Volunteer Update – Skilled Volunteers Wanted
Now that XV232 has been moved airside at Coventry, the Team that that maintain XV232 in running condition are looking for skilled volunteers in the Airframe, Avionics and Engines Trades to bring 32 up to flying condition for a ferry flight from Coventry to Manston.
Project Update – May 2026: Since this article was originally published, further engineering reviews and project assessments have been completed regarding the previously proposed ferry flight option for Nimrod XV232. Following detailed evaluation, a one-off ferry flight was determined to be unfeasible and is no longer being pursued. Project efforts are now fully focused on the controlled relocation of XV232 by land, including preparation, disassembly, transportation and long-term preservation in partnership with the RAF Manston History Museum. This approach provides the safest and most practical route to securing the future of XV232 for generations to come.
If you think that you can help us, then please email your Nimrod experience to one of the following email addresses so that we can contact you to discuss further:
For Airframe email: airframe@xv232.com
For Avioniu’s email: avionics@xv232.com
For Engines email: engines@xv232.com
Thank-you for your support to this Project
To whom it may concern, it has come to my attention that you are looking for support with getting XV232 back into an airworthiness condition.
I was stationed at RAF Kinloss from 1984-1987 on the line as a propulsion tech.
I have been in the aviation industry for 40 years and I am currently a shift manager and a B1certifying engineer with 747,777,787 and A350 cover also 5 years of NDT experience working for a major airline at Heathrow.
I would like the opportunity to support your project and help where and when I can.
I have tried to use the emails provided, but they appear not to be receiving and are returned.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards Kevin Speakman
Hi Kevin, thank you very much for getting in touch and for your offer of support. Your Nimrod experience at RAF Kinloss combined with your extensive industry background and current certification experience certainly sounds extremely valuable.
We’re also sorry to hear that the email addresses appear to be bouncing back. We’ll investigate this at our end to see what may be causing the issue.
Thank you again for reaching out and supporting XV232. We’ll ensure your message is passed to the relevant team members and will be in touch further in due course.
Kind regards,
Nimrod Preservation Group XV232
Good morning.
Ive been trying to email the airframe address above but it doesn’t seem to be getting through. I would like to help out.
Good morning, thank you for getting in touch and for offering to help support XV232. Sorry to hear the email isn’t getting through. Could we ask if you have any previous Nimrod experience, particularly on airframe, systems or engineering aspects? We’re especially looking for people with direct Nimrod experience where possible as we move into the next phase of the project.
Hi Nigel, I have emailed you directly this morning, our apologies for the delay
i was recently informed by a friend that ye were searching for people with experience with avionics, i would like to help.
Im am currently a B2 aircraft engineer apprentice in ryanair, and although im still learning the trade, I think I could be of some help. As a lover of aviation of aviation history, it would be great honour to see XV232 flying once more and hear the roar of her engines
Hi Wojciech, thank you for reaching out and for your kind offer of support — it’s always great to hear from people passionate about aviation and preserving aircraft like XV232. Your B2 apprenticeship with Ryanair sounds like valuable experience and it’s excellent to see people entering the industry wanting to get involved.
As we move into the next phase of the project, we are particularly looking for volunteers with direct Nimrod experience where possible, especially those with knowledge of the aircraft’s avionics and systems. That said, enthusiasm and willingness to help are hugely important too, and we’d certainly encourage you to stay in touch as there may be opportunities to support the wider project going forward.
Thanks again for your support of XV232.
Sadly I know too much about the rules for a ferry flight. You would ultimately need to find an EA (Engineering authority) willing to sign the aircraft off as fit to fly. The coat requirements they would need to be prepared to sign off would outweigh the cost of dismantling the aircraft and moving it by road. I know it’s not what you want to hear, but I’m being honest. BTW, I was 9yrs with Betty Windsor’s Flying Circus and another 20 as an aircraft contractor and have have had discussions with the CAA. Their attitude is that you can do anything as long as it’s compliant and therein lies the issue.