View Full Version : Tornado F3 Over Lincolnshire
MAINJAFAD
1st Jun 2012, 20:15
Just happened to outside the office at the windy Lincolnshire cabbage patch today when a Tornado F3 in what looked like 25 Sqn markings flew over. I thought they were all gone! Somebody at Boscombe Down still operating one? Can't find anything on the web about it.
12 twists per inch
1st Jun 2012, 21:03
QinetiQ at Boscome are still flying them
Tornado F.3 ZH552 • FighterControl • Military Aviation Forum (http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=58897)
glad rag
2nd Jun 2012, 08:53
Something not quite what it would seem with that AC and I don't just mean the canopy either..............
MAINJAFAD
2nd Jun 2012, 11:58
Thanks for that, a bit of further research shows that three are still in use for Meteor AAM trials, and one is in 25 Sqn markings.
cornish-stormrider
4th Jun 2012, 09:53
Damn, thats a pretty looking jet,
apart from being in the wrong sqn colours.....
why don't they re-engine one wiv a pair of EJ200's to see what it would do.
ISTR that EJ200 was sized to be able to do this but the SPS gearbox interface is quite different. QQ may have offered to do a quick and dirty conversion to trial the fit but without a bigger wing, there probably wouldn't be that much benefit.
cornish-stormrider
5th Jun 2012, 10:44
apart from the fact that in dry an EJ gives more thrust than a 104 in blower....
60 dry and 90 wet IIRC as opposed to 40 ish and 60 ish
BlindWingy
5th Jun 2012, 11:30
The fastest aircraft in RAF history?
dat581
5th Jun 2012, 11:56
The fastest aircraft in RAF history?
Nope, the F4J would have it by just a touch.
Fox3WheresMyBanana
5th Jun 2012, 12:10
Fastest at low level, and that's the fun bit!
Faster than a Lightning? Mach 2.27 @40,000ft
dat581
5th Jun 2012, 14:40
Yep, Operation Skyburner Mach 2.5 @47,000ft with an unmodified aircraft.
Plus 1,606.342 mph with water injection, think that's Mach 2.6 but would need air data to convert properly.
Bubblewindow
5th Jun 2012, 18:10
Boscombe F3's are a relativly common site at low level in Wales..
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc315/machlooper/5d38793e.jpg
Never seen their F2 low though ?
BW
Lima Juliet
5th Jun 2012, 22:55
Definately fastest at low level - chased down F-111s and B-1Bs trying to do their best as well! Don't forget that her design spec was to shoot down BEARs and BLACKJACKs low level over the North Sea, so speed was a large part of the key user requirements (or whatever they were in the 70s).
The picture in Wales above ^^^^ shows her clean winged as well. I remember when they arrived from Warton like that and M2.1 to 2.2 was quite easy at ~40-45kft.
LJ
Bubblewindow
6th Jun 2012, 07:22
Just as a matter of intrest, the Boscombe F3's seem to fly low level with the wings fully forward all the time.
Does anybody know the reason for this?
BW
Lima Juliet
6th Jun 2012, 08:50
BubbleW
If they're flying the Mach Loop then you need to be in 25wing to get the manoeuvrability - it can be done in 45 wing but you need to allow for a bit extra. If you want to fly at high IAS then you sweep the wings to 45 wing and if you want to go for it then get them back to 67 wing! In 67 you get no manouevre flaps or slats and in 45 you get a partial amount - only in 25 do you get the full amount of flaps/slats and that is why you use it for the best manoeuvrability.
All the best
LJ
Gaz ED
6th Jun 2012, 08:56
I seem to remember a tale of a Jarman ECR out-running a Mig 29 during the Balkan unpleasantnesses, at low-level. Anyone else?
Lima Juliet
6th Jun 2012, 09:25
Was happily chasing an Iraqi MiG 23 and ran out of UNSCR no-fly zone airspace! :ugh:
Bubblewindow
6th Jun 2012, 10:53
If they're flying the Mach Loop then you need to be in 25wing to get the manoeuvrability - it can be done in 45 wing but you need to allow for a bit extra. If you want to fly at high IAS then you sweep the wings to 45 wing and if you want to go for it then get them back to 67 wing! In 67 you get no manouevre flaps or slats and in 45 you get a partial amount - only in 25 do you get the full amount of flaps/slats and that is why you use it for the best manoeuvrability.
Cheers for that LJ. Understand the above just never seen a GR4 do it at 25 wing,
have even seen GR4's at 67 :cool:
BW
indeed, some here at 45
Mach Loop, March. What happened to the weather... • FighterControl • Military Aviation Forum (http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=57271)