Date: 11-31 July 2015

Time: 15 minute tours between 10am and 1pm

Cost: £5 per person

This summer visitors to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, will have the exciting opportunity to climb on board the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1 XV249 and learn about its intelligence gathering role in the Royal Air Force.

Visitors will have exclusive access on board the aircraft for the first time since its arrival in 2012, in the new Nimrod Tours, available on selected dates throughout July. During the tours lasting around 15 minutes, aviation fans will learn about the history of the aircraft, hear about the crews on board and view some of its sophisticated surveillance equipment.

The Nimrod flew in both the Maritime patrol and electronic intelligence gathering role. Maritime surveillance, anti-submarine operations and intelligence gathering have been key tasks for the Royal Air Force for much of its long history. When the Nimrod was finally retired from service in 2011, the type had operated with distinction for over 40 years in all these roles, and more.

Nimrod R.1 XV249 is one of only four R.1’s produced from a total Nimrod production run of 46 aircraft. The R.1 was an electronic-intelligence gathering variant, three of which originally entered service with the RAF in 1971. They carried up to 29 crew members and were involved in all major conflicts in the latter part of the 20th and early 21st centuries. When one of the original R.1 aircraft was lost following an accident in 1997, XV249 was selected as a replacement and, after conversion, served with No 51 Squadron from RAF Waddington. XV249 amassed over 18,000 flying hours during its service life and took part in operation Ellamy over Libya in 2011, thus remaining operational until its withdrawal from squadron service on 28 June 2011.

During its earlier career, the aircraft on display at the Museum was flown by the Museum’s Curator, ex RAF Pilot Al McLean. Al has played a pivotal role in developing the tours and has pulled upon his personal experiences flying Nimrods to tell some of the many stories experienced by crew members.

RAF Museum Cosford Curator, Al McLean, said:

“I flew on Nimrods for five years and have several memories of patrols in the Mediterranean, North Atlantic and North Sea. Finding the first Soviet aircraft carrier on one of its early out-of-area deployments was quite interesting. Given the importance of the aircraft and its unrivalled contribution to the frontline, the RAF Museum is pleased to be opening up the doors to this aircraft allowing our visitors to learn more about its long and faithful career.”

Nimrod Tours are available on selected dates between 11 and 31 July 2015. Tickets cost £5.00 per person and tours last 15 minutes (max 6 people per tour). Time slots can be pre-booked now via the Museum’s website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford. All children must be accompanied by an adult, tours are not recommended for children under the age of 5.

For further information about the Museum, please visit the Museum website www.rafmuseum.org or call 01902 376200. The Museum is open daily from 10am and entry to the Museum is FREE of charge.

Tags: 2015, July, News, RAF Museum Cosford