Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2 (XV255) Maritime Patrol Aircraft, City of Norwich Aviation Museum.

Part One :-

The Hawker Siddeley Nimrod was an extensive modification of the Comet Jet Airliner. XV255 was delivered to RAF St Mawgan in 1971, saw service in the Falklands and was based at RAF St Mawgan and RAF Kinloss between 1983 and 2010. XV255 flew from RAF Kinloss to Norwich Airport on 24th May 2010 for display at the City of Norwich Aviation Museum.

The Hawker Siddeley Nimrod is a retired Maritime Patrol Aircraft developed and operated by the United Kingdom, it was an extensive modification of the de Havilland Comet, the world's first operational jet airliner. It was originally designed by de Havilland's successor firm, Hawker Siddeley, further development and maintenance work was undertaken by Hawker Siddeley's own successor companies, British Aerospace and, later, BAE Systems.

Designed in response to a requirement issued by the Royal Air Force to replace its fleet of ageing Avro Shackletons, the Nimrod MR1 / MR2's were primarily fixed-wing aerial platforms for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Operations, secondary roles included Maritime Surveillance and Anti-Surface Warfare. It served from the early 1970's until March 2010. The intended replacement was to be extensively rebuilt Nimrod MR2's, designated Nimrod MRA4, however, due to considerable delays, repeated cost overruns, and financial cutbacks, the development of the MRA4 was abandoned in 2010.

The RAF also operated a small number of the Nimrod R1, an Electronic Intelligence Gathering (ELINT) variant. A dedicated Airborne Early Warning Platform, the Nimrod AEW3, was in development from late 1970's to the mid-1980's, however, much like the MRA4, considerable problems were encountered in development and thus the project was cancelled in 1986 in favour of an off-the-shelf solution in the Boeing E-3 Sentry. All Nimrod variants had been retired by mid-2011.

Starting in 1975, 35 aircraft were upgraded to MR2 standard, being re-delivered from August 1979, the upgrade included extensive modernisation of the aircraft's Electronic Suite. Changes included the replacement of the 1950's ASV Mk.21 Radar used by the Shackleton and Nimrod MR1 with the new EMI Searchwater Radar, a new Acoustic Processor (GEC-Marconi AQS-901) capable of handling more modern Sonobuoys, a new Mission Data Recorder (Hanbush) and a new Electronic Support Measures (Yellow Gate) which included new Pods on the wingtips.

Provision for in-flight refuelling was introduced during the Falklands War (as the MR2P) as well as hardpoints to allow the Nimrod to carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile to counter enemy Argentine Air Force Maritime Surveillance Aircraft. In preparation for operations in the Gulf War Theatre, several MR2's were fitted with new communications and ECM equipment to deal with anticipated threats, at the time these modified aircraft were given the designation MR2P(GM) (Gulf Mod).

The Nimrod MR2 carried out three main roles - Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Unit Warfare (ASUW) and Search and Rescue (SAR). Its extended range enabled the crew to monitor maritime areas far to the north of Iceland and up to 2,200 nautical miles out into the Western Atlantic. With Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) range and endurance was greatly extended. The crew consisted of two Pilots and one Flight Engineer, two Navigators (one Tactical Navigator and a Routine Navigator), one Air Electronics Officer (AEO), the Sonobuoy Sensor team of two Weapon System Operators (WSOp ACO) and four Weapon System Operators (WSOp EW) to manage Passive and Active Electronic Warfare Systems.

Until 1992, the Nimrod MR2 was based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland (120, 201 and 206 Squadrons) and RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall (42 and 38(R) Squadrons). Following Options for Change, 42 Squadron was disbanded and its number reassigned to 38(R) Squadron. The Nimrod MR2 aircraft was withdrawn on 31st March 2010, a year earlier than planned, for financial reasons. The last official flight of a Nimrod MR2 took place on 26th May 2010, with XV229 flying from RAF Kinloss to Kent International Airport to be used as an evacuation training airframe at the nearby MOD Defence Fire Training and Development Centre.

Part Two Link :- flic.kr/p/2ieci2s

Sourced from Wikipedia en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Nimrod

Taken on: May 22, 2016

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Sets appears in: • City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Norfolk. • Norwich, Norfolk.

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