When I commented on the Nimrod piccie with your van, I found these tucked away: The plane, XW666 was fresh from a refit at RAF Lossiemouth, going back to Waddington. My uncle was Navigator that day with a crew of 7 in total...just after take off he was asked for a divertion after the pilot called mayday, one of the engines had caught fire..in the meantime, the same engine on the co pilots side had also caught fire. They could not make an airfield, it was too far to risk it, it was putting the crew at risk. They ditched in the Moray Firth where the Nimrod slowly sunk! The pics show the wreckage after Damien (the planes name) was recovered! Fortunately no one was killed
they are based on the old Comets from a while back, with redesigned airframes etc and modern engines. The track record for safety was excellent, however, due to the nature of the equipment, the aircrews suffered. My uncle flew on 51 Sqdrn - he was part of a three crew team (3 men x 9), out of which, back in 2005, there was two else three guys remaining, Richard passed away in 2009 from cancer (which he faught since 1986) believed to be from the equipment
Ive got some more somewhere at my parents - there are more, similar to those just as well: members of the crew
Amazing pics thanks for posting. Standing next to the nimrod at Bruntingthorpe made me feel inexplicably emotional... due maybe to its size and history, it must be proud and emotional to know your uncle flew it. And to get out of that wreck alive is amazing...makes our day to day worries seem mundane
I know exactly what you mean!! We got the chance to have a taxi in one at RAF St Mawgan many years ago, the amount of equipment they carried on board was overwhelming but, considering what they did, essential! To walk away from a crash is good in itself, all of the crew even better, to escape major injuries..well!! One of the best one, he used to tell..they was up at 30,000 ft & the main computer caught fire..the response from one of the crew, chuck some of this fuel that is leaking onto it, it'll sort it out good and proper!! I will find some more photo's, they are at my parents in a scrap book, I'll look over the weekend & scan them in! They are quite an awe inspiring plane, I will say ;D
Indeed and NO WHERE NEAR AS STYLISH. correct me if iam wrong but there was a proposed upgrade for the nimrod which would have made them even better, what is also sad there was loads of hours left on the airframes as well
Yes indeedy - they re lifed 9 else 10 at BAE Woodborough and Warton, sadly they got stripped and dumped in a landfill site, buried under waste Didnt the fusilage of the old airplane get relifed, had a new wing structure fitted and kitted out with modern technology?
