The Nimrod MR2 will mark its last operational flight with a flypast of airfields in the north of Scotland as well as Guernsey and Woodford on Tues 30 and Wed 31 March.

The Nimrod Force has, for over 40 years played a vital role defending the United Kingdom, supporting our operations overseas, and helping to save lives around the UK. The Nimrod MR2 will mark its last operational flight with a flypast of airfields in the north of Scotland as well as Guernsey (to mark 201’s Squadron’s affiliation with the Island) and Woodford near Manchester where the Nimrod – as an MR1 was manufactured as the MR1 41 years ago on Tues 30 and Wed 31 March.

On Friday 26 March VIPs, RAF personnel, their families and a number of veterans attended an event to mark the last few days of the aircraft. Attendees had an opportunity to look round a Nimrod aircraft, tour some exhibitions including some covering the operational role of the MR2 over its last 31 years, including the Search and Rescue and then watch a Parade of all 3 Squadron Standards followed by a eulogy on the aircraft and then watch a flypast.

A book, oil painting and a special aircraft print have all been commissioned to mark the withdrawal of the Nimrod MR2 – an aircraft which has flown hundreds of thousands of hours around the UK and abroad on operations.

The Nimrod also completed a flypast of Scotland’s capital, including flying over Murrayfield on Saturday 13 March just before the kick-off of the 6 Nations England v Scotland rugby match to help promote the Royal Air Force Association.

Yorkshire Air Museum near Elvington is the first museum to buy a Nimrod for its collection- taking delivery on 13 April and thereafter there are plans to put Nimrods in other museums. Nimrod XV240 is already in place as a gate guardian at Kinloss.

Source: RAF