Last Nimrod Mission
 

The last Nimrod mission took place yesterday when XW664 flew back to Waddington. A sad day and very much the end of an era. There will be a couple of more flights for the OSD fly-past and hopefully two delivery flights.

I did wonder if it had been extended when Mrs Smiter's Mail came out with this today but apparently not! I guess the drones and Edinburgh will have to track the big fella from lair to lair by themselves now. Oh well, never mind.

Sad day indeed Daf but at least they'll be going to good homes. :ok:

Do you happen to know where they will be going?

Are these the two R1s? And yes, does anyone know where they are being retired to?

And isn't that Daily Wail picture captioned as an R1 actually an MR2 (R1s have no MAD boom, innit)?

So I assume their replacements , the dreaded "Jointed Rivets" will be arriving any day now then ?:mad::mad:

Now i am puzzled! The buzz at ShabbyWood was that they had been extended to November. Guess you can't always trust the rumour mill.:{

SSD,
Photo Search Results | Airliners.net

- you expected accuracy from a British journo?

Dave

G'day Daf.....Yep a sad day and the end of an era......what you gonna do now or will it be more golf. Hotel Ferg is here if you need a rest.

Anyone know when the R1 is slated to arrive at EGNX so I can take my camera in to record it........ BTW one of the MR4 noses has been donated to Cranfield Uni for cockpit design studies or the like.....

Nah the GR4 will take that role on too!!!!! :rolleyes:

How nice they allowed a final fly past at the forthcoming Waddington Air Show.

Ahh. Bugger.

XW664 on return to RAF Waddington. Well done 51 Squadron on a job well done!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/...e17d9b6d_z.jpg
NIMROD-R1-XW664 by llihmot, on Flickr

TJ

Fergineer, don't tempt me! Unfortunately the current spouse is Mrs Hucker III, consequently the golf will have to wait for a decade or two :(

Waddington
 

The old girl was sent off with dignity today. A good day provided by 51 Sqn and Waddington. 64 will be going to East Midlands evidently, though 49 is still up in the air, so to speak!

UK Jivet Joint Maintenance Update
 

Back in 2008, a U.S. Rivet Joint mechanic was silenced after the United Kingdom’s MoD submitted a bid to purchase three RC-135’s through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales Program. The mechanic recently agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Air Force in exchange for withdrawing his complaint. The UK should hire this Yank to oversee the American contractors so that Her Majesties’ Air Force doesn’t end up with the same dangerous deficiencies overlooked by the United States maintenance teams. See attached pres-releases dated May 2011.
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/05/27-3
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/26/2907012/air-force-whistleblower-settles.html

Nimrod disposals
 

Chatting to one of the staff at the Cosford Museum in April, I was told that a Nimrod was being sent there to add to their collection. Can anyone confirm or refute that?

E Midlands Aeropark and IWM Duxford.

Surprised they didn't make an approach at Wyton today, being their home for many years.

A very sad day indeed. Unfortunately the sun didn't shine on Nimrod R1 XV249.

A few snaps of the retirement on the 28th. The sets also contains images of XW664 & XW665 since 2009.

NIMROD R1 Retirement 2011 - a set on Flickr

XV249 Winter & Summer

NIMROD R1 XV249 Winter & Summer - a set on Flickr

No need for photography comments on flickr or forum. Please feel free to comment on aircraft/type/event.

Thanks for looking.

TJ

You missed the Wyton flypast on Monday then?