Nimrod project progress at Kinloss
 

Morayvia, which formed in May 2011, successfully purchased HS Nimrod MR.2 XV244, the 8th Nimrod delivered to the RAF at Kinloss, in mid- February 2012. Morayvia is taking forward work originally started by the Nimrod Heritage Group to preserve a Nimrod in Moray. Following submission of its Concept Paper on 31st May 2011, which detailed ambitious plans for an Aerospace Centre at Kinloss, Morayvia has worked to promote the project as a major tourist attraction that would help to diversify Moray’s economy. Morayvia is working with personnel of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), RAF Kinloss and 39 Engineer Regiment on storage of the Nimrod whilst the aerospace centre project is developed. XV244 is the last remaining Nimrod MR.2 at Kinloss. It is presently stored in a hangar, however, the cost of keeping it stored inside is currently unaffordable and it will be moved to a hard standing soon, close to the proposed Aerospace Centre site at Kinloss. Whilst in storage it will be looked after by a team of volunteers, most of whom are former engineers, to ensure it is kept in the best condition possible. During the 1980’s XV244 was based at RAF St Mawgan, in Cornwall, and took part in many notable operations. XV244 made its last flight on 31st Jul 2009 having flown just over 18,000hours and was undergoing servicing when it was announced that the Nimrod MR.2 fleet would be withdrawn from service in March 2010, a year earlier than the originally planned date.In addition to the complete XV244, Morayvia has also managed to acquire the cockpit and forward fuselage section of Nimrod MR.2 XV240. This Nimrod had been, until recently, stationed as the gate guardian at RAF Kinloss since 2009. The cockpit and fuselage will become an exhibit in the Morayvia Aerospace Centre. XV240 was first delivered to RAF Kinloss as a MR.1 in July 1970 and converted to MR.2 status in 1983. A variety of membership options can be seen on the Morayvia web site.
For more information on Morayvia and its ambitious future plans please refer to the Morayvia website MORAYVIA | Registered Charity SC042895. A tourism project to help diversify Moray's economy

BZ to Stan and the team!

Duncs:ok:

And here,s the old girl :D

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...4423-2-123.jpg

Good luck Stan, i hope you can pull it off. Its a real shame that the MOD is charging storage with all those hangers standing empty. There is just too many people up top with blood on their hands trying to wipe the whole Nimrod fiasco under the carpet.

So you expect the tax payer to pick up the bill for the electricity used in the hangar for a privately owned, defunct former RAF Aircraft?

Put in a meter and pay for it. Better than wasting money on sending allowances to the families of immigrants from the EU whose wives and children are not even in this country! At least they are trying to preserve something British and make a tourist attarction for the future.

Way better than this sort of CARP

Taxpayer spends £400,000 on fig trees for MPs
Almost £400,000 of taxpayer money has been lavished on fig trees to decorate the office block of MPs.

Why am I not surprised that KF would have something negative to say about it. There's really no need to be so down on everything and everybody.

Well done you guys. I wish we could preserve more of our historic and noble aircraft. Although I never flew the mighty hunter, my father was a Maritime man for 37 years so in his memeory I am very happy to see this.

Really good luck!!!

It looks much better in grey than pprune yellow.

Nice work, Now in the old Ashes to Ashes style saying lets get her fired up and off out to the Horn of Africa Areas
BZ to all looking after her :)

XV244
 

To enable KF to sleep easier I can assure him that no tax payer money or even electricity is being consumed whilst 244 is in the hangar.

Then what is OP refering to when it is stated that

It is presently stored in a hangar, however, the cost of keeping it stored inside is currently unaffordable and it will be moved to a hard standing soon, close to the proposed Aerospace Centre site at Kinloss. ?

KF
 

I suppose you think spending £24 million on a fountain in Bradford city centre is value for money - the hangars are there - you can turn the lights off and the cost is zero - bit like yourself

I flew that fantastic beast when I was on 42 (TB) Sqn and 236 OCU in the mid/late 80s, and at Kinloss after I was forcably ejected up there when the St Mawgan 9000 x 300 ft newly-resurfaced runway was handed over to Sea King helecopters.

To avoid the abuse from those that don't get get these issues on this site, I would be most grateful if you would please PM me with the plan of action or intentions for the old girl.

Best wishes.

Avtur,

I think and I hope that the idjuts that don't get it are in enough of a minority not to make any difference to those that do get it. I take your point, but don't let the ill informed drive the conversation underground, please.

With best intentions,

Courtney

Roger; lets have it then...

Excellent work. Congratulations to Stan and the team.

KF

It s modern, no nonsense, fiscally responsible thinking such as yours that has resulted in only two Lancasters left flying in the world today. And only one of those in the Mother country. Compare this to the equivalent US aircraft of the same era.

I know you love fishing, but just be nice and let those that care have this one little thing. Thanks. Appreciate it.

;)

"Crikey, that's a short runway"
"But look how wide it is..."

Big enough for any helecoptore. :E

[BTW Well done chaps :ok: ]

XV244 is in an unheated hangar for the very short term as the group cannot afford the rent proposed by DIO. During the time it is under cover it is only visited during daylight so no electricity is used at any time. In the very near future 244 will be towed to a temporary location at Kinloss pending the clearance of the caravan site at which time it will be moved there. The long term plan of Morayvia is to provide a purpose-built Aviation Heritage Centre to celebrate the involvement of the Moray Firth airfields through the years and XV244 will form the centrepiece. The centre will include the nose section of XV240, so as to provide wheel chair access, a cafeteria and an Imax Theatre so scope for lots of local employment.

Oldsarboy
Knowing that you are using no government money to keep the old girl in a hanger (the new paint job looks great) why, if the hangers are not yet required by the army, are you being thrown out? Is there no one in light blue that can make a decision up there, or is the MOD calling the shots at Kinloss?
As other contributors have already said with the exception of KF, this is our heritage and history that is being squandered for very little if any cost saving.