Nimrod MR2 operations will cease by 31 March 2011.
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Nimrod MR2 operations will cease by 31 March 2011.
According to Flight, "Operations with the (Nimrod) MR2 will cease by 31 March 2011."
See MoD responds to damning report into loss of Nimrod XV230
So that's 9 airframes into service and all crews CR within 16 months from now? Is it me, or does that not seem somewhat.........unlikely?
See MoD responds to damning report into loss of Nimrod XV230
So that's 9 airframes into service and all crews CR within 16 months from now? Is it me, or does that not seem somewhat.........unlikely?
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Given that PA4, the first production MRA4 only flew for the first time last month, is it realistic to expect 4-5 aircraft to arrive at Kinloss within the next 18 months?
Much as I hope that they do arrive I cannot see it happening, so is it to be a capability gap, or another extension of service?
Y_G
Much as I hope that they do arrive I cannot see it happening, so is it to be a capability gap, or another extension of service?
Y_G
The worry isn't the relatively recent first flight of the first production aircraft, it's that it hasn't done the flying it should have done since then, held up by a customer survey, I believe.
The worry is also that in the current climate the required support contract is still unsigned.
I believe ISD is defined as four aircraft and crews.
The worry is also that in the current climate the required support contract is still unsigned.
I believe ISD is defined as four aircraft and crews.
MR2 OSD has been Mar 2011 for some time now I think, no change there. MRA4 ISD was "late 2010" (mind you it has been a variety of dates from 2000 onwards I believe), and has slowly drifted now to Dec 2010. In addition I believe the definition of MRA4 in service has drifted from 6 a/c and x crews to 4 a/c and 4 crews. This was no doubt on the basis that we are only getting 9 a/c, not 12, 18, 21, etc, and - more likely in my somewhat cynical opinion- because 4 a/c and 4 crews is easier to achieve by the end of 2010! But that is just my opinion.
Late 2010 still being talked about here:
Nimrod MRA4 - BAE Systems
More recently:
PICTURE: BAE's first production Nimrod MRA4 gets RAF livery
I don't know how many MRA4s will be in service by Mar 2011, but then again, how many MR2s are left now, and will be left by Mar 2011?
Late 2010 still being talked about here:
Nimrod MRA4 - BAE Systems
More recently:
PICTURE: BAE's first production Nimrod MRA4 gets RAF livery
I don't know how many MRA4s will be in service by Mar 2011, but then again, how many MR2s are left now, and will be left by Mar 2011?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The Mark 2 into service was 1:1.
I think it was initially a crew conversion to type with 206 being the first. It was a while before the OCU got its aircraft. The difference I suppose was that you had operational crews fully trained in the aircraft operation who just needed an equipment conversion. Even so there were gotchas that were effectively undocumented.
The Master Arm Safety Switch was one. The first sortie the navigators did their checks and then put the MASS OFF. At the same time the FE was doing launcher gate valve checks but with the MASS OFF the gate valves remained open. The aircraft failed to pressurise so the first sortie ended with a fuel dump to land
Later new aircrew joining the force would need a full type conversion. I imagine the MRA4 will be quite different.
I think it was initially a crew conversion to type with 206 being the first. It was a while before the OCU got its aircraft. The difference I suppose was that you had operational crews fully trained in the aircraft operation who just needed an equipment conversion. Even so there were gotchas that were effectively undocumented.
The Master Arm Safety Switch was one. The first sortie the navigators did their checks and then put the MASS OFF. At the same time the FE was doing launcher gate valve checks but with the MASS OFF the gate valves remained open. The aircraft failed to pressurise so the first sortie ended with a fuel dump to land
Later new aircrew joining the force would need a full type conversion. I imagine the MRA4 will be quite different.
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"According to Flight, "Operations with the (Nimrod) MR2 will cease by 31 March 2011"
Not news at all. Also the 4 MRA4 frames and 4 trained crews ISD definition for 31 Dec 2010 has been around for some time too.
Not news at all. Also the 4 MRA4 frames and 4 trained crews ISD definition for 31 Dec 2010 has been around for some time too.
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PN
Spot on, 206 first to convert - and is was a half-cocked bodge job from the outset. I have a 206 Sqn photo upstairs showing the arrival of the first MK2 (XV236) and that kite plus 237 bore the brunt of the 206 conversion which took well over a year. The crash of the third MK2 (256??) obviously had an effect but even so it took several years to convert all the squadrons. At the time many of us thought the course way too long, but all that time at Bredbury Hall helped ease the pain. Especially as being a dry bod, I got to go back for the Loral conversion!
I doubt this has much relevance to the MRA4, as this aircraft is....
"A whole new concept"
As quoted ad nauseum by BAE, Woodford, Nimrod 2000 Familiarisation Course May 1998
PS
HC's report contains a concise summary of the Nimrod 2000/MRA4, dating back to the the Staff Requirement (1992), the initial contract for 21 aircraft with an in service date of 2000 (signed 1996) and then all the subsequent changes.
I've done a fag packet calculation reckoning the aircraft to be ten years late and ten times the original cost (per unit).
So for those who were trumpeting recently about how good this is going to be my answer as a taxpayer is...
It ****ing better be good; we could have converted a london bus into a decent LRMPA for that amount of dosh.
Spot on, 206 first to convert - and is was a half-cocked bodge job from the outset. I have a 206 Sqn photo upstairs showing the arrival of the first MK2 (XV236) and that kite plus 237 bore the brunt of the 206 conversion which took well over a year. The crash of the third MK2 (256??) obviously had an effect but even so it took several years to convert all the squadrons. At the time many of us thought the course way too long, but all that time at Bredbury Hall helped ease the pain. Especially as being a dry bod, I got to go back for the Loral conversion!
I doubt this has much relevance to the MRA4, as this aircraft is....
"A whole new concept"
As quoted ad nauseum by BAE, Woodford, Nimrod 2000 Familiarisation Course May 1998
PS
HC's report contains a concise summary of the Nimrod 2000/MRA4, dating back to the the Staff Requirement (1992), the initial contract for 21 aircraft with an in service date of 2000 (signed 1996) and then all the subsequent changes.
I've done a fag packet calculation reckoning the aircraft to be ten years late and ten times the original cost (per unit).
So for those who were trumpeting recently about how good this is going to be my answer as a taxpayer is...
It ****ing better be good; we could have converted a london bus into a decent LRMPA for that amount of dosh.
