View Full Version : Production Typhoon Flies
The first 4 production Typhoon/Eurofighters flew last week:
Location: Germany, 13th Feb.
Aircraft: GT001
Flight: 44 minutes,
Crew: Heinz Spoelgen, EADS; Lt Col Robert Hierl,
Luftwaffe.
Location: Italy, 14th Feb.
Aircraft: IT001
Flight: 50 minutes,
Crew: Marco Venanzetti, Alenia; Enrico Scarabotto, Alenia.
Location: Spain, 14th Feb.
Aircraft: ST001
Flight: ?
Crew: Eduardo Cuadrado Garcia, EADS; Alfonso de Castro Tornero, EADS.
Location: England, 14th Feb.
Aircraft: BT001
Flight: 21 minutes,
Crew: Derek Reeh, BAe; Archie Neill, BAe.
BT001:
http://www.imagepark.de/efpublic/html/pic_gif/bt001_1411.gif
Biggus
20th Feb 2003, 20:44
Very nice! Perhaps somebody out there can refresh my memory, when was it originally due in service? I am sure 1994 rings a bell, but I am not sure if that was the original date or after the first few slippages!
smartman
21st Feb 2003, 00:11
Biggus
Late on those original timescales, sadly, yes. But don't blame it all on BWOS. Many other political/4-Nation MoD factors come to mind over the years. Still an outstanding piece of kit, which will provide the RAF with a potent weapon system to counter any foreseeable threat for many years (and that doesn't have to mean a counter to F22). Take a serious look at what we want it to do for us - and it then just might be a very credible alt to all other US alternatives. And remember, it's ours, and we can do what the hell we like with its software, weapon upgrades etc - perhaps not so with an off-the-shelf buy.
Go on, have just a little faith ----------
laidbak
21st Feb 2003, 00:21
It just might be what we need (alternative to us options)....
I sure hope so. Back in '84 when I arrived at Wattisham, Staish told me and my backseater how lucky we were- to get 1st bite at Eurofighter !!
Remember the debacle of Nimwacs, the F3 as a major upgrade from F4 (yeah, right) and so on. I'm all for keeping a domestic military-industrial thing going (look at the incredible stuff the Swedes have done over the years), but I have to confess I'm very sceptical.
Only time will tell- good radar and what about stealth capabilities(the need for the latter maybe being somewhat arguable)?
Biggus
21st Feb 2003, 09:22
smartman
Sorry, you obviously misinterpreted my tone. Not having a go at anyone, just a straight question. Not a FJ man myself, so only of passing interest. I seem to remember a couple of years when the Germans just said, sorry old chap, haven't got any money for the project this year, are you going to cancel it or wait until we can afford to pay? Funny old thing the project was put on hold until the Germans came up with the money!
I am sure it will offer great increase in capability over what we have now, not knocking it as an aircraft!