The Aircraft of British Aerospace and BAE SYSTEMS 1977 - 2017 67The Nimrod in service
The Nimrod MR1 entered service in July
- Following on from the 38 Nimrod
MR1s on the HSA Woodford production
were three Nimrod R1s, XW664, 65 and - They were delivered to RAF Wyton
where they were fitted with their
equipment and operational flying only
began in May 1974. They had no MAD tail
and were considerably different internally
as the aircraft carried a large variety of
electronic listening and recording
equipment. Owing to the increasing
complexity and demand for electronic
intelligence these aircraft were frequently
updated with new and additional
equipment, stored in the fuselage and
within the large under-fuselage structure.
As more equipment was needed the
number of crew burgeoned.Nimrod from success to caNcellatioN
The Nimrods MR1s were not long in
service before they were upgraded to
MR2s by replacing their ASV radar
inherited from the Shackleton with the
Thorn-EMI Searchwater system and a
Central Tactical System.The Falklands War –
Operation Corporate
During the Falklands conflict the Nimrods
received substantial modifications. For
instance, with the distances involved
across the South Atlantic a flight
refuelling capability was paramount. BAe
Woodford set to work and speedily fitted
a probe to XV229 for aerodynamic tests.
The probe caused aerodynamic problems
and the aircraft needed a small fin under
the tail and finlets on the horizontal tail
maintain directional stability. The first
completed conversion of a Nimrod was
delivered to Kinloss and cleared for day
and night refuelling on May 3.
Next the MoD demanded that
Sidewinder missiles be trialled. Mountings
were quickly designed for twin
Sidewinders on the Nimrods unused
underwing hardpoints and a trial firing
took place. Harpoon missiles were also
trial launched from the bomb bay. Aircraft
with these refinements were designated
as Nimrod MR2P. There was also an urgent
need for electronic intelligence gathering
and the R1s also suddenly gained
flight-refuelling probes.
In May 1995 Nimrod R1 XW666 was on
an air test from Kinloss when it suffered
double engine fire, the wing caught fire
and following two explosions the pilot
opted for a crash landing in the Moray
Firth. Fortunately the seven crew all
escaped. As the Nimrod R1s played an
invaluable role and were being updated
under the Starwindow programme with
new sensors, receivers, databases and
workstations, the RAF decided that a MR2Nimrod MR2P XV248 banking with its
cavernous bomb bay open. During the
Falklands conflict, Nimrods were equipped for
flight refuelling and owing to the aerodynamic
effects of the probe had fins fitted to their
horizontal tailplane. (Avro Heritage) First production
Nimrod MR1 XV226
which flew over 400
hours on
manufacturers
and service trials.
(Avro Heritage)