Aircraft & Exhibits, DEC 1970-JUL 2011, Cosford, External Display, X006-1343
The Nimrod maritime reconnaissance aircraft was derived from the Comet airliner. It originally entered RAF service in 1969 in MR1 variant to replace the Avro Shackleton. From 1979 35 aircraft were upgraded to the improved MR2 standard. Nimrod continued in service until 2010 when its successor, the MRA4 was cancelled. The aircraft was modified to carry wing-mounted Sidewinder air-air missiles for self -defence during the Falklands conflict in 1982 were known as the ‘RAF’s biggest fighter’! Less successful was the airborne early warning version, Nimrod AEW3 which was test flown but did not enter service.
