A ceremony has been held at RAF Kinloss in Scotland to mark the final retirement of the Nimrod MR.2. All aircraft have now been withdrawn, with the MRA.4 replacement not due to go fully operational until 2012. Station Commander Gp Capt Robbie Noel said: "We are clearly sorry to see the MR.2 retire - it has been involved in every major conflict in the last 40 years as well as protecting the UK's shores and supporting those working at sea through its search and rescue role." At least five are expected to be sent to museums. The first of the museum-bound Nimrods was received by Elvington's Yorkshire Air Museum on April 13, where it will act as a tribute to the 14 British servicemen killed in Afghanistan when XV230 crashed near Kandahar on September 2,2006. The museum plans to keep it taxiable and will run it during the frequent 'Thunder Days' alongside HP Victor K.2 XL231 and Blackburn Buccaneer S.2 XN974. (See page 20 for an example bound for Coventry, Warks.) Other Nimrods have been reportedly allocated to museums at Manchester Airport; Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire, and Cosford in Shropshire.
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