[Moose4]

Not quite, although the designs are from the same era. From the RAF’s homepage on the aircraft:

“The Nimrod MR1 entered service in 1969 and was upgraded to MR2 standard in the late 1970s.”

That’s assuming that the original Nimrods were purpose-built airframes using part of the old Comet 4’s design (mainly the wing), and not rebuilt Comet 4 or 4A airliners. If they are, then they ARE as old as the B-52s.

}:-)4

[Winniesboy]

That’s assuming that the original Nimrods were purpose-built airframes using part of the old Comet 4’s design (mainly the wing), and not rebuilt Comet 4 or 4A airliners.

That's correct. Only the wings were Comet-derived. The fuselage was entirely new. The problems with the original Comet 1 were to do with metal fatigue failure in the pressurused cabin, so irrelevant to the Nimrod (which, BTW, has been a superb aircraft for its purpose, especially low-speed loitering etc).

[A.A. Cunningham]

If they are

That's a big if and assumption you are making. 1969-1962 = 7