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View Full Version : GR4 looses half a wing tank arriving at Malta show


Bubblewindow
28th Sep 2013, 22:15
Just seen this vid on YouTube ....
Any ideas as to why ? Did the tail plane hit?

Malta International Airshow 2013 Arrivals - YouTube (http://youtu.be/tUEYTWYyB_I)

NutLoose
28th Sep 2013, 23:21
At 15:30 it happens.

P6 Driver
29th Sep 2013, 07:28
I would imagine that something would have been felt through the airframe when the rear third of a tank departs (apart from part of the CWP lighting up perhaps) so I wonder how close the crew were to flying out to sea and jettisoning the stores?

I'd be interested in the forthcoming speculation from those with genuine Tornado operating experience.

BEagle
29th Sep 2013, 08:19
This old thread might be of relevance: http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/269052-tornado-external-fuel-tanks.html

:hmm:

KarlADrage
29th Sep 2013, 08:40
These aren't the proper big tanks though, Beags, are they?

just another jocky
29th Sep 2013, 08:44
Not going to speculate. :oh:

CoffmanStarter
29th Sep 2013, 09:18
http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af162/CoffmanStarter/image_zpsb4e384e0.jpg

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af162/CoffmanStarter/image_zps16015f07.jpg

Aft section of port tank by the looks of it ...

Glad the crew were OK.

Didn't see any immediately obvious Fire Rescue backup ?

engineer(retard)
29th Sep 2013, 09:49
Seen that happen before when the SPS door comes off

TheWizard
29th Sep 2013, 10:10
Probably due to it being "loose" then!:}

dynamics
29th Sep 2013, 10:27
Just the tank?

http://i39.tinypic.com/2a6nhba.jpg

gamecock
29th Sep 2013, 12:14
The LH SPS door is missing in this incident also.

glad rag
29th Sep 2013, 19:37
Poor old Delta, took a Beltah, should have stayed in the Effin Shelter...

good old XV GR1 days....:D

However looking at the damage to the taileron, [??????] good old fin bringing the boys home again :D:D:D:D------:D:D:D

Wander00
29th Sep 2013, 19:44
looks like luck and skill prevented a MB let down

Lima Juliet
29th Sep 2013, 21:45
I've got a nagging memory of the same thing happening on a 1500L tank where the front nose cone came off. Does anyone else remember this?

Also, the 1500L tanks are not quite the work of art that the 2250L tanks are. So one failing like this doesn't surprise me some 30+ years into service.

LJ

newt
30th Sep 2013, 07:25
Looks like something happened at 16.16 and the tank broke up when the G was applied on the break!:ok:

Background Noise
30th Sep 2013, 09:27
Isn't that just a video glitch?

Another pic here:

View topic - Malta Yemen AF etc (http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=55490)

engineer(retard)
30th Sep 2013, 09:31
The one I recall was in low level air combat training. We were pretty certain it was not left "loose", you could see witness marks where the door dragged out. ISTR it wasn't the first occurence

Air767
30th Sep 2013, 14:12
http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo337/QUID59/tornado_zps76f0d694.jpg (http://s389.photobucket.com/user/QUID59/media/tornado_zps76f0d694.jpg.html)

jamier
30th Sep 2013, 18:44
Those are little jugs 1500L and are mainly asbestos iirc? The big jugs are 2250L and aluminium? Also the big jugs have 4 'fins' on the rear of each tank.

EAP86
30th Sep 2013, 21:06
Aren't the small tanks Phenolic Resin reinforced with Asbestos fibre?

jonw66
1st Oct 2013, 19:17
Asbestos Phenolic material I worked in the tank bay at Leeming and we used to have to do a Mod which involved filing off a certain amount then resealing it around the rear mounting lug because of this problem.
Going back twenty years but may be a re-occurence.
Regards

Jon

EAP86
2nd Oct 2013, 07:50
...or the SPS bay door latches failing (not unknown, also not properly fastened has been seen) and the door takes the end of the tank off?

stuminisprite
2nd Oct 2013, 13:16
i also worked there jon. sleepy hollow!!!

indeed are phenolic.

My guess is a bird strike and part of the tank (ie one of the rear fins causing the subsequent damage to the door.

Just This Once...
2nd Oct 2013, 17:57
From experience the first thing asked when the SPS door is lost is 'was it an aircrew turn-round?'.

The techies never seem to trust us simple aircrew; although they may say that is down to their own experience.

jonw66
2nd Oct 2013, 18:24
Hi Stumini yes sleepy hollow is that you Pash
JTO worked on VAS as well and found most aircrew very good we would do most of the work but were not allowed to sign for servicings despite having been a liney previously at TTTE

Best

Jon