AC Ovee's comments about the unnecessary MAYDAY involving XV235 cannot go unchallenged. Neither can his assertion that a leak involving several gallons of fuel should not be referred to as a major leak.
At the time of the incident, fuel was spraying into the bomb bay like water coming out of a garden hose with one's thumb over the end. The Captain made an instant decision to break away and call a MAYDAY. I doubt there are many Captain's reading this thread who would have done anything different.
The fuel was atomising, mixing with oxygen and exposed to a bomb bay wired for electricity. The wiring system on Nimrod is old, and it is not possible to discount arcing and sparking. The Captain would not have known at that stage if the fuel leak would continue, or, indeed, what was causing it. The decision to land at the nearest suitable airfield has been praised by the MoD and many people here on pprune. It would appear AC Ovee stands in a cast of one, by stating that he would have RTB'd without the need for bothering with a MAYDAY. AC Ovee was highly critical of non-specialist contributors on this thread and the effect that comment here is having on his younger crews.
Well Sir, I would suggest that the only person being gung ho here is yourself. I would suggest that criticising the MAYDAY call and offering a blanket guarantee on the safety of the Nimrod bomb bay containing gallons of aviation fuel is foolish in the extreme. I would hope your subordinates are not listening to you. The Captain ordered a ground evacuation after landing, I would hope in the presence of Fire Crews and Med Teams, is this to be considered routine as well? All in a day's work?
The decision to call a MAYDAY was in my opinion, based on sound airmanship. The first thing I was ever told as a pilot, was, where there is doubt there is no doubt. To err on the side of caution, is surely the only way to approach aviation? Not that this Captain was being cautious, he was merely being sensible.
I find it sad that people like yourself think it is acceptable to keep pushing the old girl without the necessary levels of protection. It is becoming increasingly clear that XV230 should have had bomb bay fire protection on board; that the IPT should have been looking at fuel tank protection. It is very easy to say yes to every directive sent down from the MoD and much more difficult to say no.
AC Ovee, people with your attitude were content for the Hercules fleet to have just 5 airframes receive fuel tank protection, in no specific time frame Now, thankfully, every single Hercules exposed to the enemy has this protection on board.
I respectfully invite you to withdraw your criticisms of the Captain of XV235.
I also invite you to tell us your definition of a major fuel leak.