VP International Kinloss Wing

VPI Minutes

Below are the latest minutes of the VPI Committee.

18 Aug 10
29 Jul 10

RV 2011

The reunion will take place 9 to 12 June 2011 at Greenwood.  It will celebrate the 70th anniversaries of 404 Sqn, 405 Sqn, 415 Sqn and 413 Sqn.  It will also include the 45th anniversary of VPI.  The events are as follows:
 
9 June  Registration and International Night
10 June Meet and Greet and Golf Tournament
11 June Beer Tent, Sqn historical displays, Greenwood Aviation Museum displays and   Industry displays followed by a banquet supper
12 June Farewell breakfast and possibly a VPI Memorial Ceremony
 
The events on the 11th will take place on the Canex car park between the museum, the memorial garden and VPI HQ. 
 
404 Sqn will be putting together a website for the event once further we have a link we will post it.

Nimrod MR2 retires

A few quotes from the local papers.

'THE silence will be deafening in the skies over RAF Kinloss with the early departure of the Nimrod fleet set to signal a period of continuing economic uncertainty for the local community. The Nimrod MR2 aircraft will be officially withdrawn from service at midnight next Wednesday (31st Mar 2010) - a cost-cutting decision by the Ministry of Defence - and it will be 18 months before the first of a smaller fleet of nine Nimrod MRA4 aircraft starts to become operational. '

A eulogy was read by Flight Lieutenant Billy Speight, an air engineer who flew for more than 12,000 hours on Nimrods.

Flt Lt Speight spoke of the ''great life'' he had flying the planes and the ''great friends'' he made.

He said: ''Not all has been fun and good times. We must never forget ourcolleagues and friends who lost their lives in service of their country while flying on the Nimrod.

''We must not forget that 21 aircrews, two ground crew, a Para and a Royal Marine were killed in flying operations and during aircraft maintenance over the life of the Nimrod MK1 and MK2.

''But of course it is not the end. As we say goodbye to an aircraft which has given this country of ours the highest possible level of excellence in the many roles it's has been tasked to perform, so we say hello to its successor.

''A new era of maritime aviation stretches before my colleagues and friends here at RAF Kinloss.

''I know that in my retirement as I watch the new MRA4 depart quietly over Forres, I am hugely confident that the fine traditions laid down by its predecessor the Nimrod MK2 are being upheld.

''The Nimrod is dead. Long live the Nimrod.'

'
MR2 in Gibraltar Feb 2010

As the withdrawal of the Nimrod MR2 and delay in bringing through the MRA4 is part of a defence savings programme, a timetable for the phased introduction of the other eight Nimrods is not yet clear.

An MoD spokesman confirmed that the first Nimrod MRA4 is due to arrive at RAF Kinloss in July from BAE Systems' Warton Aerodrome at Preston in Lancashire. It will be seen at the base on occasion before then, flown by a BAE crew, as part of its ongoing development.

Aircrew at Kinloss have already begun simulator training for the new aircraft and the extensive conversion process will not see the first aircraft become operational until 2012.'

VP International Bar closes.

Unfortunately the VPI bar has been closed at RAF Kinloss.  The building has been on stay of execution for sometime and in Oct 2009 the building was handed over the contractors for demolition (as of Apr 2010 still standing though!!). We have not been allocated any other building and are unlikely to get one in the future.   The memorabilia has been catalogued and distributed over the Sqns.  For future events we will be utilising 42 Sqns bar.

MPA Magazine 2007- 2008
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