This article is based on an official update from the Nimrod Preservation Group.

Historic Nimrod XV232 Faces Scrapping Threat Amid Coventry Airport Closure

The Nimrod Preservation Group (NPG) has issued an urgent alert regarding the future of the Nimrod XV232, a historic maritime patrol aircraft stationed at Airports. Following confirmation that the airport will permanently close in 2026 to facilitate the construction of a battery gigafactory, the group faces a strict deadline to relocate the massive aircraft or risk seeing it dismantled and scrapped.

According to the official update from the preservation group, the airport operators have confirmed that the site will cease operations on June 11, 2026. Consequently, the group has been served a formal notice to vacate the premises by May 9, 2026. This leaves the volunteer team with a narrow window to secure funding and logistical approval for what they describe as a “monumental” relocation effort.

The “Greenpower Park” Displacement

The driving force behind the eviction is the redevelopment of the airfield into “Greenpower Park,” a joint venture between the Rigby Group (owners of Coventry Airport) and Coventry City Council. The site is designated to become a UK Centre of Electrification and Clean Energy.

While the development promises advancement in Green-Technology, it poses an existential threat to the Cold War-era jet. The Nimrod XV232 has been based at Coventry since May 2010, maintained in “ground-running” condition by a dedicated team of volunteers. The aircraft regularly performs engine runs and taxi demonstrations, keeping its systems active despite not having flown for over 15 years.

A Strict Deadline

The timeline provided by the NPG is rigid. With the airport’s closure set for June 2026, the group must remove the aircraft a month prior. Kevin Connor, Director of the Nimrod Preservation Group, expressed the gravity of the situation in the group’s recent statement.

“The news of the closure has been in the pipeline for a number of years now. We were warned, but it’s been dragging on… and it became one of those things that felt a bit unrealistic.”

, Kevin Connor, Director of the Nimrod Preservation Group

Survival Options: Flight, Road, or Scrap

The preservation group has outlined three potential outcomes for the aircraft, only two of which result in its survival. The logistical challenges for both survival options are significant due to the aircraft’s size and regulatory status.

Option A: The “One-Flight” Solution

The preferred, albeit most difficult, option is to fly the XV232 to a new location. This “dream” scenario involves ferrying the aircraft to another museum or airfield. However, the regulatory hurdles are immense. The aircraft would require a special “Permit to Fly” from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Gaining approval for a complex military jet that has been grounded since 2010 would necessitate extensive inspections and potentially costly repairs to meet safety standards for a single ferry flight.

Option B: Road Transport

The alternative survival option is to dismantle the aircraft and transport it by road. The Nimrod is based on the de Havilland Comet airframe, making it a large and structurally complex machine. Disassembling it without causing irreversible structural damage is technically difficult and labor-intensive. Furthermore, the costs associated with heavy haulage and reassembly at a new site are expected to be substantial.

Option C: Scrapping

If neither of the relocation options can be funded or executed by the May 9, 2026 deadline, the group warns that the aircraft will likely be disposed of on-site.

“If we can’t find a solution… unfortunately it is likely that [XV232’s] fate will be out of our hands and she may be split up where she is, something none of us wants to contemplate.”

, Kevin Connor, Director of the Nimrod Preservation Group

Historical Significance of XV232

The potential loss of XV232 would mean the destruction of a significant piece of British Military-Aircraft history. The aircraft is a Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2, a veteran of the 1982 Falklands War. It holds a specific place in aviation records, having completed the longest reconnaissance flight by a Nimrod during the Falklands campaign. Supported by air-to-air refueling, the aircraft covered 8,453 miles in 18 hours and 50 minutes.

Since its arrival at Coventry from RAF Kinloss in 2010, it has served as a “living” exhibit, allowing the public to experience the sights and sounds of four Rolls-Royce Spey engines in operation.

AirPro News Analysis

The situation facing Nimrod XV232 highlights a recurring conflict in industrial heritage preservation: the tension between preserving historic technology and developing modern infrastructure. The irony here is palpable, a gas-guzzling, four-engine Cold War jet is being displaced by a facility dedicated to electrification and green energy. While the economic and environmental arguments for the Gigafactory are clear, the cultural cost is the potential erasure of a unique engineering artifact. Without significant external intervention, likely in the form of a major financial donor or a partner aviation organization, the regulatory and financial barriers to moving a grounded Nimrod may prove insurmountable in the short time remaining.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the final deadline for the aircraft to move?
The Nimrod Preservation Group has been given a deadline of May 9, 2026, to vacate Coventry Airport.

Can the aircraft still fly?
Technically, the engines and systems are maintained in running order. However, legally and safely, it requires a “Permit to Fly” from the CAA, which involves rigorous inspections after 15 years on the ground.

How can the public help?
The group is appealing for financial support via a GoFundMe campaign and is seeking technical expertise or contacts that could facilitate a move by road or air.

Sources

• Nimrod Preservation Group