About This Aircraft
The Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1 was a highly secret signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force for nearly four decades. Based on the de Havilland Comet airliner airframe, the Nimrod family was primarily used for maritime patrol, but the R.1 variant was a dedicated electronic reconnaissance platform. This aircraft, XV249, was one of only three R.1s built and was operated by the specialist No. 51 Squadron. Distinguished by its lack of a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) tail boom and the addition of distinctive wing-tip pods, the R.1 carried a crew of up to 29 specialists who operated its advanced electronic surveillance systems. XV249 provided crucial intelligence during numerous conflicts, from the Cold War to operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, until its retirement in 2011.
Museums Featuring This Aircraft
Exhibits can change. To avoid disappointment, before visiting, please check the museum website for up-to-date exhibit listings.