Good spot Pete, I didn't see it. Wonder what 'other aircraft' are filling Nimrod's role? I can't believe that taking MRA2 out of service before MRA4 is IN service is actually achieving anything. After all aren't they the same basic airframes with the mods that are supposed to have made them safer than ever? Another Govt decision that I just can't understand. Unless of course someone here knows better (wouldn't be difficult). Mike
No doubt one massive and damning blow: Official Documents.Gov - Haddon-Cave Report - 'A Failure of Leadership, Culture and Priorities'
They've done pretty well considering the airframe is based on the old Comet! Its a cost-cutting exercise for sure. In other related news have a look at the report on the flooding of HMS Endurance. They deployed her for 18 months, and then put in place a regime whereby a third of the crew were away on leave/courses etc at any one time!
The end of an ERA and of spending loads of tax payers money, it must be the most expensive plane in our line up, that said it will be missed as at present there is no natural follow on.
As a member of the A&AEE Overseas Experimental Unit (OEU) located at RAF Idris, Libya from 1964-66 I was involved in the 'hot and high' and other trials of what was to become the Nimrod. Comet - surely one of the most beautiful jet aircraft ever built! Colin.
The RAF must feel that the Sentinel surveillance performance exceeds that of the Nimrod and at a cheaper operating cost.It is also much more fitted to the gathering of real time battlefield intelligence.A question of using a modern aircraft adapted for maritime and terrain surveillance and the platform for the latest radar gear. The Nimrod has been an expensive aircraft to keep in service over the years, then there were the deficiencies identified in the flight refuelling system.In the past the investment spent on finding a resolution for the Marconi radar deficiency was an embarrassment and delayed the "update" Nimrod to deliver what it was intended to be used for.You might say that the MOD had extended patience in dealing with Marconi to solve the radar equipment problem.
Harry, the Sentinel does not do the same job as the Nimrod. The final planned operational flight of the Nimrod MR2 takes place next Wednesday; landing just prior to a party in one of the hangars. The flypast yesterday was a great day out: part of the official celebration of 41 years of service. The weather deteriorated just prior to our 'on-top' time, but the leader managed to make it - we just kept behind him! Roxy
Lots of new satellites floating about up there , perhaps these aircraft are redundant in more ways than one .
Whilst that may become the case in the future, at present, satellites lack the flexibility of aircraft. Furthermore, you can't drop a weapon - either a torpedo or search and rescue equipment - from a satellite. Roxy
Harry, the Sentinel does not do the same job as the Nimrod Roxy Roxy, The statement from the MOD is that the role of the Nimrod would be undertaken "by a variety of different aircraft fixed wing and helicopters" It will require an amalgam of aircraft the fullfil the role until the MRA4 is established in squadron service. The Sentinel can perform the maritime surveillance role despite being a RAF/Army asset but it cannot deliver a maritime weapons system. There are rumours that the Hercules will be utilised for S&R long range role and I cannot see not.Its not lateral thinking as past aviation history will reveal. The real omission is providing an interim aircraft to deliver a maritime weapons system but having said that, apparently, there is the defence pundit's claim that the threat from submarines is now much diminished. When you look at the rationalisation of defence and the overall philosophy of the air defence of the UK,we are now down to three air defence airfields,namely Coningsby,Leeming and Leuchars with the south of the country depending on the bases in Western Europe and the anticipation that enemy will enter our airspace from a northerly direction. The decision to withdraw the MR2 from service a year earlier than planned is clearly a cost cutting exercise but as I see it we are to use the MR2 airframes to create the MRA4 updated version.The engineering must have been properly addressed but I am just wondering if a decision should have been made to start afresh accepting that the defence budgets are "sensitive".
Harry, You are correct that a number of fixed and rotary assets will be required to fill the role of the Nimrod MR2 until its successor enters Service. As a Nimrod pilot, I am not in a position to comment on how well those assets can perform these roles; suffice it to say, I am confident that the Nimrod MR2 was - and is until Wednesday - the best maritime patrol aircraft in the world. Bar none. Furthermore, it and its crews proved it time and time again during national and international exercise and on operations. Moreover, once the initial teething troubles that are bound to be associated with a new aircraft are resolved, I am certain that the Nimrod MRA4 will take over that mantle. The Sentinel does not - as far as I am aware - have a maritime recce role; however, it may well be that it as well as the E3 fleet and other platforms will adapt to fill the, hopefully, short capability gap: in the same way that the Nimrod MR2 successfully rose to the challenge of overland ISTAR in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I have no doubt that their crews are as professional as those of the Nimrod fleet. Whilst I have no doubt that, in the future, satellites may well take over a number of recce roles traditionally performed by land (or sea) based assets, I am of the opinion that that time is still some way off - at least for UK plc One of the issues is the availability and flexibility of satellite assets and the time taken to get the information to the boots on the ground - the 'flash to bang' time. As for the MRA4, it will initially perform the traditional roles of the maritime patrol aircraft; however, personally, I have no doubt that the quality of personnel - both aircrew and groundcrew - will ensure that the aircraft is capable of performing any role that it is tasked to carry out to the highest possible standards. Well, that's my party political broadcast on behalf of the Nimrod fleet complete! Roxy ;-)
Roxy, my son in law served with 51 Sqd at Waddington, he is currentlly at Lyneham, ( Sgt.avionics ) and I agree with all you say as I,m sure he would. Derek
Roxy, Thanks for the response.I realise that you are restricted in what you may say. Yes I was thinking about the MR2 flexibility in Iraq and Afghaniistan and the role of the E3.A question of achieving as much multirole performance that an aircraft is capable of giving. No different to any other engineering discipline in searching for solutions.
