Tornado GR Ferry Tips?
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Mornington Crescent
Tornado GR Ferry Tips?
Bit of a spotter's one, I'm afraid.
At work there's a picture of a GR, taken from below which seems to show a much more rounded tip to the wing, with no Nav light. It seems to come back from the end of the slat in almost a constant curve to a point about 12" outboard of the flap track. There's no indication of any areials (sp, sorry!) or anything.
So, is it a ferry tip, or what?
BluntM8
At work there's a picture of a GR, taken from below which seems to show a much more rounded tip to the wing, with no Nav light. It seems to come back from the end of the slat in almost a constant curve to a point about 12" outboard of the flap track. There's no indication of any areials (sp, sorry!) or anything.
So, is it a ferry tip, or what?
BluntM8
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Darn Sarf
I'm honestly not taking the Michael, but it isn't an F-14 is it???
http://www.topedge.com/panels/aircra...1/f-14size.gif
http://www.topedge.com/panels/aircra...1/f-14size.gif
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Mornington Crescent
I'll have another look. I think it might just be the angle from which the photograph is taken. If I can, I'll try to get a copy of the image to post, but since it's in part of the AWC dealing with EW I don't think I'll get a camera in there.
What confused me was that there didn't seem to be a nav/strobe light on the end, nor was there a black patch which I would expect to see (Notch aerial? Cover for some other aerial?) Also, it seems significantly more curved than the normal wingtip.
And yes, it is defo 100% a Tornado!
What confused me was that there didn't seem to be a nav/strobe light on the end, nor was there a black patch which I would expect to see (Notch aerial? Cover for some other aerial?) Also, it seems significantly more curved than the normal wingtip.
And yes, it is defo 100% a Tornado!
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From: Aberystwyth
Not a trials aircraft is it? Usually recognisable by black and white circled 'dots' on parts of the airframe/weapon to help take measurements from when studying the video.
I imagine for testing the underwing release parameters of Storm Shadow or similar, a modified wing tip with cameras could conceivably have been fitted to film the release.
Without photos though its hard to do anything other than speculate
I imagine for testing the underwing release parameters of Storm Shadow or similar, a modified wing tip with cameras could conceivably have been fitted to film the release.
Without photos though its hard to do anything other than speculate
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From: Darn Sarf
Sorry for adding a little confusion there!!!
The only reason that I thought it might have been an F-14 is that I trawled through this Tornado website:
http://www.tornado-data.com/
and couldn't see anything that resembled the wingtips you described on any of the trials aircraft pictures. Can't help otherwise. But for Tornado history and production info, this is a very good website.
You mention that it's a planform picture from below, but if you can see any of the lower portion of the fin, the abscence of the fillet at the bottom-rear of the fin may indicate a trials jet (although some of them did have the fillet). I know, I know: GEEK ALERT!!!!
The only reason that I thought it might have been an F-14 is that I trawled through this Tornado website:
http://www.tornado-data.com/
and couldn't see anything that resembled the wingtips you described on any of the trials aircraft pictures. Can't help otherwise. But for Tornado history and production info, this is a very good website.
You mention that it's a planform picture from below, but if you can see any of the lower portion of the fin, the abscence of the fillet at the bottom-rear of the fin may indicate a trials jet (although some of them did have the fillet). I know, I know: GEEK ALERT!!!!
