BAE Systems, The BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 continues to progress well in its flight trials programme, turning in some impressive results from a confident airborne performance, less than one year after its inaugural flight last autumn.
The lead development aircraft (PA01) was joined in mid-December 2004 by a second aircraft (PA02), which is responsible for testing the mission system. A third and final development aircraft (PA03) will join the MRA4 development fleet later this year. The aircraft is currently undergoing engine ground runs in readiness for this.
An intensive flight trials programme, involving all three aircraft, will continue through to 2007, flying from BAE Systems airfields at Warton and Woodford in North West England.
The RAF is working in close partnership with BAE Systems in all flight trials and a number of RAF personnel have been seconded to the test and development programme for several years. As early as the fifth flight, RAF personnel had already flown in every crew position in the aircraft.
In early August, PA02, now painted in RAF livery and currently testing the aircraft
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