Hawker Siddeley Nimrod
Nimrod | |
---|---|
Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.2 | |
Role | Maritime patrol aircraft |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Hawker Siddeley BAE Systems |
First flight | 23 May 1967 |
Introduction | 2 October 1969 |
Retired | 28 June 2011[1] |
Primary user | Royal Air Force |
Number built | 49 (+2 prototypes) |
Developed from | de Havilland Comet |
Variants | Nimrod R.1 Nimrod AEW.3 Nimrod MRA.4 |
The Hawker Siddeley Nimrod is a retired maritime patrol aircraft developed and operated by the United Kingdom. It was an extensive modification of the de Havilland Comet, the world's first operational jet airliner. It was originally designed by de Havilland's successor firm, Hawker Siddeley; further development and maintenance work was undertaken by Hawker Siddeley's own successor companies, British Aerospace and, later, BAE Systems.
Designed in response to a requirement issued by the Royal Air Force (RAF) to replace its fleet of ageing Avro Shackletons, the Nimrod MR1/MR2s were primarily fixed-wing aerial platforms for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations; secondary roles included maritime surveillance and anti-surface warfare. It served from the early 1970s until March 2010.[2] The intended replacement was to be extensively rebuilt Nimrod MR2s, designated Nimrod MRA4. Due to considerable delays, repeated cost overruns, and financial cutbacks, the development of the MRA4 was abandoned in 2010.[3]
The RAF also operated a small number of the
Development
MR1
External image | |
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Circa 1967, Nimrod XV242 taxiing at RAF Changi during the type's test and evaluation phase in the Far East |
On 4 June 1964, the British Government issued
The Nimrod design was based on the Comet 4 civil airliner which had reached the end of its commercial life (the first two prototype Nimrods, XV148 and XV147, were built from two final unfinished Comet 4C airframes). The Comet's
R1
Three Nimrod aircraft were adapted for the signals intelligence role, replacing the Comet C2s and Canberras of No. 51 Squadron in May 1974.[12][13] The R1 was visually distinguished from the MR2 by the lack of a MAD boom.[14] It was fitted with an array of rotating dish aerials in the aircraft's bomb bay, with further dish aerials in the tailcone and at the front of the wing-mounted fuel tanks. It had a flight crew of four (two pilots, a flight engineer and one navigator) and up to 25 crew operating the SIGINT equipment.[15]
Only since the end of the Cold War has the role of the aircraft been officially acknowledged; they were once described as "radar calibration aircraft". The R1s have not suffered the same rate of fatigue and corrosion as the MR2s. One R1 was lost in a flying accident since the type's introduction; this occurred in May 1995 during a flight test after major servicing, at RAF Kinloss. To replace this aircraft an MR2 was selected for conversion to R1 standard, and entered service in December 1996.[16]
The Nimrod R1 was based initially at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire, and later at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, and flown by 51 Sqn. The two remaining Nimrod R1s were originally planned to be retired at the end of March 2011, but operational requirements forced the RAF to deploy one to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus on 16 March in support of Operation Ellamy. The last flight of the type was on 28 June 2011 from RAF Waddington, in the presence of the Chief of the Air Staff, ACM Sir Stephen Dalton.[1][17] XV 249, the former MR2, is now on display at the RAF Museum Cosford, West Midlands. The R1 was replaced by three Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft, acquired under the Airseeker project; the first aircraft was delivered in late 2013.[18]
MR2
Starting in 1975, 35 aircraft were upgraded to MR2 standard, being re-delivered from August 1979.
Provision for
The Nimrod MR2 carried out three main roles: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Unit Warfare (ASUW) and Search and Rescue (SAR). Its extended range enabled the crew to monitor maritime areas far to the north of Iceland and up to 2,200 nautical miles (4,000 km) out into the Western Atlantic. With Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR), range and endurance was greatly extended. The crew consisted 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.
Until 2010, the Nimrod MR2 was based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland (
AEW3
In the mid-1970s a modified Nimrod was proposed for the
MRA4
The Nimrod MRA4 was intended to replace the capability provided by the MR2. It was essentially a new aircraft, with current-generation Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines, a new larger wing, and fully refurbished fuselage. The project was subject to delays, cost over-runs, and contract re-negotiations. The type had been originally intended to enter service in 2003 but was cancelled in 2010 as a result of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, at which point it was £789 million over-budget;[3] the development airframes were also scrapped.[28] Some functions were allocated to other assets, with Hercules transport aircraft and E-3 Sentry Airborne Early Warning aircraft given some tasks, but the cancellation of the MRA4 resulted in a significant gap in long-range maritime patrol and search-and rescue capability.[29][30]
In July 2016, the
Design
Overview
The Nimrod was the first jet-powered MPA to enter service, being powered by the Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engine.
At the start of a patrol mission all four engines would normally be running; as the aircraft's weight was reduced by fuel consumption, up to two engines could be shut down, allowing the remaining engines to be operated more efficiently.
The standard Nimrod fleet carried out three basic operational roles during their RAF service: Anti-Submarine Warfare duties typically involved surveillance over an allocated area of the North Atlantic to detect the presence of Soviet submarines in that area and to track their movements. In the event of war, reconnaissance information gathered during these patrols would be shared with other allied aircraft to enable coordinated strikes at both submarines and surface targets.[34] Search and rescue (SAR) missions were another important duty of the RAF's Nimrod fleet, operating under the Air Rescue Coordination Centre at RAF Kinloss and were a common sight in both military and civil maritime incidents. Throughout the Nimrod's operational life, a minimum of one aircraft was held in a state of readiness to respond to SAR demands at all times.[34]
Avionics
The Nimrod featured a crew of up to 25 personnel, although a typical crew numbered roughly 12,[10] most of whom operated the various onboard sensor suites and specialist detection equipment.[35] A significant proportion of the onboard sensor equipment was housed outside the pressure shell inside the Nimrod's distinctive pannier lower fuselage.[33] Sensor systems included radar, sonar and the MAD; a 'sniffer' could detect exhaust fumes from diesel submarines as well.[38] The Nimrod and its detection capabilities were an important component of Britain's military defence during the height of the Cold War.[39]
The Nimrod's navigational functions were computerised, and were managed from a central tactical compartment housed in the forward cabin. Various functions such as weapons control and information from sensors such as the large forward
Upon entry into service, the Nimrod was hailed as possessing advanced electronic equipment such as onboard
Armaments and equipment
The Nimrod featured a sizeable
The Nimrod could also be fitted with two detachable pylons mounted underneath the wings to be used with missiles such as the Martel;[33] two specialised pylons were later added to enable the equipping of AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, used for self-defence purposes against hostile aircraft.[35] A powerful remote-controlled searchlight was installed underneath the starboard wing for SAR operations.[33] For reconnaissance missions, the aircraft was also equipped with a pair of downward-facing cameras suited to low and high-altitude photography.[33] In later years a newer electro-optical camera system was installed for greater imaging quality.[44]
Various new ECMs and electronic support systems were retrofitted onto the Nimrod fleet in response to new challenges and to increase the type's defensive capabilities; additional equipment also provided more effective means of identification and communication.
Operational history
Introduction to service
The Nimrod first entered squadron service with the RAF at RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall in October 1969. These initial aircraft, designated as Nimrod MR1, were intended as a stop-gap measure, and thus were initially equipped with many of the same sensors and equipment as the Shackletons they were supplementing.[47] While some improvements were implemented on the MR1 fleet to enhance their detection capabilities, the improved Nimrod MR2 variant entered service in August 1979 following a lengthy development process.[48] The majority of the Nimrod fleet operated from RAF Kinloss in Scotland.[49]
Operationally, each active Nimrod would form a single piece of a complex submarine detection and monitoring mission. An emphasis on real-time intelligence sharing was paramount to these operations; upon detecting a submarine, Nimrod aircrews would inform Royal Navy frigates and other NATO-aligned vessels to pursuit in an effort to continuously monitor Soviet submarines.
Falklands War
Nimrods were first deployed to Wideawake airfield on Ascension Island on 5 April 1982,[52] the type at first being used to fly local patrols around Ascension to guard against potential Argentine attacks, and to escort the British Task Force as it sailed south towards the Falklands, with Nimrods also being used to provide search and rescue as well as communications relay support of the Operation Black Buck bombing raids by Avro Vulcans.[53] As the Task Force neared what would become the combat theatre and the threat from Argentine submarines rose, the more capable Nimrod MR2s took on operations initially performed by older Nimrod MR1s.[54] Aviation author Chris Chant has claimed that the Nimrod R1 also conducted electronic intelligence missions operating from Punta Arenas in neutral Chile.[55] The Chilean government allowed an RAF Nimrod R1 to fly signals reconnaissance sorties from the Desventuradas Islands, gathering information on Argentine Air Force movements.[56][57][58]
The addition of air-to-air refuelling probes allowed operations to be carried out in the vicinity of the Falklands, while the aircraft's armament was supplemented by the addition of 1,000 pounds (450 kg)
Gulf War
A detachment of three Nimrod MR2s was deployed to
After the ground offensive against Iraqi forces had ended, Britain elected to maintain an RAF presence in the region through assets such as the Nimrod and other aircraft.[64] Nimrod R1s operated from August 1990 to March 1991 from Cyprus, providing almost continuous flying operations from the start of the ground offensive. Each R1 was retrofitted with the same Marconi towed active decoy as well as under wing chaff/flare dispensers, reportedly sourced from the Tornado fleet.[citation needed]
Afghanistan and Iraq War
Nimrods were again deployed to the Middle East as part of the British contribution to the US-led
Search and rescue
While the Nimrod MR1/MR2 was in service, one aircraft from each of the squadrons on rotation was available for search and rescue operations at one-hour standby. The standby aircraft carried two sets of Lindholme Gear in the weapons bay. Usually one other Nimrod airborne on a training mission would also carry a set of Lindholme Gear. As well as using the aircraft sensors to find aircraft or ships in distress, it was used to find survivors in the water, with a capability to search areas of up to 20,000 square miles (52,000 km2). The main role would normally be to act as on-scene rescue coordinator to control ships, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters in the search area.[69][70]
The Nimrod was most often featured in the media in relation to its search-and-rescue role, such as in the reporting of major rescue incidents.
Operation Tapestry
The Nimrods were often used to enforce
Variants
Type | Role | Number Built | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
HS.801 | Prototype | 2 | Built using redundant Comet 4 airframes |
MR.1 | Anti-submarine Warfare | 46 | |
R.1 | Signals Intelligence | 4 | One converted from MR.2 |
MR.2 | Anti-submarine warfare | 35 | Modernised MR.1 aircraft |
AEW.3 | Airborne early warning | 11 | Converted from redundant MR.1 aircraft; project cancelled |
MRA.4 | Anti-submarine warfare | 5 | Converted from MR.2; 21 planned; project cancelled |
Operators
- Royal Air Force
- 38 (R) Squadron – 1970–1992, "shadow" squadron identity assigned to 236 OCU, formed from the Maritime Operational Training Unit at RAF St Mawgan, England in 1970 with the MR.1, training role transferred to 42 (Reserve) Squadron in 1992.
- 42 Squadron – 1971–2010, converted to the MR.1 from the Shackleton MR.3 at RAF St Mawgan, England in 1971, converted to the MR.2 1983–84, withdrawn as an operational squadron in 1992 it became the Operational Conversion Unit for the Nimrod at RAF Kinloss. The squadron MR.2 aircraft were withdrawn in 2010 and the squadron prepared to train crews for the MRA.4, following the decision to scrap the MRA.4 the squadron disbanded in 2011.
- 51 Squadron – 1971–2011, R.1s added to fleet in 1971 at RAF Wyton, England to supplement the Comet C.2(R) which were withdrawn in 1975. Moved to RAF Waddington in 1995, the R.1s were the last flying Nimrods when they were withdrawn in 2011.
- 120 Squadron – 1970–2010, converted to MR.1 from the Shackleton MR.3 at RAF Kinloss, Scotland in 1970, converted to the MR.2 1981–82, disbanded in 2010 following the withdrawal of the MR.2 from service.
- 201 Squadron – 1970–2010, converted to MR.1 from the Shackleton MR.3 at RAF Kinloss, Scotland in 1970, converted to the MR.2 1982–83, disbanded in 2010 following the withdrawal of the MR.2 from service.
- 203 Squadron – 1971–1977, converted to MR.1 from the Shackleton MR.3 at RAF Luqa, Malta in 1971, disbanded in 1977 following the decision to withdraw British forces from Malta.
- 206 Squadron – 1971–2005, converted to MR.1 from the Shackleton MR.3 at RAF Kinloss, Scotland in 1970, converted to MR.2 1980–81, disbanded in 2005.
- Nimrod AEW Joint Trials Unit – 1984–1987, trials unit for the AEW.3 based at RAF Waddington.
Aircraft on display
External videos | |
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Nimrod arriving at Manchester Airport aviation viewing park | |
Nimrod conducts flyover prior to landing at Coventry Airport | |
Nimrod MR2 take-off from RAF Kinloss |
- MR2
- XV226 – Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome[75]
- XV231 – Manchester Airport aviation viewing park[76]
- XV232 – Coventry airport[77]
- XV244 – Morayvia[78]
- XV250 – Yorkshire Air Museum[79]
- XV255 – City of Norwich Aviation Museum[80]
- R1
- XV249 – RAF Museum Cosford[81]
- XW664 – East Midlands Aeropark[82]
Accidents and incidents
Five Nimrods were lost in accidents during the type's service with the RAF:[83][84]
- On 17 November 1980, a Nimrod MR2 XV256 crashed near RAF Kinloss after three engines failed following multiple birdstrikes. Both pilots were killed but the remaining crew survived.[85]
- On 3 June 1984, a Nimrod MR2 XV257 stationed at RAF St Mawgan suffered extensive damage when a reconnaissance flare ignited in the bomb bay during flight. The aircraft successfully returned to base but was subsequently written-off due to fire damage. There were no casualties.[86]
- On 16 May 1995, a Nimrod R1 XW666 ditched in the Moray Firth 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from Lossiemouth after an engine caught fire during a post-servicing test flight from RAF Kinloss. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) inquiry identified a number of technical issues as the cause. There were no casualties.[87]
- On 2 September 1995, a Nimrod MR2 XV239 crashed into Lake Ontario while participating in the Canadian International Air Show, killing the seven crew members.[88][89]
- On 2 September 2006, a Nimrod MR2 XV230 crashed near Kandahar in Afghanistan, killing all 14 servicemen on board – the largest loss of UK military personnel in a single event since the Falklands War.[90] This was the first Nimrod to enter service, originally as an MR1 but upgraded to MR2 standard in the 1980s.[91] On 23 February 2007, the Ministry of Defence grounded all Nimrod MR2s while fuel pumps were inspected, but stressed that the inspection was not necessarily related to this crash.[92]
- On 5 November 2007, XV235 was involved in a midair incident over Afghanistan when the crew noticed a fuel leak during mayday call, the crew landed the aircraft successfully. The incident came only a month before the issue of the report of a Board of Enquiry into 2 September 2006 fatal accidentto XV230 in (likely) similar circumstances. The RAF subsequently suspended air-to-air refuelling operations for this type.
Specifications (MR.2)
External image | |
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Cutaway of Nimrod MR1 XV230 retouched by Flight Global in 2006 |
Data from Wilson[94]
General characteristics
- Crew: 13
- Capacity: 13,500 lb (6,123 kg)
- Length: 126 ft 9 in (38.63 m)
- Wingspan: 114 ft 10 in (35.00 m)
- Height: 31 ft (9.4 m)
- Wing area: 197.05 sq ft (18.307 m2)
- Empty weight: 86,000 lb (39,009 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 192,000 lb (87,090 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 85,840 lb (38,936 kg)
- Powerplant: 4 × Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engines, 12,160 lbf (54.1 kN) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 500 kn (580 mph, 930 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 426 kn (490 mph, 789 km/h)
- Range: 4,501–5,001 nmi (5,180–5,755 mi, 8,336–9,262 km)
- Service ceiling: 43,999 ft (13,411 m)
Armament
- Hardpoints: 2× under-wing pylon stations and an internal bomb bay with a capacity of 20,000 lb (9,100 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Missiles:
- Air-to-air missile:
- 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder (non-standard in RAF service, only mounted on the MR2 during the Falklands War)
- Air-to-surface missile:
- Nord AS.12
- Martel missile
- AGM-65 Maverick
- AGM-84 Harpoon
- Air-to-air missile:
- Bombs:
- Depth charges:
- 2x US-owned B57 nuclear depth bombs (until 1992)[95]
- WE.177Anuclear depth charges (10kt)
- Depth charges:
- Other:
- Air-dropped Mk.46 torpedoes
- Sting Ray torpedoes
- Naval mines
- Sonobuoys
- Missiles:
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Breguet Atlantic
- Ilyushin Il-38
- Lockheed P-3 Orion
- Lockheed CP-140 Aurora
- Tupolev Tu-142
References
Notes
- ^ Following evaluation testing by the RAF, the Vickers VC10 had been identified as highly suitable for the task; however, an initial version of Comet-based Nimrod could be in service within five years, a more capable Nimrod equipped with the envisioned avionics would follow.[7]
- ^ Equipped with the Searchwater radar, a Nimrod could offer an "AWACS-like" capability in the maritime environment.[20]
Citations
- ^ a b "Nimrod R1 makes final flight" Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Defence Management Journal, 28 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ Cook, James. "Final air miles for 'spy in the sky' crews." BBC, 26 March 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ a b Blitz, James (16 November 2011). "MoD makes progress on cost overruns". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ Haddon-Cave 2009, pp. 16–17.
- ^ Jefford et al. 2005, p. 87.
- ^ Chartres 1986, p. 12.
- ^ a b Jefford et al. 2005, p. 131.
- ^ "Aircraft Decisions: Mr Wilson's Statement". Flight International. Vol. 87, no. 2918. 11 February 1965. p. 224. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013.
- ^ "The Maritime Comet". Flight International. Vol. 87, no. 2924. 25 March 1965. pp. 465–466. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Fricker 1972, p. 593.
- ^ a b c Neal 1970, p. 119.
- ^ Lake Air International July 2001, p. 31.
- ^ a b Fricker 1972, p. 594.
- ^ Haddon-Cave 2009, p. 17.
- ^ Lake Air International July 2001, pp. 30–31.
- ^ Lake Air International July 2001, p. 34.
- ^ "Nimrod R1 aircraft in final flight for RAF." BBC, 28 June 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ "PICTURES: First RAF Rivet Joint aircraft arrives in UK."Flight Global. Retrieved: 18 December 2013
- ^ a b Donald 1996, p. 95.
- ^ Jefford et al. 2005, p. 134.
- ^ Air International July 1981, pp. 9–10, 12–14.
- ^ Brown 1987, p. 110.
- ^ a b c Lake 2005, pp. 53–54.
- ^ "Last flight of the Nimrod MR2." Archived 4 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Ministry of Defence, 31 March 2010.
- ^ "Planning Round 10 is Going to be a Tough One." Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine RAF Families Federation, 6 January 2010.
- ^ Wilson, Tom. "Historic plane ends its career at Manston." Archived 2 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine This is Kent, 8 June 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ a b "BAe Nimrod AEW 3." Archived 2 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine Spyflight. Retrieved: 20 October 2010.
- ^ "Scrapping RAF Nimrods 'perverse' say military chiefs." BBC News, 27 January 2011.
- ^ Hoyle, Craig. "IN FOCUS: UK left exposed by Nimrod cancellation, report says". Flightglobal, 27 September 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ "Future Maritime Surveillance" (PDF). House of Commons Defence Select Committee. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2020..
- ^ "RAF Declare Poseidon an Initial Operating Capability". raf.mod. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- ^ "MOD seals the deal on nine new Maritime Patrol Aircraft to keep UK safe". Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f Neal 1970, p. 120.
- ^ a b c Rininger 2006, p. 69.
- ^ a b c Rininger 2006, p. 125.
- ^ Haddon-Cave 2009, p. 20.
- ^ a b c Neal 1970, p. 121.
- ^ Neal 1970, pp. 127–128.
- ^ Armfield, Hugh "Air Force Takes Over as Britain's Watchdog." The Age, 26 October 1971. p. 8.
- ^ Neal 1970, p. 122.
- ^ a b Neal 1970, p. 128.
- ^ Neal 1970, pp. 122, 126.
- ^ Neal 1970, p. 123.
- ^ Haddon-Cave 2009, p. 18.
- ^ Neal 1970, p. 127.
- ^ Friedman 1997, pp. 522, 567.
- ^ a b Jefford et al. 2005, p. 89.
- ^ Jefford et al. 2005, pp. 89–90.
- ^ Jefford et al. 2005, p. 94.
- ^ Jefford et al. 2005, pp. 65–66.
- ^ Jefford et al. 2005, pp. 100–101.
- ^ Burden et al. 1986, p. 401.
- ^ Burden et al. 1986, pp. 402–403.
- ^ Chant 2001, p. 34.
- ^ Chant 2001, p. 33.
- ^ "Chile". Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
- ^ Alexander, Harriet (7 July 2014). "'Without Chile's help, we would have lost the Falklands'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ^ "21 things I discovered while writing Harrier 809".
- ^ Chant 2001, p. 82.
- ^ "Operation Corporate (Falklands Conflict): Long range Nimrod sortie; Flight Lieutenant J".
- ^ Chant 2001, p. 61.
- ^ Burden et al. 1986, p. 403.
- ^ Friedman 1997, p. 522.
- ^ Haddon-Cave 2009, p. 23.
- ^ Haddon-Cave 2009, p. 16.
- ^ "Afghan air crash victims named." The Guardian, 3 September 2006.
- ^ Stringer, Robert. "U.K. Says Fuel Caused Afghanistan Plane Explosion." Bloomberg, 3 December 2007.
- ^ Lake 2005, pp. 55–56.
- ^ a b c d Chartres 1986, pp. 71–83.
- ^ Jefford et al. 2005, pp. 95–96.
- ^ "Death Toll at 17, Last Yacht Seen in Ill Fated Race." The Bulletin, 16 August 1979.
- ^ Crighton, Ryan. "UK survivor relives horror of North Sea rig disaster." Press and Journal, 20 March 2010.
- ^ Jefford et al. 2005, p. 96.
- ^ "UK Navy Protecting Trawlers." The Calgary Herald, 22 May 1973.
- ^ "RAF Nimrod." Archived 23 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, Retrieved: 11 December 2012.
- ^ "In pics: Nimrod takes its place at Manchester Airport." BBC News, 26 May 2010.
- ^ Hoyle, Craig. "PICTURE: Record-breaking Nimrod flown to Coventry air museum." Flight International, 13 May 2010.
- ^ "The real saviours of Nimrod XV244." Forres Gazette, 14 June 2011.
- ^ "Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2 XV250." Archived 18 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Yorkshire Air Museum, Retrieved: 11 December 2012.
- ^ "Aircraft." Archived 14 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Retrieved: 11 December 2012.
- ^ "Nimrod R.1 unveiled at Museum" Archived 3 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Royal Air Force Museum Cosford. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ "Aeropark Exhibits." Archived 12 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine East Midlands Aeropark, Retrieved 19 January 2017.
- ^ "ASN Aviation Safety Database results." Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved: 20 October 2010.
- ^ Baldock, Michael. "Aviation Photos: XV257." airliners.net, 23 June 1990. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ "Accident description: Nimrod MR2, 17 November 1980." Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved: 20 October 2010.
- ^ "Accident description: Nimrod MR2, 3 June 1984." Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved: 20 October 2010.
- ^ "Accident description: Nimrod R1, 16 May 1995." Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved: 20 October 2010.
- ^ "Timeline: Air show crashes." BBC News, 3 June 2001. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ "Accident description: Nimrod MR2, 2 September 1995." Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved: 20 October 2010.
- ^ Haddon-Cave 2009, p. 25.
- ^ "Inquiry into Afghan crash begins." BBC News, 3 September 2006.
- ^ "Report on the grounding of MR2 aircraft." BBC News, 23 February 2007.
- ^ Adams, Paul. "New safety fears for RAF Nimrods." BBC News, 10 November 2007.
- ^ Wilson 2000, p. 22.
- ^ "B57 nuclear bomb (United States), Offensive weapons." Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems, 27 October 2011.
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