Mighty warrior pensioned off

The Nimrod is manoeuvred into place at Manchester Airport’s Visitor Park

Battle-weary Aerospace Nimrod takes pride of place on home soil

A MIGHTY giant of the skies is now in place at Manchester Airport’s Visitor Park after being wheeled in under the cover of darkness.

It took staff 51/2 hours to get the retired RAF Nimrod MK2 into position after a mammoth operation to transport it to its new home.

The aircraft was manufactured by British Aerospace, with staff at its Chadderton base involved in its construction.

The Evening Chronicle reported last month how it was one of the first planes spotted in the skies on April 21 when a flight ban was lifted.

The skies had been quiet as flying restrictions were imposed for six days because of fears that a volcanic ash cloud from Iceland could endanger aircraft.

The plane, known as the Mighty Hunter, had flown from RAF Kinloss in Scotland to the airport.

It had been parked at a remote stand on the apron, where it has undergone decommissioning to remove brake and hydraulic fluids, fuel and any potentially sensitive equipment.

It is now on view at the Aviation Viewing Park, a popular outdoor attraction next to the busy runways, where people can also see planes take off and land.

The aircraft has taken pride of place opposite Concorde and alongside a Trident airliner.

Subject to planning approval, the Nimrod will form part of a new museum in the style of a military briefing facility, giving visitors the chance to go on board the aircraft that was on call for action 365 days a year at only two-hours’ notice.

Andrew Harrison, commercial director for Manchester Airport said: “We hope that the new museum will stand as an educational tribute to the role this sophisticated and once militarily-sensitive aircraft performed in over 40 years of service.

“It is also a fitting location, given the history of this aircraft that was built just down the road by BAE Systems at Woodford.”

If it gains planning approval, the new exhibit is expected to be open to the public before the end of the school summer holidays.

Longer-term plans could also include the addition of a children’s play area at the visitor park, which is the only outdoor attraction in the top ten most visited in the region.

The model was constructed as a maritime patrol/anti-submarine aircraft, with the Nimrod MK1 entering service in 1969, replacing the ageing Avro Shackleton.

The MK2 was developed in the 1980s for long-range maritime patrol.

It had the capability to conduct surveillance over land and sea, and take part in search-and-rescue missions. It served in the Falklands, Bosnia, both Iraq wars and Afghanistan. It has now been replaced by Nimrod MRA4.

The airport visitor park is located on Louis Paulhan Way near Junction 6 of the M56.