Nimrod R1-XW666 'Damien'
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Yeovil,Somerset
Age: 52
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nimrod R1-XW666 'Damien'
Hello all.
Hope you are all well.
I'm in the middle of writing some words about Nimrod R1, XW666, and its forced landing on the Moray Firth back in 1995.
The pilot, Art Stacey, is kindly helping with words, facts and some photos.
I was wondering if any of you good folk served on the R1 with 51 Sqn and speciffically XW666. If any of you did serve I was hoping you might be able to pass on any points of interest. Any funny incidents or any unusual missions would be great. If any of you had any photos I could use would be excellent.
As most of you will be aware, there was, and still is, a lot of secrecy revolving around what the R1 guys got up too; so please be careful what you post on this open thread.
Please feel free to PM me or email at; [email protected]
Thank you all in advance, very much appreciated as always.
Hope you are all well.
I'm in the middle of writing some words about Nimrod R1, XW666, and its forced landing on the Moray Firth back in 1995.
The pilot, Art Stacey, is kindly helping with words, facts and some photos.
I was wondering if any of you good folk served on the R1 with 51 Sqn and speciffically XW666. If any of you did serve I was hoping you might be able to pass on any points of interest. Any funny incidents or any unusual missions would be great. If any of you had any photos I could use would be excellent.
As most of you will be aware, there was, and still is, a lot of secrecy revolving around what the R1 guys got up too; so please be careful what you post on this open thread.
Please feel free to PM me or email at; [email protected]
Thank you all in advance, very much appreciated as always.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Temporarily missing from the Joe Louis Arena
Posts: 2,131
Received 27 Likes
on
16 Posts
I spent 10 years on 51 and never once heard '66 referred to as Damien.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Erehwon
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you need an updated photo of that cockpit section in Doncaster, just shout as I only live a couple of miles away from it. However, it's pretty mashed up and most of the flight deck has been pillaged mightily.
PM me if you want to discuss it. As an aside, the last time I saw it was coming through the gates at Woodford on a low loader, having been recovered from the oggin.
PM me if you want to discuss it. As an aside, the last time I saw it was coming through the gates at Woodford on a low loader, having been recovered from the oggin.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: cardboard box in't middle of t'road
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Should've changed triple 6 to 616 for the number of the Beast.
Had to phone my missus the day it went in, RTB to Kinloss from SAR callout when the news broke, sorry Stumpy.
Had to phone my missus the day it went in, RTB to Kinloss from SAR callout when the news broke, sorry Stumpy.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Yeovil,Somerset
Age: 52
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
XW666-Damien
Hello Gents.
Thank you all for your replies, much appreciated.
'Damien'; so was it not known as this? I know 666 was also known as the 'Beast' but I was told by Art that it was also jokingly referred to as Damien.
I met Art earlier in the year when he gave a talk about 666 and the ditching. He did make a lot of references to 'Damien' and made a comment about a future aircraft that will have the 666 serial. I'm wondering if it was either a nickname that came into existance later on or just used by the air / ground crew of 666?
Thank you for the offer of some up-to-date photos of 666, I will pm you shortly.
Thank you all for your help.
Thank you all for your replies, much appreciated.
'Damien'; so was it not known as this? I know 666 was also known as the 'Beast' but I was told by Art that it was also jokingly referred to as Damien.
I met Art earlier in the year when he gave a talk about 666 and the ditching. He did make a lot of references to 'Damien' and made a comment about a future aircraft that will have the 666 serial. I'm wondering if it was either a nickname that came into existance later on or just used by the air / ground crew of 666?
Thank you for the offer of some up-to-date photos of 666, I will pm you shortly.
Thank you all for your help.
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Age: 91
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Damien
I am probably totally incorrect, but ISTR that, in the Trotter's household, son Damien was perceived by Rodney (or 'Wodney', if occifers prefer) to be somewhat Satanic.
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: The Sunny Side
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hard to remember much about specific airframes as an engineer, bit I seem to recall that 66 was the last aircraft to make it out to Akrotiri for GW1. It had been in at NMSU for a major and then rushed through EWAD to join the party.
NMSU and EWAD had surpassed themselves with this one, it was a complete bag of sh!te, including leaking like a sieve when it arrived.
It was a long time ago now and I could have the wrong aircraft, but I'm sure one of the crew can confirm from their logbooks.
S-D
NMSU and EWAD had surpassed themselves with this one, it was a complete bag of sh!te, including leaking like a sieve when it arrived.
It was a long time ago now and I could have the wrong aircraft, but I'm sure one of the crew can confirm from their logbooks.
S-D
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK East Anglia
Age: 66
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Certainly recall the fuel leaks post major. NMSU sent a CWP down to 4 hangar to fix it. stopped us getting on with more important stuff as the floor was up and down so many times to change one or two of the forward fuselage tanks (Rack 3/4 area).
14 years on EWAU/D never heard 66 referred to as Damien. Most probably a throw back to the Oliver Reed films of the era.
Does anyone recall which a/c had the extra frame in the tail cone (I think it may have been FR70A) caused problems when we tried to move waveguide between airframes - gave up in the end each was individually made.
66 was the last a/c I worked on - new floor for Starwindow which was fitted during the major at NMSU. before I was posted to Brize. Good job the sub racks and all the LRUs were not fitted when it went in. One of my old lads called me up at Brize within the hour. I must admit I just shut my office door and shed a tear or three.
14 years on EWAU/D never heard 66 referred to as Damien. Most probably a throw back to the Oliver Reed films of the era.
Does anyone recall which a/c had the extra frame in the tail cone (I think it may have been FR70A) caused problems when we tried to move waveguide between airframes - gave up in the end each was individually made.
66 was the last a/c I worked on - new floor for Starwindow which was fitted during the major at NMSU. before I was posted to Brize. Good job the sub racks and all the LRUs were not fitted when it went in. One of my old lads called me up at Brize within the hour. I must admit I just shut my office door and shed a tear or three.
Hard to remember much about specific airframes as an engineer, bit I seem to recall that 66 was the last aircraft to make it out to Akrotiri for GW1. It had been in at NMSU for a major and then rushed through EWAD to join the party.