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Author Topic: Nimrod MR4A ZJ518 photos  (Read 2683 times)

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Offline Angry Turnip

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Nimrod MR4A ZJ518 photos
« on: April 11, 2012, 11:08:30 PM »
Attached some photos of BAE Systems Nimrod MR4A ZJ518 that did a few passes at Aldergrove as part of it`s flight test programme.

It was a horrible day;low cloud and drizzle but luckily I had my camera with me.

Hopefully these are of interest to some on here;I think decision to scrap the MR4A was sheer madness.GRRRRR  >:(

Going for US tech in the shape of the RC-135 Rivet Joint just adds insult to injury,even if it is just a stop gap.

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Offline AERTANK

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Re: Nimrod MR4A ZJ518 photos
« Reply #1 on: April 11, 2012, 11:33:35 PM »
Nice catch! I would have loved to see that, I've lucky enough to be there for a few oddities, and even took off in a PA28 after a Tornado GR4! Was it significantly quieter than the MR2?


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Offline Angry Turnip

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Re: Nimrod MR4A ZJ518 photos
« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2012, 11:56:57 PM »
Too be honest I can`t remember if it was quieter or not,maybe- but it did sound different to the MR2,probably due to the new larger intakes and the various odd shaped sensors.

I have always been a big fan of the Nimrod-the tragic loss of the MR2 over Afghanistan,was down to poor design and penny pinching,with the air-to air refueling system.

This had been completely redesigned in the MR4 I believe,yet it was never given a chance;to be honest I blame the US for pressurising the UK Government into using their aircraft,in much the way they bullied the Labour Government into scrapping the TSR.2 project and tried to get the UK to buy the F-111.

Well that`s my theory.
« Last Edit: April 11, 2012, 11:58:00 PM by Angry Turnip »
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Offline AERTANK

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Re: Nimrod MR4A ZJ518 photos
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2012, 12:06:13 AM »
It had more modern engines as well, which is why it needed the larger intakes, but the MR4 like many Military Projects suffered from "Mission Creep" and poor program management (Corruption?) which led to delays and cost over runs! I can understand the need to "Buy British" but sometimes it might be more expedient to buy off the shelf! They do it in other area's of defence most noticeably the "Trident Missiles" which are leased and cannot be used without US agreement!
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