Da4orce wrote
I have seen documentary evidence from BAE Systems that Rib 7 had fuel leakage problems and specifically the use of the Boz Pod exacerbated the problem and worsened the leaks. I've also been told by RAF sources that fuel leaking from the Nimrod wings ran along the underside of the wing and pooled in the bomb bay, not specifically on 230 but in previous incidents so there does seem to be a precedent.
Da4orce I am not being facetious but how would a fuel leak from rib 7 manage to pool in the bomb bay during flight when the very motion of the aircraft moving through the air in flight would sweep away any fuel that leaks as rib 7 is approx 10 feet away from the bomb bay?
If there were a leak developed in flight you would certainly notice fuel managing to pool into the bomb bay if it had to fight itself 10 feet across the wing and engine doors to then pool into the bomb bay against the airflow?
And if there was a rib 7 leak on the ground then the ground crew's servicing, the air Eng and subsequent captains walk round would surely have spotted that? I have it on good authority from the very men that saw the jet off that fateful day that there were no fuel leaks when it took off.