NIMROD MR2 RETIREMENT.

On my way to work this morning, (running very late) Friday March 26th, at about 9:50-55am, I seen an RAF Nimrod flying very low, I’m guesing about 500-600ft along the River Tyne here in Newcastle Upon Tyne Northeast of the UK heading towards North Shields, Tynemouth which of course if you know the area, heads out to the North sea.

I was quite surprised to see it to be honest, especially since Newcastle is quite a big built up area and with all the busy bridges on the Tyne & all, would never of thought one would fly over this part, especially how low it was, very quiet though, I could hardly hear it.

Anyone might have an idea what it was doing over this part of the UK? Apart from heading out towards the North sea?…

Regards

On Monday a Nimrod MR2, radio callsign 2MR was flying to various bases(cottesmore connigsby waddington ect.) flying approches and doing rollers or go-arounds(you cant say overshoots any more). The pilot explained to LON MIL ATC that it was the aircrafts last flight before retirement. He particulary wanted to do Cottesmore as it is going too!!!!! But the base had a rolling ban on flights due to the Harrier 9 SHIP ? Please correct me if Iam wrong about that one. The Nimrod went RTB to Kinloss. At the same time a Nimrod callsign 1UP went to Warton, a shiny new MRA4 perhaps.

AIR DEFENCE

This is a game NATO and the USSR now Russia have played for decades and the rules have changed little. The Interceptors were fully armed during the Cold War and probably still are. QRA is good for training and not just the pilots but ground crew and other elements of the UK’s Air Defence Environment (I think that is what it is called from memory)

If the crew of a RuAF Blackjack lost its marbles and made a run at the UK mainland the fighters would try to pursuade it to turn back and maybe fire their guns as a warning as a last resort but that is only a slight possibility. The RuAF crew would have far more to fear from their bosses when they got home.

If however the political climate was heating up and it showed hostile intent and the there would be some very frantic phone calls and then who knows.

Intrestingly on old aviation charts during the cold war it said at the edge of the SOVIET ADIZ Unautharised aircraft entering Soviet airspace may be fired upon without warning. Not just a lame threat, as meny lost civil airliners have found out the cost of lives. Korean Airlines KAL 007 being shot down in the mid 80’s.

UK AIRSPACE

The Blackjacks would have penatrated AREA 12. A huge part of NATO airspace centered on cape wrath. For witch the RAF ASACS (Air Survailance and Control System ) are responible for. They would have penatated The UK ADIZ ( Air Defence Identification Zone ) The ADIZ follows fairly the borders of the UK FIR for the most part. As part of NATO the RAF would have had plenty of warning that the Blackjacks was operating out in the Atlantic. ( The RNorAF F-16 intercepted them first ) The RAF would have stated tracking them as soon as they crossed into Norwegian airspace. UK teritorial airspace starts at the 3 mile limit. I spent 9 years in RAF air defence, I do not know of a penatration by a russian aircraft of that air space at ant time. They operated in international airspace at all times.

Great news. The Sea Vixen is a superb example of a big cold war fighter. I am pleased to hear also that the pilot has made a good recovery.

Good shots …. I trust you had a good day. We was all very very lucky with the weather.

I find IAT is becoming a bit predicable but does have its moments. I miss the eastern block types.I have noticed you get better participants when RIAT and Farnbourgh are in the same 2 weeks. I have found that often the real gems are in the static. Camping near to Fairford and becoming a member of FRIAT you get to see almost every arival and departure, so getting a chance to film or photograph all the gems in the static. To get the full effect you need to spend a day on the static, and a day watching the display. Overall times change and airshow participants change, also now civilian ex military classic or historic types are very expensive, due to now high insurance. A factor RIAT has to take into account.