Don't be bakin that ole humble pie just yet!!

I can't find a reliable source anywhere to prove this event has taken place!! A few faked foto's on this site and a bit of back slapping does not a test flight make!!

Come on people point out an official web site where I can view this magnificent feat against all odds!!!

As for my other predictions? Well it looks like my beloved Newcastle will sign Wayne Rooney this weekend and then we really will win the premiership this year!!!



:=

Well if Geoff was getting some pics, they aren't on the BAe website yet. Must've put 'em in Boots to get devved.

http://www.baesystems.com/newsroom/2004/aug/260804news3.htm

Mind you this could be faked as well. No piccies sadly

JT

I have a cracking picture of the Nimrod but I can't work out how to get it on here......sorry for being dull but I have only just registered and have never posted before.

Can anyone explain.....in lamens terms please!

The joys of having Sky Digital TV. All I had to do was select BBC North West for the local news broadcast at 1830 hrs on the day of the alleged event and amazing, faked footage of the non-event on the telly :ok: Best you get in touch with the BBC and complain about them making up a news story and showing fake footage of something that never happened ;)

Mad Mark!!!

:mad:

Theres a couple of good piccies here

Scroll down to view.

Regards, RP.

Ah....OK thanks for that I will know in the future.

The 2 Piccies I had were the same ones as linked to by Rhino Power.

Never mind, still very happy it happened.

Just flown over the top of Warton on the ILS for EGNH - the MR4 wasn't there ! So maybe The Gorilla is right after all :confused: (Or perhaps it was just in a hanger :p )

I took this as it came into land at Warton.

http://tinypic.com/3hhzd

Read somewhere that on the first flight it flew longer due to 'lower than expected fuel consumption', hopefully this will mean that it will beat its performace specs accross the board

...and I thought the B1900 was untidy - this things got bits and pieces all over the place ....

PA1 flew for longer than expected because the flight went so well.
Once at Warton and after all the media scrummage the aircraft was towed to a hangar to be stripped and checked and made ready for the next flight..

Handling and other flight checks were obviously not pushed with it being first flight. That will come later this year.

And The Gorilla is away stuffing his face with...? :}

Enough abuse already!!

I may have been wr
I may have been wro#
I may have been wron..

No I can't say it!!

But in Officer speak I can say that my prediction may have been slightly inaccurate!!

I have trawled backwards through my previous comments concerning this large white elephant and I can see where some of you may have been misled. I have always said and still say the the Nimrod MRA4 will never fly!! Of course where the confusion lies is that last week the Airframe PA01 flew not a Nimrod MRA4. We still have a long ways to go before that happens!! Trying to fit all that complex electronics down the back of a narrow 1950's tube may well be the end to this project!! Just like the last Nimrod thingy!!

And of course I never saw the Sir Bobby Robson sacking coming either!! What price my prediction for Newcastle now??

Go one fire away! I deserve it!!

:D

"We" don't have a long way to go at all. PA2 is already being tested in the hangar with the Mission System fitted.

Frankly, if the MR2 can fly with all that steam-driven junk crammed into the back, I am sure the MRA4 will manage ;-)

Ought we not to give the gorilla a break? Did he not verbalise the innermost thoughts of even the most die hard maritime man?

My hypothesis is that he did in fact just that. Congratulations to all those involved in this first flight. For all those who seek to mock (myself included at some stages!) this project, I hope a new sense of optimism is born.

A fleet of Nimrod MRA4 aircraft in service in the near future will only enhance our air force.

S15

Was very glad to see the damn thing fly at last

Was one who observed the many test flights from Woodford in the 80s of the extended nose and tail cones. And I enjoyed the Vulcan getting fitted with refueling nozzle.

No - that does not make me an expert. But have an interest -

So this is the result ? The result of many, many years of Government bungling.

Does it actually bring any benefit in terms of a strategic part of UK defences ?

We seem to have made done with the old stuff. I am very impressed with how what is basicaly an old Comet airframe and how it has been turned into something decent.

I am a tad pissed off here with all the knocks.

I think an official statement would be appropriate.

LL34

ll34,

What do you mean by an official statement?

Select Commitee on Defence - Procurement Approach

The original contract for the supply of aircraft, training systems and an interim support package was the result of competitive tendering. As a result of the recent re-structuring however, the development and production of the first three Nimrod MRA4s as development aircraft will continue, with first flight planned for 2004. We have agreed with the Company that there should be a controlled and economic cessation of series production until design has reached a level of demonstrated maturity during trials on the first three aircraft. If the potential for the Nimrod MRA4 as an "adaptable aircraft" can be realised and is cost effective, we will ensure that the necessary provisions for adaptability are included in the first batch of production aircraft. At the appropriate time, we will consider whether to launch the production of the remaining Nimrod aircraft to a new adaptable standard or the existing MRA4 standard. We will also consider at the appropriate time whether it would be economic to convert the remaining development aircraft to a production standard.