Mighty Hunter home to roost

Photo: Picture: CHRIS GLEAVE

FINAL destination ... The RAF Nimrod MK2 descends from empty skies into Manchester Airport.

A MIGHTY giant of the air was one of the first planes spotted in the skies when the flight ban ended.

This RAF Nimrod MK2 flew into Manchester Airport on Wednesday to be housed permanently in a display area next to Concorde.

The silent skies, after flying restrictions were imposed for six days due to the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland endangering aircraft, made the sight of the war plane even more unusual.

The plane, known as The Mighty Hunter, is due to go on view at the Aviation Viewing Park, a popular outdoor attraction next to the busy runways, where people can also see planes take off and land.

The aircraft was manufactured by British Aerospace, with staff at its Chadderton base involved in its construction.

It was constructed as a maritime patrol/anti-submarine aircraft with the Nimrod MK1 entering service in 1969, replacing the ageing Avro Shackleton.

The airframe was based on the Comet airliner but with new engines and an enlarged fuselage containing a weapons bay.

The MK2 was developed in the 1980s for long-range maritime patrol and is a descendent of the original MK1. It has the capability to conduct surveillance over land and sea, anti-submarine attack and search and rescue. It served in the Falklands, Bosnia, both Iraq wars and Afghanistan.

But it became hampered by serious safety concerns and a tragedy in Afghanistan when a crash resulted in the deaths of 14 servicemen.

The MK2 has now been retired by the RAF to be replaced by Nimrod MRA4.