CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 4829 times:
Hi!
A big tragedy indeed, I'm also solidary with the families and relatives of the ones that perished, also my deep respect to the Squadron where this airplane belonged too. I would like to say that the plane involved, the Nimrod, always looked a very safe and a very reliable airplane although is already a bit old. I hope this accident will not affect also the future operationality of the Nimrod itself.
Regards
Gh123 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 4665 times:
Quoting CV990 (Reply 1): would like to say that the plane involved, the Nimrod, always looked a very safe and a very reliable airplane although is already a bit old
DEVILFISH From Philippines, joined Jan 2006, 4428 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 4617 times:
May they rest in peace.
This loss underscores the urgent need for the MRA4 replacements, the fourth of which is due in 2009. Although I think the contract also covers support for existing legacy aircraft.
Gary2880 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 4580 times:
such a sad loss, wonderful aircraft. the only thing i get to see on a semi-regular basis that brings back an old time aircraft to my local.
why did the RAF not send the MR4s out to afghanistan or are they still in testing? really if it was going to happen i think it is just as well it happened to a 2, if it happened to a 4 that would probably cause big problems indeed. hopefully more 2's will be upgraded promptly.
any chance of finding out a registration?? hopefully not an aberdeen regular.
CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 4574 times:
Hi!
I agree that RAF needs to speed up the MR4 introduction. I'm not sure if any Nimrod MR4 are already operational, but even if they are sending them to a sensitive area like Afganistan would be quite dangerous.
Regards
Skidmarks From UK - England, joined Dec 2004, 7121 posts, RR: 60 Reply 10, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 4504 times:
My heart goes out to the families of those who died.
I was stationed at RAF Kinloss when the Nimrod went in at Toronto. A sad day for all, and doubly tragic as it was the 11th anniversary of that other crash.
Lumberton From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 4708 posts, RR: 21 Reply 11, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 4494 times:
I was deeply sadened by this news and I pray for those departed and their families.
What is the Nimrod doing in that environment? SIGINT/ELINT? Are these platforms optimized for this type of work? Wouldn't this be like putting a P-3 there?
(...or are P-3s there as well?)
"When all is said and done, more will be said than done".
RichardPrice From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days ago) and read 4440 times:
Quoting Lumberton (Reply 11):
What is the Nimrod doing in that environment? SIGINT/ELINT? Are these platforms optimized for this type of work? Wouldn't this be like putting a P-3 there?
Not putting the P-3 down here, but the Nimrod is a vastly superior aircraft for what it does. Its a multirole aircraft with its primary role in maritime patrol, but it is fully fitted out for sigint and photo recon roles.
The upgrade to the MR2 standard brought better electronics suites, ESM pods, wing mounted Sidewinder Air to Air missiles, and a host of other goodies.
A Nimrod would not be amiss slap bang in the middle of Afghanistan carrying out intelligence gathering.
Then again, it would also not be out of place dropping bombs, considering it has the largest usable bombbay of all NATO aircraft.
The MRA4 upgrade will increase its capabilities even further.
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days ago) and read 4424 times:
Quoting Lumberton (Reply 11): What is the Nimrod doing in that environment? SIGINT/ELINT? Are these platforms optimized for this type of work? Wouldn't this be like putting a P-3 there?
(...or are P-3s there as well?)
Yes the P-3's are operating in Afghanistan as well.
Ptrjong From Netherlands, joined Mar 2005, 3770 posts, RR: 20 Reply 14, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 4376 times:
Quoting LMP737 (Reply 13): Yes the P-3's are operating in Afghanistan as well.
According to the Dutch MoD (speaking in relation to this week's F-16 crash), the enemy side have no weapons against high-flying aircraft, so this can be done with relative impunity.
Peter
The only difference between me and a madman is that I am not mad (Salvador Dali)
GDB From United Kingdom, joined exactly 12 years ago today! , 12713 posts, RR: 80 Reply 15, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 4351 times:
Indeed, Nimrod has been used overland for some time now, with it's extensive comms suite and newer fitment of suitable survellience gear for this role.
It's a very sad loss, of course all the armchair experts in the media will bang on about 'crap UK kit'.
But of the two, it's the P-3 Orion, a great aircraft nonetheless, which in USN service has been having the issues with aging, corrosion, sustainability.
Like Nimrod, some are used overland offering similar capabilities, in addition to some the Nimrod will not have until MRA.4, including weapons carriage.
Of course, this has put a further strain on the P-3 force.
The RAF are of course waiting for MRA.4A, but I'd suggest the USN feels more urgency waiting for the P-8.
Nimrod has even been used on occasion, over London as a comms relay during high profile, high security events.
At 30,000 feet, where the ill fated Nimrod was yesterday in Afghanistan, thus undermining the Taliban claims of the Stinger missile kill.
My condolences to all those touched by this tragic loss.
Alasdair From UK - Scotland, joined Dec 2005, 10 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 4260 times:
Thanks from all of us at Kinloss for your support.
There is no info on the s/no of the jet involved yet, and I've no way of finding out till I go into work on Monday.
As to why the jet was over Afghanistan, it is common knowledge that the Mighty Hunter has expanded its role past that of the traditional maritime patrol aircraft.
There has been much speculation, rumour and gossip all over the media about the role of the MR2. Those of us who know would not divulge such information.
Ant72LBA From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2003, 411 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 4212 times:
Can anyone clarify exactly what the nature of the mission of this aircraft would have been? I am aware of the R1 Nimrods that carried out electronic warfare missions but wasn't aware that the MR2 force were now carrying out missions of this nature.
Deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the crew.
Strudders From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2004, 109 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 4202 times:
May I add my sympathies to all
Quoting Ant72LBA (Reply 17): Can anyone clarify exactly what the nature of the mission of this aircraft would have been? I am aware of the R1 Nimrods that carried out electronic warfare missions but wasn't aware that the MR2 force were now carrying out missions of this nature.
In line with other answers given and the fact there was a Para and a Marine on board the aircraft, I guess it was providing a communications net (as in previous answers rightly stated) MR2's were deployed over London after Sept 11th and since for this very reason.
DL021 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 11433 posts, RR: 81 Reply 21, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3954 times:
RC135U From United States of America, joined May 2005, 293 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3936 times:
Quoting Ant72LBA (Reply 17): I am aware of the R1 Nimrods that carried out electronic warfare missions but wasn't aware that the MR2 force were now carrying out missions of this nature.
That's exactly what I was thinking about - the R1 Nimrods of 51 Squadron with their SIGINT/COMINT capabilities. Perhaps the MR2 force is better able to deal with the hostile environment over Afghanistan.
In any event, my thoughts are with the families of those lost.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined exactly 12 years ago today! , 12713 posts, RR: 80 Reply 23, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 3887 times:
It seems it was not a R.1, MR.2's are as stated, used overland.
Recently, a MR.2 went into conversion to be the 4th R.1
It is now looking like a fire in the tail-avionics perhaps?
Just after a normal air to air refuelling.
Necessary since the aircraft are deployed to Seeb, Oman, to operate in this region.
A Nimrod flew a flypast at the Leuchars Airshow in tribute to the troops.
When you hear the noise of the Tartan Army Boys, we'll be coming down the road!
25 Bennett123: There was a Nimrod lost in 1986(?), (XW666?). Could this be a similar cause?.
26 Alasdair: No - 666 went down after one of its air starter motors wound itself up to self-destruction. I have been heavily involved in checking the Nimrod fleet
27 Bennett123: Alasdair Thanks for that. As you say, best to wait for the Board. The only reason that I thought of XW666 is that there have fourtuneately been so few
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