BAE Systems, Nine months after its inaugural flight in late August 2004, the new Nimrod MRA4 is well into its flight trials programme, and turning in some impressive results from a confident airborne performance.
The lead development aircraft, known as PA01, was joined in mid-December 2004 by the second aircraft, PA02, designed to test the mission system. The third and final development aircraft, PA03, will complete the MRA4 development fleet later this year, following its first flight. The intensive flight trials programme, involving all three aircraft, will continue for the rest of this year and well into 2006. These trials are based out of BAE Systems' Warton site, near Preston in Lancashire, and Woodford, close to Manchester in Cheshire.
The RAF is closely involved in all flight trials, and a number of RAF personnel have been seconded to the MRA4 programme for several years. Evidence of this partnership approach is amply illustrated by the fact that by the fifth flight of the MRA4, RAF personnel had already flown in every position in the aircraft. There is also now an MRA4 in newly-painted RAF livery – this is PA02, the aircraft that is currently putting the all-important mission system through its paces.
Between them PA01 and PA02 have so far accumulated a total of 30 flights and around 70 hours of flying time. The longest flight to date has been 4 hours and 12 minutes, with the aircraft achieving a top speed of 250 knots, and an altitude of 31,800ft. Initial stall trials have also been completed successfully.
There is also considerable 'off-aircraft' activity in support of the programme. The weapon system integration rig continues to supply invaluable test data for proving the mission system – an operation it was fully engaged in long before the inaugural flight took place. An 'iron bird' test rig has generated a stream of extremely useful data of benefit to the programme.
All preliminary manufacturing activity is now concentrated at BAE Systems
