HS 801 Nimrod First Prototype

The First Prototype XV148 shown here under construction at Chester was converted from one of the last two unsold Comet 4C's. It incorporated the new Spey Engines envisaged for the Production aircraft.

Being rolled out at Chester on completion in 1967 it went on to First Fly on 23rd May 1967 from Chester to Woodford.

Here it was used for Airframe Performance, Handling, Tropical and Armament Trials flying from both Woodford and A&AEE (Aircraft & Armaments Experimental Establishment) at Boscombe Down.

Later on it joined MR2 development programme at Woodford and Flew as such on 15th Oct 1975.

It ending its life as the Fatigue Test Specimen at Woodford beginning Feb 1984 so ending 16 years of Development Flying.

Initial flights were flown without the Mad Boom and note the increase in the surface of the Dorsal Fin (which became standard on production) compared with that on roll out above.