David Morton
Lifetime Supporter
The Hawker Siddely/ Bae Nimrod finally retires from service after a few untoward incidents in recent times. 41 years in service is quite a record
but is, in someways, a tribute to the stupidity of the Ministry of Defence
Procurement Executive as well. There always was better airframes, almost off the shelf, that could have equally done the job at a fraction of the price both in terms of finance and lives lost.
Still, it's done and in the early days, while it was still new, it was a really fun aeroplane to drag around the world and it always made sure that the crew were invited to any party going anywhere every night. Our crew almost had it's own aeroplane for three years and we had our own keys for it as well. (Ours was FS948 - a bit like the Austin BMC cars had)
Royal Air Force Kinloss was the last station that still had airworthy (I use the term lightly) aeroplanes and there may still be two aeroplanes sitting serviceable on Search and Rescue Standby. Apart from that they've been pensioned off. The OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) is now gearing up for son of Nimrod - The Nimrod MR4 - but before they do that I expect one colossal party that may last for a few days.
Additionally a print of the Maritime Nimrods , the Squadron crests and the Station Crests has been organised and it looks a lot like this ;
I know that none of you have been involved the way I have, however if you are an aeroplane buff and want one of these prints they are being sold at £5 plus £3 post and packing and any profits will be going to charity, I'm reliably told. Allegedly. No - that really has to be the truth - we are talking Officers and Gentlemen here.
They are available from
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
and the person doing them is Buster Edwards
Flt Lt Edwards
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></o>
42 (Torpedo Bomber) Sqn<o></o>
Royal Air Force<o></o>
Kinloss<o></o>
Forres<o></o>
Moray
Dave M<o></o>
but is, in someways, a tribute to the stupidity of the Ministry of Defence
Procurement Executive as well. There always was better airframes, almost off the shelf, that could have equally done the job at a fraction of the price both in terms of finance and lives lost.
Still, it's done and in the early days, while it was still new, it was a really fun aeroplane to drag around the world and it always made sure that the crew were invited to any party going anywhere every night. Our crew almost had it's own aeroplane for three years and we had our own keys for it as well. (Ours was FS948 - a bit like the Austin BMC cars had)
Royal Air Force Kinloss was the last station that still had airworthy (I use the term lightly) aeroplanes and there may still be two aeroplanes sitting serviceable on Search and Rescue Standby. Apart from that they've been pensioned off. The OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) is now gearing up for son of Nimrod - The Nimrod MR4 - but before they do that I expect one colossal party that may last for a few days.
Additionally a print of the Maritime Nimrods , the Squadron crests and the Station Crests has been organised and it looks a lot like this ;
I know that none of you have been involved the way I have, however if you are an aeroplane buff and want one of these prints they are being sold at £5 plus £3 post and packing and any profits will be going to charity, I'm reliably told. Allegedly. No - that really has to be the truth - we are talking Officers and Gentlemen here.
They are available from
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
and the person doing them is Buster Edwards
Flt Lt Edwards
QFIs<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" /><o
></o>42 (Torpedo Bomber) Sqn<o
></o>Royal Air Force<o
></o>Kinloss<o
></o>Forres<o
></o>Moray
Dave M<o
></o>
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