"Nimrod has never been airworthy"

[Vlamgat9]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7416627.stm

[Nev]

Link isn't working. Try

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7416627.stm

Still, controversial verdict, bound to raise a few hackles!

[entlim]

this is the subject of an earlier post "Comments....."

[sandy]

It`s safe - I wouldn`t be prepared to fly on it otherwise !!!!!!!!! AAR has been suspended and even if we had to do it the ignition source has been removed and safe gusrds have been put in place to stop anything like what happened to 30 happening again. I have just been watching so called ` defence specialistists` on the news channel talking the biggest load of bol**ocks about this subject - don`t believe everything the media says !!!!!!!!

Sandy

[Pete100]

It`s safe - I wouldn`t be prepared to fly on it otherwise !!!!!!!!! AAR has been suspended and even if we had to do it the ignition source has been removed and safe gusrds have been put in place to stop anything like what happened to 30 happening again. I have just been watching so called ` defence specialistists` on the news channel talking the biggest load of bol**ocks about this subject - don`t believe everything the media says !!!!!!!!

Sandy

I agree most wholeheartedly, I've not seen one person on tele whose remotely qualified to cast verdict and I 'd still get on one in a flash! The ol' girl has been around for a good few years with a lot less loss than most airframes ...but we're supposed to forget that I suppose!

[Mattie Bee]

I agree,

I am happy to fly on both MR2 and R1, having worked on ours for 5 years and seen how the MR2 guys go about there ways in Oman

Listening to Lincs FM yesterday and was outraged to hear that there report mentioned the 3 Nimrods at RAF Waddington are at the same risk!

They are totaly different, we are not fitted with a SCP, the 500 Degree pipe, which only gets up to 235 Degrees, is part of this.

My reason for never listening to the news

Edited May 24, 2008 by Mattie Bee

[Hurrinut]

The Oxford coroners aero engineering knowledge is????

From reading the air crash report,I understood XV230 was lost because of a fire that started in a wing root from a fault that stemmed from the IFR system (I know there is more too it but I'm simplifying it for the thread). How can he then say the Nimrod has never been safe as the IFR equipment was only fitted for the Falklands conflict in 1982. To me that completely destroys any credibility the coroner may have had.

Its very sad all those people were lost but how many 737s and other civil jets have crashed since Nimrod has been flying? We don't see public meetings calling for Boeing or Airbus' fleets to be grounded.

Incidentally in August 1982 I flew in XV230 from RAF Kinloss, whilst on summer camp with the Spacies. I even managed to get 3/4 hour in the left hand seat much to the annoyance of my Civilian Instructor, as he didn't get asked by the Captain. She's always had a place in my heart after that experience and I was very sorry to hear of her loss with all on board.

[thx6667]

Ditto Rich, they were banging on yesterday about how the IFR is unsafe and has been "ever since the Nimrod entered service 40 years ago" - clearly the Oxford coroner hasn't looked into the history of the aircraft.

Nimrod has a long service record with very few (but still regrettable) fatal accidents which would belie the coroner's notion that its been flying deathtrap since it first entered service, but similarly if there are flaws with the IFR systems, then they should be put right.

[Mattie Bee]

From the Board of Inquiry Repot the most likely cause was the Number 1 tank blow off and the external Supplimentry Cooling Pack (SCP) Pipe

When the aircraft is flying it has a nose up attitude, which when air to air refueling causes one tank to more than likely blow off if being filled to capacity, because it is not level as it would be on the ground

When the tank blows off (Right hand side centre section) fuel runs down the side of the pannier bay (Bulge that makes a Comet a Nimrod) this fuel then goes over the external SCP pipe which, as was the case on XV230, can have a loose fairing. fuel then came into contact with the hot air pipe causing it to superheat and the result we unfortunatly know!

This is my understanding of the BofIs report and I hope it clears things up

We no longer Air to Air and I beleive the SCP is not run anymore

[Mike]

I wonder if this is a little bit of spin to make wriggling out of the MR.4 programme a bit easier?

[spike7451]

I wonder if this is a little bit of spin to make wriggling out of the MR.4 programme a bit easier?

Or an Anglo-American 'partnership' maybe...

[PhoenixII]

Not trying to hijack, nor to put anyone down as there are more than a few experts here BUT as Mikes already said, lets remember

Flight Lieutenant Steven Johnson, 38, from Collingham, Nottinghamshire, Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, 28, from Bournemouth, Dorset, Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas, 40, from Redruth, Cornwall, Flt Lt Allan James Squires, 39, from Clatterbridge, Merseyside and Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick, 28, from Liverpool.

Flight Sergeant Gary Wayne Andrews, 48, from Tankerton, Kent, Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie, 42, from Dundee, Flt Sgt Gerard Martin Bell, 48, from Newport, Shropshire, and Flt Sgt Adrian Davies, 49, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, Sergeant Benjamin James Knight, 25, from Bridgwater, Sgt John Joseph Langton, 29,from Liverpool and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam, 42, from Manchester.

Lance Corporal Oliver Simon Dicketts, of the Parachute Regiment, from Wadhurst and Royal Marine Joseph David Windall, 22, from Hazlemere.

RIP

Paul