MORAYVIA is launched..The last Nimrod at Kinloss is saved

just a couple or three shots to add to your collection. taken 1998 era RAF Kinloss

This renting out of public property is driven purely by faceless beancounters who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.

Quite possibly a few years ago it may have been possible to keep it under cover ‘on the quiet’, but these days there is little chance of keeping such arrangements from being public knowledge …

There is/ was an AP specifically covering storage of Nimrod MR2 outside for prolonged periods, it was released circa 1990 and was used for the basis to store the following jets outside for around five and half years:

XV234
XV242
XV247
XV249

All four of these jets were returned to flying conditions post storage, the first three in the list being used to support the MRA4 program, the latter being converted to a mk1R to replace the loss of XV666 back in 1995.

One of the operations for storage outside was to coat the external surfaces with PX32 (a waxoil type fluid) Made the jets look terrible from a photographic perspective but did a very good job in preventing corrosion considering they were parked on one of the pans on the Northern loop close to the waters of Burghead bay.

A major issue we found when taking the three jets to bits in 96/97 was the build up of water in the tail section, especially within the section that used to house the flare magazine, just forward of the Mad Boom, to be honest if you can’t stop the water getting in remove some of the fasteners to let the rain water out rather than build up with the added complications if the water were to freeze. The lower engine bay doors also retain lots of water (nice shower when you open them).

Perhaps you can contact some of the chaps that worked in the NMSU early 90’s as they might recall the AP number, lastly is the RUBB hanger no longer viable to put the aircraft in, although it’s quite a few years since I was last at Kinloss – Mike

Twin Otter – The ideal venue for a complete Nimrod would have been East Fortune . However that was not to be – to save an airframe is fine -however at some stage the reality of a building needs to be addressed! We have seen far too many examples in U.K preservation of museums and groups not grasping the reality of aircraft needing to go undercover . Many of those have failed in many cases resulting in scapping.

Fair comment re-EF David but as I hope you will appreciate you are ‘preaching’ to the converted re-getting airframes under cover!

However I would still urge Morayvia not to be discouraged by any negative comments about long-term survivability; who knows what the future may hold for them getting a building to get the aircraft under cover; at the end of the day they aren’t building Nimrods any more; if they don’t save it now, then they are unlikely to ever get another opportunity! 🙂

baloffski,

It makes my pee boil when I read that an aircraft such as this has to be moved out of an MOD owned hangar because the rent is prohibitive. The way I see it is as long as there is no cost to the public purse, something this big and of such huge local interest and historical importance that is being saved for the nation, should be allowed to occupy what in all likelihood given the draw down pre Army will be an empty space rent free.

As tax payers we ‘own’ the hangar and I very much doubt even the most die hard skinflint would begrudge a bit of free floorspace until the Army are ready to park their 10 ton trucks in there. Take the fuses out of the supply and turn the heating off to absolutely make sure that no public money is being expended if need be, but don’t tow the jet out of the shed until you have to – not because rent forces you to.

Not so very long ago the Station Commander could make the decision that this would be a project which would be of great benefit to promoting the military to the public. The PR (in this case probably worldwide) would be superb and Harry the Staish would have been one step closer to his/her OBE. Win Win situation all round.

This renting out of public property is driven purely by faceless beancounters who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.

That is my Monday rant done -thanks for your indulgence!

Twin Otter – The ideal venue for a complete Nimrod would have been East Fortune . However that was not to be – to save an airframe is fine -however at some stage the reality of a building needs to be addressed! We have seen far too many examples in U.K preservation of museums and groups not grasping the reality of aircraft needing to go undercover . Many of those have failed in many cases resulting in scapping.

Lost the last part of my last reply. The second 97 is in sunny California! Here is another pic which shows the elevator as well as rudder corrosion!

I really do wish them the best of luck with this project and I hope they can get it under cover to ensure long term survival.

Outside is not good but better than beheading yet another one!

This is 8th Air Force museum at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana

Taken by a friend of mine Yo Spiff

I don’t disagree and that’s why I ended my post with the following statement: “Ultimately they will be lost but in the meantime they can help groups become established and hopefully thrive; other than St Mawgan, where else could be better to display a Nimrod than Morayshire?

Hopefully a Nimrod will go under cover, perhaps at a National Collection, but don’t discourage an embryonic group from trying to save an airframe that has graced their local area for so long!

Go for it Morayvia!! 🙂

Twin Otter – technically speaking these airframes cannot survive indefinately outside . The damp climate whilst appearing to be benign is anything but. Cold and heat perishes seals -allows joints to let in moisture and the very nature of components like magnesium have a finite life outside .
I viewed a Phantom which had been retired in the early 1990’s – its spar boom had literally exploded with exfoliation -there are many more examples I can think of in museum collections. What we really need to do is view the reality that not everything will survive and some concessions will need to be made to allow for the survival of the fittest!

In that case I would like to invite you to join the cause

That’s very nice of you, but regrettably I have finite resources and a live (but far less impressive) aircraft to support with them.

Moggy

Very true … but … wouldn’t it be better if all the folk who now own a Nimrod would get together and pool their resources to preserve just one of these aeroplanes in heated hangar? Then, in thirty years time, we might have a preserved Nimrod to see.

Regards

Back in 1982/3 similar time frames were quoted for Vulcans surviving outside!

29 years on and most have defied the ‘nay-sayers!’ Yes, ideally aircraft should go inside but with appropriate care and attention they can survive outside.

Ultimately external airframes could be lost, but in the meantime they can help groups become established and hopefully thrive; other than St Mawgan, where else could be better to display a Nimrod than Morayshire?

No one is ‘bashing’

There are certain realities in aircraft preservation and if myself and others point these out perhaps it might be worthwhile just taking note?

I am sure we all wish the group and ‘their’ aircraft well.

Moggy

In that case I would like to invite you to join the cause (and anyone else), I can be reached at [email]membership@morayvia.org.uk[/email]

The group are very keen to get anyone on board who wants to help

No one is ‘bashing’

There are certain realities in aircraft preservation and if myself and others point these out perhaps it might be worthwhile just taking note?

I am sure we all wish the group and ‘their’ aircraft well.

Moggy

Nice to see the ‘Great British Public’ indulging in it’s favourite sport – bashing anyone who is trying to achieve something worthwhile! It is early days in the plans that Morayvia have for the future of the Nimrod and other exhibits it hopes to gather. You should be encouraging not discouraging such efforts. Big things from little acorns…..

Very true … but … wouldn’t it be better if all the folk who now own a Nimrod would get together and pool their resources to preserve just one of these aeroplanes in heated hangar? Then, in thirty years time, we might have a preserved Nimrod to see.

Regards

Nice to see the ‘Great British Public’ indulging in it’s favourite sport – bashing anyone who is trying to achieve something worthwhile! It is early days in the plans that Morayvia have for the future of the Nimrod and other exhibits it hopes to gather. You should be encouraging not discouraging such efforts. Big things from little acorns…..

The airframe is still made of parts that suffer from the weather. Maintaining an aircraft in service is very different to an aircraft that is fixed in one position.

I know they had a wash plant when in service. But surely the airframe should reasonably proved against the weather? They stood outside at Kinloss when in service.
mmitch.

Bit unfair Rob; there are a good few examples that show that it can be done. The victor at Elvington is a good example, and there are others. It just depends on the team.

Bruce