Of the many Nimrod & MR4A threads, the title of this one seemed most appropriate for the
Flight International update on what seems to be real progress.
BAE Systems has achieved the power-on milestone for the first of nine Nimrod MRA4s on firm order for the UK Royal Air Force, and says the surveillance platform is on track to enter service in 2010.
Aircraft PA4 is now 93% complete at BAE's Woodford site in Cheshire, and is expected to make its first flight early next year, following the installation of mission system equipment, the company says. The power-on test was performed "without a glitch", it adds.
The article also contains information on the flight test programme (hadn't I read somewhere that there had been issues with longitudinal stability?)