Nimrod XV 229 was the last RAF Nimrod MR.2 to fly. The airframe was retired to Manston, Kent during late May 2010 and used for smoke evacuation training at RAF Manston Defence Fire Training and Development Centre which closed last year (2020). The local RAF Manston history Museum managed to save the front 37 feet otherwise it would have been another rare aircraft lost to the scrap yard. The cockpit section was open to the public at the 'Open Cockpit' Day held yesterday, 19/09/21. Famously developed from the DH comet airliner the Nimrod was powered by four RR Speys. The control yokes of XV 229 were/are notable for the large red 'N' button on both sticks - 'N' for 'nuclear' apparently - this aircraft type could launch/drop nuclear depth charges.
