The Hawker Siddeley Nimrod is a RAF maritime patrol aircraft based on a highly modified de Havilland Comet, the most important airframe modification being the fitting of a large fuselage weapons bay. The 49 Nimrods were built and the type has been in continuous service with the RAF since October 1969 replacing the old Avro Shackleton in it's Maritime Patrol role. Their are two variants currently in service with the RAF, the MR2 which is a maritime patrol aircraft (as pictured above) and the R1 which is a reconnaissance and electronic intelligence gathering version. It is of note that a new variant, the Nimrod MRA4 was due to enter RAF service in 2010 but all airframes have now been destroyed due to financial cutbacks. Hawker Siddeley Nimrod mr2 Specifications: - Crew: 12
- Capacity: 24 people in total
- Length: 38.63 m (126 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 35.00 m (114 ft 10 in)
- Height: 9.45 m (31 ft)
- Wing area: 197.05 m² (2,121 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 39,009 kg (86,000 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 87,090 kg (192,000 lb)
- Engines: Four 54.09 kN (12,160 lbf) Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans
- Maximum speed: 923 km/h (575 mph)
- Cruise speed: 787 km/h (490 mph)
- Range: 8,340-9,265 km (5,180-5,755 mi)
- Service ceiling: 13,411 m (44,000 ft)
Possible weapon loads: - AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles
- AGM-84 Harpoon missiles
- Sting Ray torpedoes
- nuclear depth charges
- nuclear depth charges
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