RAF Nimrod: A Mighty Hunter 

I served for many years in the British Merchant Navy, many of those years, way back when, sailing the Northern, North Atlantic between the UK and Canada. On numerous occasions, over a thousand miles from the nearest land, we would be subjected to a ghostly flypast of a RAF Nimrod, appearing like magic, just above the wave tops. They would give us a gentle wave of wing, then, opening up, soar up into the blue yonder. It always left us with a feeling of great warmth, knowing, should we get in difficulties, far from land in those inhospitable ocean climes, those RAF maritime crews would be on call to offer a helping hand - and, as proven on many occasions, mariners of many flags in such difficulties, had reason to thank their maker for the superb qualities of the Nimrod and its dedicated crews'. Alas, common sense and humanitarian needs, play little part in political decisions. I live 2 miles from BAe Warton near Preston in Lancashire. I have seen many of Britain's aviation success stories flying in the skies over my house, sadly, some, after much research and development, consigned to the scrap yard, their only crime ( the aircraft), to be subjected to an irrational decision, and, the stroke of a politician's pen. An act that would be considered treasonable if called by you, or I - the Great British public. The tragic tale of the TSR2 and the Nimrod, to name but a few, comes to mind.

I was highly privileged to be a guest on an RAF Nimrod flight op when I was a 15 year-old Air Cadet (1855 Sqn.). Much older now!). St.Mawgan, Cornwall up to Scotland and the North Sea, a full day. Russian intel-gathering observations, fake fishing boats, Russian aircraft - the lot!. Even flew over the Cornish China clay pits on the return leg, while Star Wars was being filmed there! Truly one of the highlights of my life. Thank you so much, R + crew. 👍🏼 I did eventually get to complete my PPL, by the way - still flying; and hope you got my thank-you letter! PS - contrary to vicious rumours - the rations were awesome!

Sadly, i saw a Nimrod crash in Toronto Ontario Canada in 1994, it was at a air show at the Canadian National Exhibition. The airplane was doing its second demonstration and the plane was doing a evasive maneuver where it flies level then it dips down towards the water then it pulls back and flies up towards the sky at a sharp angle and shoots a flare in the opposite direction. However the plane didn’t have enough speed to continue to climb and it just fell out of the sky and landed in the water. It was incredible how fast the emergency response was with every helicopter plane and ship searching that area for survivors. They searched for hours in vain. Sadly they lost 7 crew members. I’ll never forget how sad people were that day.

Trip down memory lane. I flew on duty on Nimrod twice whilst based at St Mawgan. I used to be based in SCAF and procured parts for the aircraft when they were serviced. Spent 4 years there, 1977-1981

I have been out of the Mob since 03 and had forgotten what the good old days of the RAF were like, then this pops up and I remember, it was the days when we had an RAF, with capabilities to do most tasks ourselves, not relying on foreign airforces or aircraft manufacturers, and remember why I left after 24 wonderful years.

I was based at Kinloss from 1988 until 1997. I worked on NLS South and the NMSU amongst other roles. I loved my time working and living up there and met some fantastic people. Per Ardua 🇬🇧

Despite my name I live in Missouri...now you chaps were huge leaders and innovators in aviation, some over here (few) do know that, if it hadn't been bad luck with the Comet ( square windows ) the Boeing 707, which was at the right place at the right time, wouldn't have had such a huge lead, plus your pols and our pols were/ are nincompoop! I will always luv you guys/ gals!

I can't believe after 35 years or so I watch this and can instantly recognise 'Moose' waving the marshalling bats on the line....... happy days!

i was in the us navy for a time and i was stationed at nas jacksonville. we had nimrods coming over alot to train with the us navy. i can say the RAF crews were some of the best sub hunters and aviators that are out there. it was a real pleasure to get to serve with the brave men and women with the RAF.

With the scrapping of the Nimrod fleet we have lost a valuable capability...................thanks very much Mr Cameron!

A marvellous and beautiful aircraft that paid the price for being innovative which finished it as an airliner but its more than salvaged its reputation by its record as a Nimrod. My best friends father was very much involved with the design and testing of the electronics systems, he worked for Plessey, I don't know exactly what instruments he was involved with but his son and I got lots of 12v relays and diodes from scrapped test pieces that we used on our model railway control system. Happy memories thanks for this upload.

I was stationed at Kinloss in the 80s. Enjoyed a couple of flights on Fishops patrols. Gutted when they were grounded. Excellent aircraft flown by superb crews.

Love Nimrods - nice video. Also, great B roll showing inside the bunkers at Northwood and Pitreavie Castle.... very rare footage indeed. Notice how many blue shirts there are in Pitreavie. Not long after this film was made in 1970, they would change to white shirts - Navy staff responsible for the Polaris boats. They became the reserve command post, ready to order a counterstrike in the event that London was destroyed in a nuclear attack.

I live right next to Woodford Bae where the Nimrod was made and destroyed and I used to have them doing low flybys over my house growing up around them and watching new ones fly out was an amazing experience its such a shame that the Government thought otherwise

Ah yes, the Nimrod in much happier times. Oh yes, the RAF Changi Association has a model of a Nimrod in memory of RAF Changi there because an RAF Nimrod did visit Changi in Singapore (late 60s I believe). Glad the Mighty Hunter got to visit the tiny island nation here.

I wish i could have flown in one. What a great plane.

there's few things I miss in my life, working on NLS at Kinloss is one thing I do miss

Ah, the nostalgia!

Thanks for uploading, first aircraft I ever flew in :-)

The equipaments shown may be surprising for young people. But few years ago, there were no led displays, cel phones, mouses, digital life, but only analogic. The cameras had film inside, not a chip. The records were made in tapes. No GPS or small computers with many gigabytes and processor.

The MR2 fleet were responsible during the “Desert Shield” phase of “Desert Storm” for enforcing nearly 95% of the Arms Embargo, policing shipping passing through the Persian Gulf, Straits of Hormuz & Gulf of Oman. During Desert Storm these aircraft operated in a high air risk environment for such a relatively large patrol aircraft operating at low to medium level. The MR2 was extremely successful in “Assisted Kills” whereby Iraqi naval ships were detected, identified, reported on & subsequently on the receiving end of Coalition aircraft being vectored to attack the Iraqi naval vessels. One crew, from 42 (Torpedo Bomber) Squadron achieved the highest “Assisted Kills” - 8 in total. This crew flew “Battlestar 42” as shown in the book “Thunder & Lightning” and were very lucky to escape an Iraqi Mig pursuit NB On a subsequent night, same area a US SF C130 was shot down. This RAF St Mawgan crew were awarded in around March 1991 the Arthur Barratt Memorial Trophy for their “Aviation Professionalism in Peace & War”. A truly effective ISTAR aircraft over land or sea with well trained crews able to adapt as required - from hunting subs, tracking warships, policing drugs or piracy, overland ISTAR for “Green Army” or SF or “bog standard” Direct Support to a Naval Task Group - and of course SAROPs.

NATO had to remind the UK Gov that they had a requirement to patrol the north Atlantic.. we now use a Herc...... with a dinghy in the back. We need to remember when this film was made we had over 90,000 people RAF alone. Just because an aircraft is old does not mean it's obsolete new is not always best.

I've only seen this jet in action in AC5.

Every time I watch this I can't help thinking that this is directed at the officers, also the AEO comes across as a right knob.

Does anyone remember the RAFGSA Fulmar Gliding Club at Kinloss? I used to fly the K8 and the Pilatus B4 from Kinloss every weekend in the 1970´s. Append a reply if you remember gliding at Kinloss, I would like to hear from you.

War is Not blood ands guts for the British.. It's a never ending chess game ♟️

So sad they didn't think it isn' t necessary to replace it. Maybe these days of renewed tension on the world stage will make decision makers in your government think twice and allow the Royal Air Force and Navy to reinstall this vital part of Europ's defence at sea... I know ; sattelites but those don't engage to destroy potential danger. Belgian Air Force also flies on "vapor"... Hopefully we see some swift action from politicians here too...

MANY years ago, I met the crew of a P2V Neptune, they flew out of U.K., was at 24k, ran into a North Atlantic storm, the plane became inverted 3 times, they thought, surely die, but they got control of the plane, at 16hundred feet over the ocean, they said they REALLY needed a change of clothing., as you recall it was replaced by P 3 ORION.

Passing port, now, now, now click!

still no cup holders for coffee cups!

Was this aircraft a modified Comet III, ? looks kinda like one

Pip Pip Cheerio Bob’s your Uncle

Great plane but it really should have been filled by a longer range turboprop. Much like the U S P3 Orion. Always there is an adversary’s sub. The Russians loved to annoy the west. Though we did the same or just got behind them and followed them. I don’t know but I still think this goes on.

It was going to be called Orion, but Ford got there first.

Jesus Christ the ghost of yoke peter flies again.

Haircuts!

13:08 and 14:13 Its kind of patronising when a fresh, baby faced, 18 year old Officer is giving out advice on other peoples personal problems.

Looks like the Nimrod was based off of an old airliner.

I wonder usa kick british after get technology in 60s