Today has seen the very last Nimrod, XV 254, depart from RAF Kinloss – not by air, but by road, to its new home at the Highland Aviation Museum.

A fifty feet long section of the forward fuselage was positioned onto a low loader to make the twenty five mile trip to the Museum in Inverness.

The Highland Aviation Museum opened its doors to the public in 2005 and the Nimrod will be a welcome addition to its collection.

The Museum’s owner, James Campbell said: ‘I am really pleased that Highland Aviation Museum has been successful in acquiring a Nimrod for our collection. It is fitting that a Nimrod remains in the north of Scotland, close to its home for the last 35 years. Once we get the airframe to the Museum, we will have to carry out some engineering work, but we hope that XV254 will be open to the public in time for the Tattie holidays, if not by spring next year.’

XV 254 was originally based at RAF St Mawgan and moved to RAF Kinloss in 1975. It last flew in March 2009, and completed over 19,000 flying hours. It is the last Nimrod to be moved to a new home, following six other airframes that were flown to Museums in April, following the retirement of the Nimrod MR2 fleet on 31 March 2010.

Source: RAF