Nimrod was a biblical character, the creator of Babel.
The RAF currently has a plane called the Nimrod in its inventory. It is used in the maritime reconaissance role; there were plans to develop a variant that was to be used in the C3 role, but the RAF bought the E3 AWACS system. I dug this up.
"NIMROD MR2
The Nimrod was designed to replace the aging Shackleton maritime reconnaissance aircraft of Strike Command. The design of the aircraft began in June 1964 with government authority to peoceed being given a year later. The aircraft first entered service in 1969.
Based substantially on the basic airframe of the Hawker Siddley (De Havilland) Comet 4C, the Nimrod was a new build production aircraft with a shorter, modified pressure fuselage. The addition of a 52 foot long weapons and operational eqipment bay under the main fuselage gives the aircraft its unique shape and its claim to have the b iggest bomb bay in NATO. Nimrod is powered by 4 Rolls Royce Spey turbofan engines with enlarged air intakes to allow for greater mass flow.
This revolutionary design for a maritime patrol aircraft was to combine the advantages of a high altitude and fast transit speed with a low wing loading and good low level maoeuvrability.
the aircraft's main role, in peacetime, is Search and Rescue and the RAF maintains an aircraft and crew on 24hr standby 365 days a year. In its more aggressive role, Nimrod is renowned worldwide for its Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities, surface surveillance and anti shipping roles and can carry a variety of stores including the Stingray torpedo, the Harpoon anti-ship missile and the Sidewinder infra-red missile for self defence. The aircraft can also carry its own chaff/flare suite for decoying incoming missiles. Nimrod has seen service all over the world and played a pivotal role in the Falklands War, The Gulf War and the imposition of UN Sanctions in the Adriatic.
LEADING PARTICULARS
Overall Length 129' 1" 39.35 m
Wing Span 114' 10" 35.00 m
Height 29' 8.5" 9.08 m
Maximum Take-off Weight 177,500 lb 80,510 kg
Range (unrefuelled) in excess of 5000nm
The Nimrod MR2 has been outstandingly successful in service for the last 25 years, but its systems are becoming increasingly obsolete. A new weapons system is needed to enable the next generation of submarines to be located. On the 25th July 1996, the UK Government announced that the RMPA (Replacement Maritime Patrol Aircraft) contract had been won by the Nimrod MRA4.
The Nimrod MRA4 will have state of the art two man flight deck using the latest generation of comercial and military technologies.
NIMROD MRA4
Principle features of the Nimrod MRA4 are:
Totally new mssion system
New BMW Rolls Royce BR710 engines
Complete new wing
New undercarriage
New general systems ( Hydraulics, Fuel, Electrics etc )
Completely new cockpit with Seven Screen Electronic Flight Instrument System"
Happy now?
