Air Atlantique to acquire Nimrod

Steyr

Article taken from Facebook to members of the Classic Flight Club

The Air Atlantique Classic Flight, based at Coventry Airport, can now confirm that it has made an official bid to take on one of the RAF’s last Nimrod MR2 aircraft.

Subject to final agreement the aircraft is set to make its final flight on Tuesday May 11 when it is planned to arrive at Coventry Airport in the hands of the delivery crew.

Although Classic Flight does not intend to keep the aircraft flyable the team will maintain the aeroplane in fully ground running and taxi-able condition.

The Nimrod was designed as a replacement for the Avro Shackleton (an example of which is also displayed alongside the Classic Flight fleet). Developed from the de Havilland Comet airliner the first Nimrod flew in May 1967 and the type entered service two years later.

“The Nimrod will make a dramatic addition to our collection of classic 1950s and 60s British aircraft” says Commercial Manager Steve Bridgewater. “Nimrods served with distinction in the Falklands, Gulf and Afghanistan conflicts and we intend to maintain our aeroplane as a tribute to all who flew on, worked in and served alongside the ‘Mighty Hunter.’

“Air Atlantique has long been associated with classic airliners - from the Douglas DC-3 and DC-6 through to the de Havilland Dragon Rapide that we still use for pleasure flying. It therefore seems fitting that we should add a descendent of the de Havilland Comet, which was the world’s first jet airliner, to the Classic Flight’s eclectic fleet.”

In addition to its service in the Falklands, Gulf and Afghanistan conflicts the Nimrod also gave sterling service during the 1970s Cod Wars between Iceland and the UK over fishing rights. The aircraft has also been used extensively for Search and Rescue duties around the British coast and, notably, located the survivors of the notorious 1979 Fastnet race.

The aircraft is due to be replaced in RAF service by the remodelled Nimrod MRA.4 in 2012.

“The Nimrod has an important story to tell and we want to preserve an example for future generations of enthusiasts, historians and aviators,” continues Steve Bridgewater.

Classic Flight has been provisionally allocated Nimrod MR2 XV232 – although this allocation may subsequently change. XV232 was one of the first Nimrods modified for in-flight refuelling and is a Falklands veteran. On May 15, 1982 it carried out a 19 hour survey flight from Ascension Island covering 8,300 miles.

Plans are for the aeroplane to arrive at Coventry mid morning on May 11, where it will ultimately become an exhibit in the Classic Flight’s new ‘AIRBASE’ working museum.

Members of the public will be admitted to the Classic Flight area to see the Nimrod arrive.

Times and final details are subject to change and the arrival may be delayed by weather and technical reasons. Please refer to www.classicflight.com for up to date details.Mutley
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Steyr

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/04/12/340525/retired-nimrod-will-live-on-at-yorkshire-museum.html

Aircraft
DATE:12/04/10
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com

Retired Nimrod will live on at Yorkshire museum
By Craig Hoyle

The UK Royal Air Force will fly one of its recently retired British Aerospace Nimrod MR2s to the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington on 13 April, with the maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft to be put on display as a “live” exhibit.

After making its last flight from RAF Kinloss in Scotland, aircraft XV250 “will be maintained in full ground operational capacity”, the museum says. The Nimrod will join other ex-RAF exhibits including a Handley Page Victor K2 tanker – a type which it operated alongside during the 1982 Falklands War.

One of the last MR2s to have been operated prior to the MR2’s 31 March retirement from service, XV250 was delivered in 1973, as listed in Flightglobal’s MiliCAS database.

“We have been working closely with the RAF for over a year on this project, and are delighted at the confirmation,” says museum director Ian Reed. “Yorkshire Air Museum is probably the only major museum in Europe capable of operating large jets of this type and in this way,” he adds.

Several other Nimrod MR2s will to be flown to UK museums over the coming weeks, including one which will be put on show at Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire.

Steyr

**PICS IN LINK**

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/05/13/341931/picture-record-breaking-nimrod-flown-to-coventry-air.html

Defence
DATE:13/05/10
SOURCE:Flight International

Record-breaking Nimrod flown to Coventry air museum
By Craig Hoyle

A record-breaking ex-Royal Air Force British Aerospace Nimrod MR2 has been flown to Coventry airport, where it will serve as the newest attraction with the Air Atlantique Classic Flight.

A veteran of the Falklands War, XV232 in 1982 set a distance record for a reconnaissance flight that has yet to be beaten. Supported by in-flight refuelling assets, the aircraft covered 8,453 miles (13,609km) in 18h and 50min while monitoring the South Atlantic for Argentinian naval activity.

The recently retired Nimrod landed at Coventry airport on 11 May following a delivery flight from RAF Kinloss in Scotland. It joins Air Atlantique's collection of classic aircraft, which also includes an Avro Shackleton, English Electric Canberras and a Gloster Meteor night fighter.

"It seems fitting that we should add a descendent of the de Havilland Comet - the world's first jet airliner - to the Classic Flight's eclectic fleet," says commercial operations director Steve Bridgewater.

The aircraft will be assigned to a new visitor attraction dubbed Airbase, which will open its doors to the public for the first time on 29 May. Air Atlantique says this is "Britain's largest collection of flyable vintage jets", with more than 30 aircraft to be on show.

XV232 is the third Nimrod MR2 to have been delivered to museums so far, following the transfer of aircraft XV250 and XV226 to Elvington and Bruntingthorpe, respectively.

All three aircraft will be maintained in ground running condition, enabling them to participate in taxi demonstrations for the public. Air Atlantique says its example will be "exercised" on a regular basis.

"The aeroplane is now being decommissioned by a team from RAF Kinloss, after which it will assume a new position within the Airbase visitor centre and will be opened to members of the public for interior tours," it says.

The RAF withdrew its last Nimrod MR2s from operational service on 31 March.