Kinloss Nimrod Gate Guard
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Kinloss Nimrod Gate Guard
Scottish Sunday Mail: Nimrod Tribute Set For Gates Of RAF Kinloss
TOP brass want a decommissioned Nimrod to stand in tribute at the RAF base of a crew killed in Afghanistan.
The Nimrod MR2 will be a symbolic "gate guardian" at RAF Kinloss - the home base of 14 men who died when the same type of plane crashed. In September 2006, the Nimrod exploded in a fireball, killing all on board. An MoD probe blames a fuel leak but refused a coroner's request to ground the entire fleet over safety fears.
An RAF spokeswoman said: "One of our crewmen has approached the station with the request to have a Nimrod as a gate guardian which we are considering. But a Nimrod would be too large to site at the front gate.
"An alternative site would have to be considered."
Sources have revealed that a suitable site has been identified on Burghead Road at the eastern end of the airfield.
Last night the families of those who were killed declined to comment.
TOP brass want a decommissioned Nimrod to stand in tribute at the RAF base of a crew killed in Afghanistan.
The Nimrod MR2 will be a symbolic "gate guardian" at RAF Kinloss - the home base of 14 men who died when the same type of plane crashed. In September 2006, the Nimrod exploded in a fireball, killing all on board. An MoD probe blames a fuel leak but refused a coroner's request to ground the entire fleet over safety fears.
An RAF spokeswoman said: "One of our crewmen has approached the station with the request to have a Nimrod as a gate guardian which we are considering. But a Nimrod would be too large to site at the front gate.
"An alternative site would have to be considered."
Sources have revealed that a suitable site has been identified on Burghead Road at the eastern end of the airfield.
Last night the families of those who were killed declined to comment.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Fletcher Memorial Home
Age: 59
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While I can sympathise with the request for a gate guardian, not only for the 14 who died in 2006 but for all those who flew in Nimrod, I can't help but remember the fate of the Shackleton that was a gate guardian at Lossiemouth. It had less flying hours than the rest of the fleet, and was regularly robbed for spares!
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Blighty
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The proposed site is rubbish... half of the visitors to Kinloss wont see any of it as its a good 1/2 mile down the road...
Think we should make a massive stand and put it above SHQ... worst case is it falls off and productivity will increase when we lose the pen pushers.
Think we should make a massive stand and put it above SHQ... worst case is it falls off and productivity will increase when we lose the pen pushers.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hehee what pen pushers. Back to the topic though I think moving such a large aircraft to other locations is a no no. The place they have selected is the only viable choice im lead to believe.
I think its a good idea every other station has some sort of gate guard and a Nimrod would be a fitting tribute to the base, lets hopeits not 29 , somebody thinks that might be going to one of the aerospace museums Wooowwwoooooooo ghosties
I think its a good idea every other station has some sort of gate guard and a Nimrod would be a fitting tribute to the base, lets hopeits not 29 , somebody thinks that might be going to one of the aerospace museums Wooowwwoooooooo ghosties
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Take the wings off (or the outer sections) and get it up the road towards the main gate. Stick it on the grass and the east end of and just south of the road which heads to the Sgts Mess from SHQ. Google Earth suggests you could shoehorn one in there diagonally.
The bit on the Burghead road (between the OMQs and the forest?) just doesn't do her justice.
I'd live to see a Nimrod guarding the gate at ISK.
The bit on the Burghead road (between the OMQs and the forest?) just doesn't do her justice.
I'd live to see a Nimrod guarding the gate at ISK.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Deepest darkest London
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What is the intended fate of those that are not going into the rapidly dwindling Mk4 production line anyway? Send one to Shawbury (for Cosford? as Hendon is full Duxford probably wouldn't have the space so its scrap most likely ....
St Mawgan, or whats left of it has a gate guardian already, so doesn't really need one??
V1
St Mawgan, or whats left of it has a gate guardian already, so doesn't really need one??
V1
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: up north
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I heard it was coz the contract for the grass cutting was set in 'concrete' and would cost millions to have changed.........any more educated guesses
Have you looked at the obstacles enroute to the front gate? It would be like getting a Nav to the galley when the back door is shut.
Quiet night on prune eh?
Have you looked at the obstacles enroute to the front gate? It would be like getting a Nav to the galley when the back door is shut.
Quiet night on prune eh?
Presumably the same obstacles that prevented the first gate guardian - the Shackleton that had been immaculately refurbished by the engineers and the paint bay which was left at the back of the Sgts Mess while the powers that be decided how they would get it to that same area outside the guardroom. Unfortunately leaving a very light ac without tie downs and strong winds led to a mating manoeuvre between the aircraft and -IIRC - the kitchen, in which neither came off very well, and the aircraft then sadly ended its days on the firedump. Even so it still provided spares for 8 Sqn - one of its wingtips was used as a replacement after a 'minor' taxying incident!
