LAST TORNADO ADV FLIGHT

[Fishtailed]

I've been told that the last flight of the ADV took place today. Can anyone confirm this and give some details, ie was it an RAF or Qinetic aircraft. very sad day if it's true.:{

[TEEEJ]

The ADVs at Boscombe will be QinetiQ. From the enthusiast forums. Tornado F3, serial ZH552 / HW went low level through the Mach Loop, LFA7, Wales today. Later landed at RAF Leeming.

View topic - Tornado F3 - Final flights imminent? (http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=44101)

Tornado F3 into Leeming • FighterControl • Military Aviation Forum (http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=61818)

[Fishtailed]

Thanks TEEEJ, maybe there's a chance to see it on Monday.

[Geehovah]

End of an era. The F3 was never loved but it was sadly under estimated. Another victim of our procurement system.

[TEEEJ]

No problem, Fishtailed. Keep an eye on the following. No doubt there will be images posted over the next few days of the F3 through the Mach Loop and from Boscombe/Leeming?

View forum - Modern Military Photos (http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=9&sid=685bea0a3ad0801c21e17019dcb7d5c3)

[Courtney Mil]

Geehovah,

She was loved by we that flew her in her later years, but, yes, grossly underestimated in many circles. A few years before we have a remember the F3 thread, I think. :ok:

[Lima Juliet]

Yup, I loved my time on F3 and I look back on my 1800hrs with great fondness - it did prove that you could polish one of Warton's finest turds...eventually!

That said, the F15A wasn't all that until the C Model came along having had a bucket of $$$$ spent on it.

LJ

[London Eye]

ZH552 features in my log book a couple of times, a night 4v4 affil and a JMC with AAR marathon (weren't they all?); she probably enjoyed her last trip 'through the loop' a bit more than those particular two...

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

And in the early days, the look on the face of a DACT-losing wonderjet pilot was priceless, since he could blame nothing but himself!

ZH552 1v2 ACT Nov 92, when it must have been shiny-new as I picked up ZH556 & 557 from the factory two months later.

JMC 911- six sorties and not a single AAR; I believe they were a bit busy somewhere sandy at the time. I've had up to 4 on one sortie all the rest of the time though...

[Eminence Gris]

Final F3 did a circuit and single pass e-w at Warton at 15.20 BST before departing to the east.

EG

[Fishtailed]

At least the ADV will live on with the NHCs fitted in GR4s,(though the Italians bought new ones for their upgrade).

[Duncano]

Not the best, not the worst, yet did the job. Came into its own in in latter years (EF3) but sadly was underfunded. Admiration to all aircrew and groundcrew who worked long hours to achieve the task.

[ghostnav]

@Geehovah
Actually, I loved the F3 - and it was far more capable in its latter days than ever planned. I can look back on some great memories working with some great people on the F3 force.

[LOMCEVAK]

Yesterday's sortie was indeed the final one for '552' but there are still 3 other F3s at Boscombe that are to be flown out on their final sorties to Leeming. The aircraft were all still RAF but allotted to QinetiQ for trials that are now complete. Monday could be an interesting and nostalgic day!

[Squirrel 41]

Any idea how many are going to survive? Sweet memories from LEU....

S41

[glojo]

For those of you that have not got the time to look..

Here is the link (http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=44688)

What an amazing photographer.. Those photographs speak volumes about that person's abilities

[Geehovah]

@Geehovah
Actually, I loved the F3 - and it was far more capable in its latter days than ever planned. I can look back on some great memories working with some great people on the F3 force.

I was involved in moving the F2 forward through GW1 mods to Stage 2 but the concept took too long to impliment. A longer range MRAM, ASRAAM and JTIDs were core capability. Defensive aids lagged behind and never really achieved full funding. Procurement ££ as always. I'm with you in your sentiment.

[TEEEJ]

Planned Tornado F3 flypasts for today. The final three F3s are due out of Boscombe at 1300. Apparently Leuchars and Coningsby are on the schedule before landing at Leeming.

See following link

View topic - Tornado F3 - Final flights imminent? (http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=44101)

[Sideshow Bob]

Any idea how many are going to survive? Sweet memories from LEU....

The fate of those already out of service can be found at Demobbed (http://www.demobbed.org.uk/aircraft.php?type=1100)

[Craven Moorhed]

The last 3 just got airborne from EGDM, 1315hrs local.

Very nice flypast in vic down the flightline then departed off to the west.

End of an era, 'Twas a great jet at the end......

[Min Decent Ht]

Fond memories of the glittered turd, manned and fixed by some great people.
I had my last trip in an F3 in Jan 09. And coincidentally that was ZH552 when she was a Fighting Cock.

[CH2]

Hi

Here's the final 3 ship making a single flight down Coningsby 25 at 13:55 on the 9th July

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b217/CH2/090712007a.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b217/CH2/090712017a.jpg

[Just This Once...]

The last missiles fired by the F3:

http://www.shephardmedia.com/static/images/article/TornadoMeteorNWcopy.jpg

http://www.ainonline.com/sites/default/files/uploads/608-meteor-fired-from-tornado.jpg

http://i30.tinypic.com/20j4kn8.gif

Quite a capable combination.

:ok:

[stuminisprite]

i can indeed confirm that all flyable f3's have arrived at leeming for anti det and strip down.