FighterControl

Just a couple I came across from Abingdon of the aborted Nimrod AEW 3 debacle, hope they are of interest.


Abingdon Early 1980's

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2pkGAEv][url=https://flic.kr/p/2pkGAEv]Abingdon Early 1980's

Good memories...dont think I've got a shot of them

You bet they’re of interest

Debacle is the correct word as well

To be repeated with the MRA4

Very interesting to see these, I called in at Abingdon regularly and remember seeing them. It would have been late 80s though. As I recall, the Government set a deadline to get the problems fixed, in the end time was called and instead they went shopping and approached Boeing and placed orders for the E-3, which is what the RAF really wanted in the first place. Whilst it's fully understandable for Governments to place orders with home industries, to create jobs, it's the end product that matters. Sorry for maybe getting slightly political, but an awful lot of taxpayers money was wasted on this project from the late seventies, all unnecessary. Don't get me started on the MRA4, the original plan was for 21 airframes, which was gradually reduced until finally cancelled.

Might not be a popular view but basing a design on a long out of production airliner was dumb in the 70s.
Beyond extremely dumb to have even started the MRA4.

I suggest reading 'Nimrod Rise And Fall' by Tony Blackman, it gives a really good explanation of why the MR1, R1 and MR2 were so successful, and why AEW3 project failed, and the later MRA4.

Actually more interested in that Toom in the background. Do you have the serial?

F3 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 11, 2023 11:05 am

Actually more interested in that Toom in the background. Do you have the serial?

XV436 I think!

Bucky P wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 11, 2023 11:09 am

F3 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 11, 2023 11:05 am

Actually more interested in that Toom in the background. Do you have the serial?

XV436 I think!

Bucky P

Nope, it is XT863 which was one of 2 FG.1s retired before the rest of the fleet when 43 & 111 converted to Tornado F.3 in in 1989/1990.

XV436 was in Camo, and lingered at Coningsby for several years after its off roading trip out of Coningsby in March 1980. It was later moved to St Athan and despite being a CAT.5 write off, with a wrecked nose section.... Its rear end was used to replace same on the jet XV468 that had a landing mishap at Port Stanley.

T

Thanks for that info Vulcanone. Much appreciated.

Think I saw these at Abingdon way back in 1991 en-route to IAT at Fairford, the Phantom at that point was parked nearer the fence - interesting fact is that the Phantom -that one was the subject of the Matchbox FG.1 kit in the 1980's and had the 111 Sqdn IAT scheme with the Union Jack on the rear of the tail. the AEW Nimrods were a sad sight to behold.....