Nimrod enquiry due to report... - Page 3

Osem · 11-05-2008, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Therefore the risk factors were greater, and needed greater mitigation (which didn't appear to happen). If you know something is old and needs upgrading/fixing, it doesn't lessen the blame if this isn't done (and if you read the inquest reports, a lot of "known issues" are coming out of the woodwork).

My point exactly !

Osem · 23-05-2008, 13:37

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

More chaff soon to be deployed by the MOD and Des Browne shortly methinks! Apparently stocks of Whitehall whitewash are alarmingly low .............

WHISTLED · 23-05-2008, 14:59

How can they say its never been airworthy they have 10,000's of air hours with few accidents.

Lets be real it is an antiquated aircraft and should have been replaced ages ago but it remained fit for purpose.

homealone · 23-05-2008, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by WHISTLED

How can they say its never been airworthy they have 10,000's of air hours with few accidents.

Lets be real it is an antiquated aircraft and should have been replaced ages ago but it remained fit for purpose.

as I understand it that assessment was based on this

Quote:

This week a senior engineer from defence and aerospace firm BAE Systems told the inquest that his predecessors, who made the Nimrod some 40 years ago, failed to fit a fire protection system on a key area of risk on the aircraft.

And the firm's head of airworthiness Tom McMichael said that if the evidence heard was correct, the Nimrod planes had, at the time of the tragedy, been flying in an unairworthy state for 37 years.

from the linked article above.

Further reading suggests that the Nimrod's air to air refuelling option was originally retro-fitted for operations during the Falklands conflict & was never re-designed in subsequent refits.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle1977632.ece

Nidge · 23-05-2008, 15:29

Due to the price of fuel the RAF have being found guilty of filling their panes up with vegetable oil.

**Maggy J** · 23-05-2008, 15:30

Well say they were all grounded for good what will replace them..Do we have anything suitable already?

Osem · 23-05-2008, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nidge

Due to the price of fuel the RAF have being found guilty of filling their panes up with vegetable oil.

and changed their motto to: 'Frying Tonight' no doubt

WHISTLED · 23-05-2008, 16:06

Quote:

Well say they were all grounded for good what will replace them..Do we have anything suitable already?

We currently rent some small spy /surveilance / comms planes from the US but not a fleet.

homealone · 23-05-2008, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by WHISTLED

We currently rent some small spy /surveilance / comms planes from the US but not a fleet.

There are also the AWACS surveillance craft (Boeing 707s with a huge radar dome on the top), based at RAF Waddington, but they don't have the offensive anti-submarine capability that Nimrod does..

foreverwar · 24-05-2008, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

There are also the AWACS surveillance craft (Boeing 707s with a huge radar dome on the top), based at RAF Waddington, but they don't have the offensive anti-submarine capability that Nimrod does..

Yes, because that is so important in their current role of intelligence collection above Afghanistan and Iraq..........

That's why we couldn't find the WMD - they were in the Iraqi subs

Jon T · 25-05-2008, 09:45

The E3D/Sentry AWACS is essentially an airbourne air traffic control tower. The Nimrod has two variants, the MR2 and the R1. The MR2 is the maritime reconnaissance variant with the R1 being the electronic surveillance platform. Whilst the RAF could find replacement for the MR2, I doubt they would be able to find a replacement for the R1.

In comparing the E3D and the R1 Nimrod it it important to remember that at airshows it is not uncoommon for an E3D to be open to the public, not so for the Nimrod, I think this says something about the equipment that these planes have in them.

BTW, Marshalls of Cambridge are currently upgrading all Nimrods to the MR4 variant. The MR4 will have a new type of engine, which I will not use the "hot start" system(old technology) that seems to have been causing all the problems.

WHISTLED · 25-05-2008, 09:51

Quote:

Yes, because that is so important in their current role of intelligence collection above Afghanistan and Iraq..........

I'm pretty sure they said on the news there are only 2 in those areas anyway

**Kevin T** · 28-06-2008, 09:31

The families are going to sue the MoD...

Quote:

Originally Posted by The BBC

The lawyer in charge of the action, David Orchard, said the basis of the case would be in relation to Article 2 of the Human Rights Act.
He said: "The thrust is that they were sent into the theatre of war ill-equipped."
Mr Orchard added that the families were not seeking compensation but a judgement.

Mr Knight told BBC Scotland: "Fourteen men died on that plane and apart from apologies nothing has really been done about it and although the planes have been deemed un-airworthy, they're still flying."
He added: "Had it been a bus company and it had been an un-roadworthy bus, legal action would have been taken against the bus company. I feel that something needs to be done as nobody has been brought to task."

Link