8 FLYPAST February 2018
NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE
Nimrod and Shackleton fi re up at Coventry event
Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.2 XV
and Avro Shackleton MR.2 WR
both performed engine runs at their
Coventry base on December 2.
The aircraft are maintained in
‘live’ condition at the Warwickshire
airport, and frequently perform
ground runs for enthusiasts.
In 1982 the Nimrod set a distance
record for a reconnaissance fl ight
that remains unbeaten. It covered8,453 miles (13,609km) in 18 hours and
50 minutes while monitoring the South
Atlantic for Argentinian naval activity.
It made its fi nal fl ight on May 11, 2010,
arriving at Coventry from Kinloss in
Scotland. Today it is looked after by
the Nimrod Preservation Group (NPG).
It is currently the focus of a
fundraising drive. NPG is keen to
acquire a new ground power unit – the
group describes the existing one as‘very temperamental and beyond
repair’. If a replacement can be
purchased, NPG may be able to offer
taxi rides in XV232 in 2018. The unit
is required to power the aircraft up
prior to it running its engines and
generating its own thrust – without
one it will not be able to taxi.
Shackleton WR963 is the subject of
a long-term restoration project that
hopes to return the Griffon-enginedmaritime patroller to the skies.
It fi rst fl ew on March 11, 1954,
and served with numerous units
including 38, 205 and 8 Squadrons.
With more than 15,400 fl ying hours
‘on the clock’ it arrived at Coventry
on July 9, 1991. After much work,
the aircraft is now fully taxiable and
is listed on the UK civil register as
G-SKTN. http://www.xv232.com
http://www.avroshackleton.co.ukAll four of Shackleton WR963’s engines are
run for the crowds at Coventry.
BOTH LIAM SHAWHawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.2 XV
fi res up at Coventry on December 2.