Originally Posted by
Underbolt
But surely you can only use each mark number once, and Mk 1 was the F.1? Hence Tornado GR.1 and F.2, Typhoon T.1 and F.2 etc.
I did remember that, but haven't we called 51 Sqn's new toys Airseeker R.1 instead of sticking with RC-135W?
Underbolt,
You can reuse the mark numbers when the aircraft is a new type - the Harrier was a greatly updated version, but still a Harrier. The F-35 has no progressional relationship with the old EE product, so it's a new type.
(Actually can't think on an example where the RAF/UK has re-used a name in recent times that was relatively recently in being out of service - several WW2 and earlier ones, but not any in service in the last 50 years or so)