DV. The incident you refer to on the 3rd of sept (cracked fuel pipe) did result in a SFS, however, the leak was discovered whilst the aircraft (XV255) was being ground refuelled, NOT following AAR. This was NOT a "well known" problem I can assure you. The SFS was raised literally within 1 hour of the leak being discovered which resulted in issue of a UTI to be carried out before "next flight" on the whole of the Nimrod fleet. The timing of the leak being found will always "spook" me, because if it had been found the previous day, IMHO, we would not be reading this thread because it wouldnt exist.
As for operation "Medusa" starting on the 2nd sept and the importance of the Nimrod being there, I can again assure you that the Groundcrew would not allow an unsafe aircraft to fly ( Even if "newly defined limits" where introduced). Flight Safety is Flight Safety no matter what the IPT say. Period.
RIP CXX/3