Manchester Airport’s Visitor Park last night welcomed its newest exhibit, a RAF Nimrod aircraft, which took 25 people around 5 hours to wheel into place, under the cover of darkness.
The RAF Nimrod MR2 XV231, which arrived at Manchester Airport from RAF Kinloss in Scotland on 21st April, has undergone a decommissioning process to remove brake and hydraulic fluids, plus fuel and any potentially sensitive equipment. After making the short 2200-yard move, it is now parked opposite Concorde and alongside the Trident airliner at the park.
Subject to the approval of planning permission, the Nimrod will form part of a new museum in the style of a military briefing facility, giving visitors the opportunity to go on board the plane that was on-call for action 365 days a year, at just two-hour’s standby.
Andrew Harrison, Commercial Director for Manchester Airport said: “We hope that the new museum will stand as an educational tribute to the role this sophisticated and once militarily sensitive aircraft performed in over 40-years of service. It is also a fitting location given the history of this aircraft that was built just down the road by BAE Systems at Woodford.”
Subject to planning approval the new exhibit is expected to be open to the public before the end of the school summer holidays. (see artists impression above). Longer-term plans could also see the addition of a children’s play area at the visitor attraction, which is among the top ten most visited in the region, and the only outdoor attraction in the top ten.
The Park is located next to Manchester Airport’s runways on Louis Paulhan Way near Junction 6 of the M56 motorway.
