RAF Nimrod MR2 XV231 - Manchester Airport

RAF Nimrod MR2 XV231 at Manchester Airport’s Visitor Park. This distinctive aircraft made its farewell flight into Manchester from its base at RAF Kinloss in north-east Scotland on 21 April 2010, since when it has undergone a decommissioning process.

The Park’s newest exhibit, which saw action in the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan, was also known for its Search and Rescue role during peacetime, when it was on two hour’s standby 365 days a year.

NIMROD was built down the road by BAE Systems at Woodford and is therefore expected to be of special interest to the local community, many of whom would have been involved in the development and manufacture of this impressive aircraft.

Nostalgia: Hawks At Leeming - Late 1990's

Some pics I found in the loft of a few Hawks at RAF Leeming (EGXE), North Yorkshire in the mid to late 90's

XX219, XX285, XX346 & UNID

XX219, XX285, XX346 & UNID

XX329, XX258, UNID, UNID

XX219, XX285, XX346 & UNID

XX325 & XX248

Cheers

Nimrod MRA4 At Woodford

This is a list of the airframes involved in the Nimrod MRA4 programme by BAE Systems. There was confusion of what aircraft were donated, their previous serials, new serials, construction numbers etc. The following shows these details and the fate of each aircraft.

BAE Woodford Aircraft

PA-5
ZJ515
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Ex XV258
f/f 08/03/2010. Scrapped at Woodford 24/02/2011
(N) to Cranfield

PA-1
ZJ516
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Ex XV247
f/f 26/08/2004
l/f 09/03/2010
Scrapped at Woodford 15/03/2011

PA-3/PA-13
ZJ517
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Ex XV242
f/f 29/08/2005, to PA-13
Scrapped at Woodford 01/2011
 
PA-2
ZJ518
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Ex XV234
f/f 15/12/2004
l/f 05/03/2010
Scrapped at Woodford 15/03/2011

PA-6
ZJ519
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Ex XZ284
Order cancelled 19/10/2010
Scrapped at Woodford 02/2011

PA-7
ZJ520
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Ex XV233
Order cancelled 19/10/2010
Scrapped at Woodford 02/2011

PA-8
ZJ521
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Ex XV227
Order cancelled 19/10/2010
Scrapped at Woodford 02/2011

PA-9
ZJ522
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Ex XV245
Order cancelled 19/10/2010
Scrapped at Woodford 01/2011  PA-10
ZJ523
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Ex XV228
Order cancelled 19/10/2010
Scrapped at Woodford 02/2011 

PA-11
ZJ524
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Ex XV243
Order cancelled 19/10/2010
Scrapped at Woodford 26/01/2011 

Other Nimrod MRA4 Aircraft

PA-4 ZJ514
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Ex XV251
f/f 10/09/2009
l/f 09/09/2010
Scrapped at Warton 16/02/2011

PA-12
ZJ525
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Ex XV246
Conversion cancelled as donor airframe unsuitable 

ZJ526
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Order cancelled 07/2004 

ZJ527
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Order cancelled 07/2004 

ZJ528
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Order cancelled 07/2004 

ZJ529
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Order cancelled 07/2004 

ZJ530
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Order cancelled 07/2004 

ZJ531
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Order cancelled 07/2004 

ZJ532
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Order cancelled 03/2002 

ZJ533
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Order cancelled 03/2002 

ZJ534
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Order cancelled 03/2002

BAE Woodford | The End In Sight?

As we all know BAE Woodford is due to close in September and in March the airframes of the new MRA4 aircraft were destroyed behind screens on the airfields. Woodford was due to close in 2012 on completion of the MRA4 aircraft but since the government scrapped the project closure was pulled forward.

G-ORJX RJX85 has stood on the airfield for a number of years now without its engines and on June 7th it was dismantled and lifted onto a low loader and removed. With all hangars now empty, no Nimrods on site and the RJX gone, it's only a matter of time before the Vulcan XM603 meets it fate.

G-ORJX before removal last week

XM603 - BAE Woodford | 11.04.2011

Vulcan B2, XM603, was delivered to Woodford on March 12, 1982 at the end of its Service career. Since then the Avro Heritage 603 Club volunteers have worked on the aircraft's preservation, which included returning 603 to its all-white anti-flash finish. Over the past few years its condition has rapidly detereorated and moving the aircraft by road after Woodford's closure would likely destroy the aircraft

XM603 - 11th April 2011

XM603 - 11th April 2011

XM603 - 1997 at Woodford Airshow

I've been told that nobody is allowed near XM603 now so who knows what the future holds for this wonderful aircraft

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjjlivepics

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog! In this blog I aim to show highlights from aviation from the Northwest UK past and present including Manchester Airport, BAE Woodford, BAE Warton and anything else I see. I am also going to include aviation photos from around the rest of the UK. Keep watching for regular updates!