So, MightyHunterAge, the wee short chap (MRA4 test pilot?) and all the others, who have been somewhat quiet since the incident, what do you think now? Would you honestly still be happy to fly in a Nimrod????
Yes, I would. And yes, I would do AAR. Why? Because AAR in a Nimrod is no more dangerous than AAR in any other aircraft. XV230 experienced a fuel fire due to any one of a number of causes, and I know that ALL of those causes have since been identified and mitigated. XV235 suffered ONLY a fuel leak. Yes, it sprayed into the bomb bay, but it would never have become a fire because there was nothing in there to ignite it. AVTUR and air (even at the correct ratio) will only ignite with an enormous amount of heat to create the chemnical process known as oxidization (fire). Sufficient heat is supplied by either a small spark with a lot energy which is only achieved by HE ignitors (there are none in the bomb bay) or sustained heat energy created by a hot surface (air pipe), and there are none in the bomb bay, now.
Those who know what a Mayday means will form the impression that the crew were in imminent danger. They were not. They never were. However, in fairness to them, they were scared and feared for their lives. Why? Because the situation was very similar to XV230 and no-one has yet told them (BOI report) why it was actually very different. It is because of this lack of crucual info that they did what they did and they, my friends and colleagues, did it well.
The underlying reason for the crew's decision to divert off task lies not with the aircraft. It lies with those who have not released the findings of the senior officers on the BOI.