880 fires or “smoke-related incidents”

[tigershark]

Could this be true?  Wouldn't aircraft be grounded for this? 

From The Sunday Times
November 25, 2007
MoD told of Nimrod risk
HE manufacturer of the RAF’s Nimrod spy planes had warned of “frequent” fires on board the aircraft 18 months before one exploded over Afghanistan last September, killing all 14 men on board.

The BAE Systems report said there had been 880 fires or “smoke-related incidents” on the aircraft over the preceding 20 years, an average of 40 a year.

It also highlighted the large number of fuel leaks on board the aircraft and recommended the fitting of a fire suppression system in the bomb bay.

Full story
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2937248.ece

[Webmaster]

Well, the Nimrods had serious fuel leakage problems. So any sparks and you have a fire. If there's some oil leakage on hot parts you have smoke, so if all seals and rubber hoses start to wear...plus other worn or melting parts... I suppose you can tally them all up to 880.

But this report turns it around a bit, focusing on the fire/smoke incidents instead of the fuel leaks.

2 of the 880 fires were deemed serious by the RAF, neither resulted in loss of life. The aircraft were badly needed for operations. So would you ground your fleet? Of course the fuel leakage problem should have been fixed in the first place. But that just seems a question of not enough manpower/funds. It's sad.

[tigershark]

It is sad I always hold England to high standards like the US it seems a lot has been cut in the last few years.   

[Gripen]

Just a quick FYI for me.... Is the Nimrod designed like the old Comet airliner??


I think they kinda look similar, but someone clarify for me...

[Raptor]

Oh this is such a pity. I loved the Nimrods

[Webmaster]

Just a quick FYI for me.... Is the Nimrod designed like the old Comet airliner??


I think they kinda look similar, but someone clarify for me...

Yep, modified design, actually the first two Nimrods were converted from Comet 4 airframes.

[Gripen]

So, if the Comet and the Nimrod were similar designs, and the Comet ripped itself apart twice (with the whole window and roof hatch thingy), then wouldnt they have realised that the Nimrod designed was flawed?


Tho, the fuel thing is surprising, i thought it wouldve been the acutal airframe :|

[Raptor]

Quick question. Are the comets still flying? Sorry haven't had time to check up on these stuff i'm squeezing this post into five minutes of break time in between a cyber gaming competition.

[Webmaster]

So, if the Comet and the Nimrod were similar designs, and the Comet ripped itself apart twice (with the whole window and roof hatch thingy), then wouldnt they have realised that the Nimrod designed was flawed?


Tho, the fuel thing is surprising, i thought it wouldve been the acutal airframe :|

The problem was in the engines, metal fatigue, wing profile, design of the window structure, couldn't cope with the pressure. These issues were resolved with the Comet 4. Now the Nimrod, had new engines, doesn't have these windows at all and was based on the Comet 4... so these problems have hardly anything to do with the Comet, other than the age of the design and thus airframes.

As far as I know, no Comets are flying anymore. But it served for 30 years.