MORAYVIA NIMROD NOSE SUMMER TOUR By Tom Docherty

The summer weather in the Scottish Highlands may have been dreadful but this has not stopped the Morayvia team from travelling the length and breadth of the area displaying the nose section of Nimrod MR.2 XV240.

The first event attended was a country show at Fyvie Castle on 7th June. The wet weather did not deter the team, (led by Stan Barber; an-ex Nimrod navigator), and despite the display from Morayvia being split into three geographically separated sections the interest from the public was immense with large queues waiting to enter the Nimrod nose to view the complete interior.

The other two areas of the Morayvia display were the flight simulator, where budding pilots, young and old, could try their hand at flying a Nimrod and the fund-raising shop filled with all sorts of aviation related goodies.

The next event was the Keith Show ten days later. Again public interest was great and large queues developed. The logistics of getting such a large exhibit to the venues are great and there was many a tight squeeze for the articulated truck and trailer combination in negotiating the narrow approach roads to these venues. XV240 was lucky to arrive intact as its fuselage aerials brushed overhanging tree branches! Once on site a large team

of volunteers is required to set up and run the show. The fuselage section requires at least 4-6 people to control the queue and explain the complex interior of the cockpit and rear cabin to the visitors. A few more volunteers are required to man the shop, simulator and fund raising raffle draw and to explain the pictorial displays in the marquee and encourage interested visitors to sign up a members of the group.

The next event was at the Grampian Motor Museum at Alford on 1st July. The main event was a display of vintage and sporting cars, both static and on a race-track. The link between cars and aircraft may seem tenuous; however the Nimrod nose once again attracted large crowds of viewers. Once again Morayvia volunteers were out in strength looking after the exhibit and marshalling the large queue, which was still large at the close of the show.

Three weeks later the road show had moved to Elgin, setting up in the town centre at a large business development event. During the day the Lord Lieutenant for Moray, Grenville Johnston Esq OBE TD CA, officially opened the Nimrod nose to the public cutting a ribbon at the foot of the entry stairs. The Morayvia team were ably assisted at this event by volunteers from the local Elgin ATC Squadron.

Interest in the Morayvia plans for an aviation heritage centre in the north of Scotland is growing and very many members of the public at all of the events either signed up to become Morayvia members or signed a list declaring their support for the venture.

As always raising funds for and public awareness of the plan for the aviation heritage centre are key to these events. Support is growing and it is hoped that the next event, a display at RAF Leuchars Air Show on 14-16 September will develop this even further. See you there!

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