midlands evidently, though 49 is still up in the air, so to speak!
cpants
29th Jun 2011, 11:44
So I assume their replacements , the dreaded "Jointed Rivets" will be arriving any day now then ?http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/censored.gifhttp://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/censored.gif
Back in 2008, a U.S. Rivet Joint mechanic was silenced after the United Kingdom’s MoD submitted a bid to purchase three RC-135’s through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales Program. The mechanic recently agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Air Force in exchange for withdrawing his complaint. The UK should hire this Yank to oversee the American contractors so that Her Majesties’ Air Force doesn’t end up with the same dangerous deficiencies overlooked by the United States maintenance teams. See attached pres-releases dated May 2011.
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/05/27-3 (http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/05/27-3)
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/26/2907012/air-force-whistleblower-settles.html (http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/26/2907012/air-force-whistleblower-settles.html)
bobward
29th Jun 2011, 11:58
Chatting to one of the staff at the Cosford Museum in April, I was told that a Nimrod was being sent there to add to their collection. Can anyone confirm or refute that?
Clockwork Mouse
29th Jun 2011, 12:31
E Midlands Aeropark and IWM Duxford.
red 5
29th Jun 2011, 12:45
Surprised they didn't make an approach at Wyton today, being their home for many years.
TEEEJ
29th Jun 2011, 14:14
A very sad day indeed. Unfortunately the sun didn't shine on Nimrod R1 XV249.
A few snaps of the retirement on the 28th. The sets also contains images of XW664 & XW665 since 2009.
NIMROD R1 Retirement 2011 - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40812808@N06/sets/72157626951646567/)
XV249 Winter & Summer
NIMROD R1 XV249 Winter & Summer - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40812808@N06/sets/72157626951670435/)
No need for photography comments on flickr or forum. Please feel free to comment on aircraft/type/event.
Thanks for looking.
TJ
Daf Hucker
29th Jun 2011, 14:15
You missed the Wyton flypast on Monday then?
red 5
30th Jun 2011, 08:13
Obviously.
Vortex81
1st Jul 2011, 07:12
Was thinking, unless I'm mistaken, there were some (or many) that didn't warm to the nimrod and thought that the procurement of it wasn't so good, too costly, there was a better alternative. Can someone point in the right direction for information about this if possible?
Mothballed
1st Jul 2011, 16:23
Yet another familiar silhouette that has disappeared from our skies :(
Surprised they didn't make an approach at Wyton today, being their home for many years.
But they didn't exist at Wyton, they only started to exist when they moved to Waddington.
Daf Hucker
2nd Jul 2011, 18:22
Old dog, Facebook won't let me see your video :( It says due to it either being removed or privacy settings. Anybody else having problems, or is it just because it's a "you ain't seen me, alright" movie ;)
olddog
2nd Jul 2011, 19:22
Sorry I'll try another link tomorrow
ZH875
Indeed i know they didn't exist, my old man was on 51 from 1975 to 76 at Wyton. Of course all highly hush hush in those days.
olddog
3rd Jul 2011, 08:57
Mods please help!!
Can someone please tell me how to upload a video, I've read the prune guide in FAQ but can't find the manage attachments feature referred to there. Looking at the foot of this page it says I may not post attachments - can I change this?
Nimrod R1 Update 5/7/2011
Negotiations with the RAF/MoD and DSA have now been completed and everything is now in place for Nimrod R1 XW664 to be purchased by the Aeropark to become the latest addition to our collection.
'664' returned from operations on Friday 24th June and has since been at the 'R1' retirement event on 28th June and on static display at the Waddington International Air show on 2nd/3rd July.
The last flight of '664' will be on 12th July 2011 when she will be delivered to East Midlands Airport where some decommissioning work will take place before she is finally moved into place in the Aeropark where she will be on display to the public.
It has yet to be confirmed but this could be the final flight of a Nimrod and this may be the only 'R1' variant left in existence.
The Aeropark will open at 09:00 on 12th July for people wishing to see the Nimrod arrive at the airport. It is anticipated that the Nimrod will take off from Waddington between 10:00 and 10:30 and will arrive shortly after this as it is only a short flight.
The Nimrod R1's were operated by 51 Squadron at RAF Waddington and their role was reconnaissance and gathering electronic intelligence.
There were three Nimrod R1's operated by 51 Sqdn one was taken out of service in 2009 and the remaining two remained in service until June 2011. One (XW664) will be coming to the Aeropark the fate of the other two is yet to be confirmed.
From
Official web site of the East Midlands Aeropark (http://www.eastmidlandsaeropark.org/index.html)
TJ