Hawker Siddeley Nimrod

Nimrod
RAF Nimrod MR2 taxis for takeoff
Type	Maritime patrol aircraft
Manufacturer	Hawker Siddeley BAE Systems
Maiden flight	May 1967
Introduced	October 1969
Status	Active
Primary user	Royal Air Force
Number built	49 (+2 prototypes)
Developed from	de Havilland Comet

The Nimrod is a maritime patrol aircraft developed in the United Kingdom. An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing building testing selling and maintaining Aircraft, Aircraft parts Hawker Siddeley was a group of British manufacturing companies renowned for their aircraft production. BAE Systems plc (BAE is a British defence and aerospace company headquartered in Farnborough, England, that has global interests particularly The maiden flight of an Aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A Maritime patrol aircraft, also simply patrol aircraft, or by the older term patrol bomber, is a Fixed-wing aircraft designed to operate for long The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located It is an extensive modification of the de Havilland Comet, the world's first jet airliner. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A jet aircraft is an Aircraft propelled by Jet engines Jet aircraft fly much faster than Propeller -powered aircraft and at higher altitudes -- as high as An airliner is a large Fixed-wing aircraft with the primary function of transporting paying passengers It was originally designed by de Havilland's successor, Hawker Siddeley, now part of BAE Systems. The de Havilland Aircraft Company (less commonly spelled de Haviland was a British aviation manufacturer founded in 1920 when Airco, of which Geoffrey Hawker Siddeley was a group of British manufacturing companies renowned for their aircraft production. BAE Systems plc (BAE is a British defence and aerospace company headquartered in Farnborough, England, that has global interests particularly A major modification was the fit of a large weapon bay under the fuselage that can carry and drop torpedoes, mines, bombs and other stores. Sonobuoys for tracking submarines are dropped from special launchers in the rear of the fuselage.

It has been the Royal Air Force's primary Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) since the early 1970s, when it replaced the piston-engined Avro Shackleton. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The RAF uses two Nimrod variants: the MR2 variant in the Maritime and Reconnaissance role; the R1 variant in a reconnaissance and electronic intelligence gathering capacity (ELINT).

The Nimrod was the first jet-powered MPA of any significance. Earlier MPA designs used piston or turboprop engines to improve fuel economy and allow for lengthy patrols. A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is a Heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating Pistons to convert A turboprop engine is a type of aircraft powerplant that uses a Gas turbine engine to drive a Propeller. Jet engines are most economical at high altitudes and less economical at low altitudes. However, the transit to the operational area can be made at high altitude and in a jet aircraft this is not only economical on fuel but fast as well, compared to earlier piston-powered aircraft. After transit, the Nimrod descends to its patrol area.

1 Development
- 1.1 MR1
- 1.2 R1
- 1.3 MR2
- 1.4 AEW3
- 1.5 MRA4
2 Design
3 Operators
- 3.1 Former RAF Squadrons
4 Accidents and incidents
5 Specifications (MR2/R1)
6 Specifications (MRA4)
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

Development

MR1

Nimrod development began in 1964 as a project to replace the elderly Avro Shackleton. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Like many other successful maritime patrol aircraft, it was based on a civil airliner which had reached the end of its market life — in this case, the Comet 4. The first two RAF aircraft were unfinished Comet 4 airliners. The Comet's turbojet engines were replaced with Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans (for better fuel efficiency, particularly at the low altitudes required for maritime patrol). TurboJET (噴射飛航 is the brand name for the operations of the Hong Kong -based Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management Limited (信德中旅船務管理有限公司 WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A turbofan is a type of Jet engine, similar to a Turbojet. It essentially consists of a Ducted fan with a smaller diameter turbojet engine Fuel efficiency, in its basic sense is the same as Thermal efficiency, meaning the efficiency of a process that converts chemical potential energy contained in a carrier Major fuselage changes were made, including an internal weapons bay, an extended nose for radar, a new tail with electronic warfare (ESM) sensors mounted in a bulky fairing and a MAD (Magnetic anomaly detector) boom. Electronic warfare ( EW) is the use of the Electromagnetic spectrum to effectively deny the use of this medium by an adversary while optimizing its use by friendly A magnetic anomaly detector (MAD is an instrument used to detect minute variations in the Earth's magnetic field. After a first flight in May 1967 the RAF ordered 46 Nimrod MR1s. The first example entered service in October 1969. Five squadrons were eventually equipped with the MR1.

R1

Hawker Siddeley (now BAE Systems) Nimrod R1

Three Nimrod aircraft were originally adapted to the SIGINT role, replacing the Comet C2s and Canberras of No. BAE Systems plc (BAE is a British defence and aerospace company headquartered in Farnborough, England, that has global interests particularly 51 Squadron in May 1974. The R1 is distinguished from the MR2 by the lack of a MAD boom. A magnetic anomaly detector (MAD is an instrument used to detect minute variations in the Earth's magnetic field. Only since the end of the Cold War has the role of the aircraft been officially acknowledged. Officially these were once described as "radar calibration aircraft". The R1s have not suffered the same rate of fatigue and corrosion of the MR2s and will continue in service long after the MR2 is replaced by the MRA4. New Bombardier Sentinel R1 (ASTOR) aircraft due for delivery from mid 2004 may take on some duties performed by the R1. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout One R1 has been lost in a flying accident since the type's introduction; this occurred in May 1995. To replace this aircraft an MR2 was selected for conversion to R1 standard, and entered service in December 1996.

The Nimrod R1 is based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, England and flown by 51 Sqn. RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs) is a county in the east of England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland No 51 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operate the Nimrod R1 from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire

MR2

Starting in 1975, 32 aircraft were upgraded to MR2 standard, including modernisation of the electronic suite and (as the MR2P) provision for in-flight refuelling and additional ESM pods on the wingtips. Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling ( IFR) air-to-air refueling ( AAR) or tanking, is The in-flight refuelling capability was introduced during the Falklands War, as well as hardpoints to allow the Nimrod to carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile (giving rise to the aircraft being called "the largest fighter in the world"). The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range Air-to-air missile carried by Fighter aircraft and recently certain gunship helicopters Eventually all MR2s gained refuelling probes and the "P" designation was dropped.

The Nimrod MR2 carries out three main roles. Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Unit Warfare (ASUW) and Search and Rescue (SAR). Its extended range enables the crew to monitor maritime areas far to the north of Iceland and up to 4,000 km out into the Western Atlantic. With Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR), range and endurance is greatly extended. The MR2 is a submarine killer carrying up to date sensors and data processing equipment linked to the weapon systems. In addition to weapons and sonobuoys, a searchlight can be mounted in the starboard wing pod for Search and rescue (SAR) operations. A sonobuoy (a Portmanteau of Sonar and Buoy) is a relatively small (typically 4⅞ inches or 124 mm in diameter and 36 inches or 910 mm long expendable For the TV series of this title see Search and Rescue (TV series.

The crew consists of two pilots and one flight engineer, two navigators (one tactical navigator and a routine navigator), one Air Electronics Officer (AEO), the sonobuoy sensor team of two Weapon System Operators (WSOp ACO) and four Weapon System Operators (WSOp EW) to manage passive and active electronic warfare systems. Two of the WSOps will be used as observers positioned at the port and starboard beam lookout windows when flying in dense air traffic. The MR2 has the longest bomb bay of any NATO aircraft. The older name of the Indian city of Mumbai, is correctly spelled " Bombay "

The Nimrod MR2 is based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland and flown by 201, 120 and 42(R) Squadrons. RAF Kinloss is a Royal Air Force station It is near Kinloss, on the Moray Firth in the north of Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. No 201 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray No 120 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss No 42 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is the Operational Conversion Unit for the Nimrod MR2, based First maintenance of the MR2 is carried out by the Nimrod Line Sqn. The Nimrod Line Squadron (NLS are responsible for the day to day servicing and first line maintenance of the Nimrod MR2 based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland Software Support for the MR2 is carried out by the Nimrod Software Team also based at RAF Kinloss.

AEW3

Nimrod AEW3

In the mid-1970s the Nimrod's duties were expanded to include Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW) — again as a replacement for the Lancaster-derived, piston-engined Shackleton which was still in service in that role. "Lanc" redirects here Distinguish from Lank (adjective and from Amon Lanc (a place in Tolkien's fiction WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The aircraft were modified by British Aerospace at the former Avro plant at Woodford, Greater Manchester to house the GEC Marconi radars in a bulbous nose and tail. British Aerospace (BAe was a UK aircraft and defence-systems manufacturer that is now part of BAE Systems. Woodford is situated in the south of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport in Greater Manchester, England. Marconi Electronic Systems (MES, or GEC-Marconi as it was until 1998 was the defence arm of The General Electric Company (GEC From the start of the first flight trials in 1982 the Nimrod AEW3 project was plagued by cost over-runs and problems with the GEC 4080M computer used for the Mission System Avionics (MSA). The GEC 4000 was a series of 16 / 32-bit Minicomputers produced by GEC Computers Ltd ^[1] Eventually, the MoD realised that the cost of developing the radar system to achieve the required level of performance was prohibitive and the probability of success very uncertain, and in December 1986 the project was cancelled. The Ministry of Defence ( MoD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters The RAF eventually received seven Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft instead, with proven radar performance, and electronic enhancements to the original USAF systems to address UK-specific requirements. The Boeing Company is a major Aerospace and defense corporation originally founded by William E WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Of the 11 RAF Nimrods that were selected for conversion to AEW3 standard, none returned to the maritime reconnaissance role: all were eventually reduced for spares to support the maritime Nimrod fleet.

MRA4

Nimrod MRA4

In 1992 the RAF started a Replacement Maritime Patrol Aircraft (RMPA) procurement programme to replace the Nimrod MR2 aircraft. To meet the requirement BAe proposed rebuilding each Nimrod MR2 with new engines and electronics which it called Nimrod 2000. The RAF considered bids from Lockheed with its P-3 Orion, Loral Corp. with rebuilt ex-US Navy Orions, and Dassault with the Atlantique 3, but in December 1996 awarded the contract to BAe for the Nimrod 2000 as the Nimrod MRA4. The Lockheed Corporation (originally Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company was an American aerospace company founded in 1912 which merged with Martin Marietta WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Loral Corporation was a small Bronx defense contractor on the verge of Bankruptcy in 1972 before it was acquired by Bernard Schwartz, who over Dassault Aviation is a French aircraft manufacturer of military, regional and business jets, a subsidiary of WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

The MRA4 is essentially a new aircraft, with current-generation Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines, a new larger wing, and fully refurbished fuselage. Rolls-Royce plc ( is a British Aircraft engine maker and the second-largest in the world behind GE Aviation. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Much larger air intakes are required because the airflow of the BR710 engine is significantly higher than that of the original Spey 250. The rebuilt aircraft borrows heavily from Airbus technology; the wings are designed and manufactured by BAE Systems (a former Airbus partner) and the glass cockpit is derived from that of the Airbus A340. Airbus SAS (ˈɛərbʌs in English, Airbus2ogg|/ɛʁbys/]] in French, and /ˈɛːɐbʊs/ in German) is an aircraft manufacturing A glass cockpit is an Aircraft cockpit that features electronic instrument displays.

Development has taken longer than anticipated and the first of 12 MRA4s have not yet entered service. The contract was initially for the supply of 21 rebuilt Nimrods, but due to technical problems the project was halted. Early in the contract BAE discovered that none of the Nimrod airframes supplied by the RAF for refurbishing were to a common standard. This considerably complicated the refurbishment process.

The British House of Commons Defence Committee, in July 2004, reported a forecast cost of £3. The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords The Defence Committee is one of the Select Committees of the British House of Commons, having been established in 1979 5 billion compared to £2. 8 billion approved at Main Gate ^[2]. They noted that the in-service date had slipped to 2009, compared to the date of 2003 approved at "Main Gate" ^[3].

Following public recriminations between the Ministry of Defence and BAE the development contract was renegotiated for the revised number of 18 aircraft. The Ministry of Defence ( MoD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters Officially this is attributed to increased capability and availability MRA4 will provide, but it has been suggested that this is in effect compensation to BAE, who had to absorb the cost increases. Announcing plans for the future of the British military on 21 July 2004, the Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon detailed plans to reduce the upgrade programme to cover only 16 aircraft and suggested that an eventual fleet of twelve might suffice. Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The Secretary of State for Defence is the senior United Kingdom government minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence. Geoffrey 'Geoff' William Hoon (born 6 December 1953 is a British Politician. On 18 July 2006 BAE received a production contract worth £1. Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 1 billion for 12 MRA4s. This involves the completion of 3 development aircraft and conversion of 9 more. In response to the news of the production contract, Mike Turner, Chief Executive of BAE Systems, said: "The new NIMROD MRA4 is a world leader in terms of maritime patrol platforms and it will give the UK at least 30 years of adaptable capability in maritime reconnaissance and attack operations. " The Nimrod MRA4 mission systems enable the crews to gather, process and display up to 20 times more technical and strategic data than in the current aircraft, the MR2. The Searchwater 2000 radar is capable over land as well as water: it can sweep the area the size of the UK every 10 seconds. Delivery of the first production order aircraft to the RAF is planned for 2009 ^[4]

On 30 July 2007, the Nimrod MRA4 successfully released the Sting Ray torpedo for the first time. Events 1419 - First Defenestration of Prague. 1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Sting Ray torpedo is a British Acoustic homing light-weight Torpedo (LWT manufactured by BAE Systems. The safe separation trial to demonstrate the ability to deploy this weapon from the MRA4 bomb bay took place at Aberporth range off the coast of West Wales during the 75th flight of development aircraft PA02. Three MRA4 development aircraft have been built and are undergoing an intensive flight-test programme. PA02 achieved its first flight in December 2004 and is being used to test elements of the mission system and the air vehicle. [1] [2]

In September 2007, another milestone was passed with the handover of the Aircraft Synthetic Training Aids (ASTA) from Thales Training & Simulation to BAE Systems. Thales Training & Simulation is an international company with over sixty years experience in simulation and training ASTA provides the RAF with a sophisticated synthetic training suite that will allow them to transfer training from the aircraft to the ground-based training system. This will increase the availability of the aircraft for operational missions while optimising flight and mission crew performance and capabilities. [3]

Design

On patrol at high weight all four engines are used, but as fuel is consumed and weight is reduced, first one engine is shut down and then a second is shut down. This allows the remaining engines to be run at an efficient RPM rather than running all engines at less efficient RPM. A "rapid start" system is fitted should the closed-down engines need to be restarted quickly. Instead of relying only on ram air for restarting an engine, compressor air from a live engine is used in a starter turbine which rapidly accelerates the engine being started. For transit back to base, the shut down engines are restarted and the aircraft ascends to altitude.

Operators

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force

Squadron	Aircraft	Station (if available)
No. 42(R) Squadron	Nimrod MR2	RAF Kinloss
No. 51 Squadron	Nimrod R1	RAF Waddington
No. 120 Squadron	Nimrod MR2	RAF Kinloss
No. 201 Squadron	Nimrod MR2	RAF Kinloss

As of late 2006, 15 Nimrod MR2 and 3 Nimrod R1 remain in operation. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located No 42 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is the Operational Conversion Unit for the Nimrod MR2, based RAF Kinloss is a Royal Air Force station It is near Kinloss, on the Moray Firth in the north of Scotland. No 51 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operate the Nimrod R1 from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. No 120 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss No 201 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray ^[5]

Former RAF Squadrons

No. 203 Squadron RAF - Nimrod MR1
No. 206 Squadron RAF - Nimrod MR1 & MR2

Accidents and incidents

Five Nimrods have been lost in accidents ^[6], ^[7]:

Date	Type	Serial number	Operator	Fatalities	Location	Category	Notes
17 November 1980	Nimrod	XV256	RAF	2	near Forres, Kinloss	A1	Bird strike on takeoff
3 June 1984	Nimrod	XV257	RAF	0	near Newquay	A1	Suspect flare in Bomb Bay
16 May 1995	Nimrod	XW666	RAF	0	near Lossiemouth	A1	Air start valve electrically cross connected
2 September 1995	Nimrod	XV239	RAF	7	near Toronto	A1	Air display
2 September 2006	Nimrod	XV230	RAF	14	near Kandahar	A1	On a NATO support operation over Afghanistan

On the 17 November 1980, a Nimrod MR2 crashed near RAF Kinloss after three engines failed following multiple birdstrikes, killing both pilots. No 203 Squadron RAF was formed when No 3 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service, was renumbered No History 206 Squadron was founded on 1 November 1916 as No 6 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service, a fighter unit that was disbanded less than a year later Events 284 - Diocletian is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Forres ( Gaelic Farrais) is a town and former Royal burgh situated in the north of Scotland on the Moray coast approximately Kinloss ( Gaelic: Cinn Lois) is a village in Moray, Scotland. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Newquay (Tewynn Pleustri is a town Civil parish, Seaside resort and Fishing port on the north Atlantic coast of Cornwall, Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Lossiemouth is a town in Moray, Scotland. Originally the port belonging to Elgin, it became an important and innovative fishing town Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Royal Air Force Nimrod XV230 was the first Nimrod to enter operational service with the RAF. For the 2001 film see Kandahar (film; for the Kandahar meteorite of 1959 see Meteorite falls; for the places in Azerbaijan see Cəndəhar and The North Atlantic Treaty Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Events 284 - Diocletian is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) RAF Kinloss is a Royal Air Force station It is near Kinloss, on the Moray Firth in the north of Scotland. The remaining crew survived. ^[8]

On the 2 September 1995, a Nimrod MR2 crashed into Lake Ontario while participating in the Canadian International Air Show, killing the 7 crew members. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. The Canadian International Airshow is an annual Air show that has been held at the end of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto since 1949 ^[9]^[10]

On the 2 September 2006, a Nimrod MR2 crashed near Kandahar, Afghanistan, killing 12 airmen, one marine and one soldier — the largest single day loss of UK personnel since the Falklands War. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Royal Air Force Nimrod XV230 was the first Nimrod to enter operational service with the RAF. For the 2001 film see Kandahar (film; for the Kandahar meteorite of 1959 see Meteorite falls; for the places in Azerbaijan see Cəndəhar and ^[11]. On 23 February 2007, the Ministry of Defence took the decision to ground all MR2 aircraft while investigations were carried out on fuel pumps. Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The MoD were quick to stress that this was not necessarily related to the crash in Afghanistan. ^[12]

On 5 November 2007, a further mid-air incident took place in XV235 over Afghanistan, when the crew noticed a fuel leak during air to air refuelling operations ^[13]. Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling ( IFR) air-to-air refueling ( AAR) or tanking, is After issuing an in-flight mayday, the aircraft was landed successfully. Mayday is an emergency Code word used internationally as a Distress signal in Voice procedure radio communications This incident is highly significant, coming only a month before the issue of the report of a Board of Enquiry into the 2 September 2006 fatal accident to XV230 in (likely) very similar circumstances. An aviation accident is defined in the International Civil Aviation Organization Annex 13 Royal Air Force Nimrod XV230 was the first Nimrod to enter operational service with the RAF. The RAF subsequently suspended air to air refuelling operations for this type.

On 4 December 2007 the report of the findings of the official Board of Enquiry into the loss of XV230 was published. "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Board believed that the No 7 tank dry bay was the most likely location for the seat of the fire, with the most probable cause being escaped fuel contacting a Supplementary Conditioning Pack (SCP) airpipe at 400 degrees Celsius ". . . after entering a gap between two types of insulation". Four separate factors were listed as contributing to the accident: ^[14]

Age of the aircraft;
Maintenance policy;
Failure of hazard analysis and lack of a fire detection and suppression system;
Not identifying the full implications of successive changes to the fuel system and associated procedures.

Links into the full report on the XV230 accident can be found here ^[15]

On 23 May 2008, the coroner who led the inquest into these deaths stated that the entire Nimrod fleet had "never been airworthy from the first time it was released to service" and urged that it should be grounded. ^[16] Assistant deputy coroner for Oxfordshire Andrew Walker added: "This cavalier approach to safety must come to an end. There were failures. . . [in monitoring the planes' safety]. . . that should, if the information had been correctly recorded and acted upon, have led to the discovery of this design flaw within the Nimrod fleet. "^[17]

Specifications (MR2/R1)

General characteristics

Crew: 12
Capacity: 24 POB (Persons On Board)
Length: 38. 63 m (126 ft 9 in)
Wingspan: 35. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. The wingspan (or just span) of an airplane or a Bird, is the distance from the left wingtip to the right wingtip 00 m (114 ft 10 in)
Height: 9. 45 m (31 ft)
Wing area: 197. 05 m² (2,121 sq ft)
Empty weight: 39,009 kg (86,000 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 87,090 kg (192,000 lb)
Powerplant: 4× Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans, 54. The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass The Maximum Takeoff Weight or Maximum Takeoff Mass of an Aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot of the aircraft is allowed to attempt to take off WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A turbofan is a type of Jet engine, similar to a Turbojet. It essentially consists of a Ducted fan with a smaller diameter turbojet engine 09 kN (12,160 lbf) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 923 km/h (575 mph)
Cruise speed: 787 km/h (490 mph)
Range: 8,340-9,265 km (5,180-5,755 mi)
Service ceiling 13411 m (44,000 ft)

Armament

R1: none
MR2: AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-84 Harpoon, Sting Ray torpedo, depth charges, nuclear depth bombs (until 1992)

Specifications (MRA4)