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Tornado zapped doing 673mph by Police

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Tornado zapped doing 673mph by Police

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Old 10th May 2007, 15:41
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Tornado zapped doing 673mph by Police

I think this is the correct place to post this thread - if not please accept my apoligies.
Can anyone comment on the authentisity of the story below - I read it in a newspaper and I am not too sure if its true.
A local policemen in the Highlands having little to occupy his time, was delighted when given a new type speed camera to play with, however he soon became bored with his new toy after he struggled to top 20mph as he repeatedly leapt out on the village high street gun outstretched.
But before he could say "your nicked" a Tornado made a dramatic entrance to the scene with a steep turn up the loch, heading straight towards the village. Raising the gun he took aim and pulled the trigger. To his surprise the Tornado immediately vertical. Assuming coincidence he went back to the nick very pleased with his 673mph reading.
A later brief from the Police Divisonal HQ reported that an aircraft on routine excercise in the area had experienced a lock and the aircraft auto systems had put the aircraft into a full evasive manoeuvre. The pilot had been quite shaken but suffered no ill effects.
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Old 10th May 2007, 15:42
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One of these comes up every so often and belongs in the fiction category.
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Old 10th May 2007, 15:45
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Would a radar gun work on a tornado, as you need to know the range and distance traveled in between readings to work out the speed.
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Old 10th May 2007, 15:49
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The variation I heard was that the Tornado had a radar seeking missile which locked on to the radar gun. Again seems to be a myth - still hasn't stopped me telling it down the pub a few times. And thus are such myths promulgated
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Old 10th May 2007, 15:50
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Traditionally, this is also accompanied by assertions that the Tornado/Harrier/Chipmunk 'locked-on' to the poor copper, with his hand-held threat emitter, with an (unspecified) missile. I am impressed with the 'aircraft auto systems (that) had put the aircraft into a full evasive manoeuvre' - when did we fit those?

However, I do think a few RAFP and USAF Sy Police have got interesting readings trying to nick speeders on peri tracks...
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Old 10th May 2007, 15:56
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Urban myth, allegedly. However it is absolutely true that I've no idea how to post a link
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/radar.asp
Edited to express my surprise that the link worked
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Old 10th May 2007, 15:57
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Sorry, it's an "urban legend" and didn't happen.

More details here :

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/radar.asp
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Old 10th May 2007, 16:01
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Sorry, it's an "urban legend" and didn't happen.

No, but it should have.


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Old 10th May 2007, 16:15
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If the story were true, more likely to have been a laser device than a radar unit.

http://www.teletrafficuk.com/
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Old 10th May 2007, 16:21
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The radar gun might produce a reading. But it would NOT cause the aircraft to automatically assume control and climb.

Funny story though!
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Old 10th May 2007, 16:55
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Hmmm....if true, that jet was doing 585 knots...over a village! Nick 'im!
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Old 10th May 2007, 17:11
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I like the "Sidewinder".......Air to Ground Missile
watp,iktch
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Old 10th May 2007, 17:27
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Oh Ye Of Little Faith! Ofcourse the Tornado has automatic defensive systems, which can lock onto and 'Disrupt' threat systems. They are thought controlled, and unfornuately, being precured from the French, all Tornado Pilots, now need to think in French.

I'm sure this is true, it must be, otherwise I dreamt it whilst at work...... Oops.

Advo
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Old 10th May 2007, 17:31
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Radar guns

Most radar guns have limitations in the feild of detecting low flying military hardware..
Maximum speed for most (And I'm not aware of any that record higher - why would they) is 200-220 Mph, and maximum range is little more than a mile.

This was probably the basis of the technology used in Rapier Blindfire...
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Old 10th May 2007, 17:41
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The recorded speed also, I believe, exceeded the permitted low level speed as well - 583 k against 550 k.
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Old 10th May 2007, 17:50
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I sometimes wonder whether the origins of this urban myth come from the days when RAF Plod was trying to book folk for flying too low in the LFAs, using an ex-Argentinian SuperFledermaus radar.

Which, allegedly, was detected and jammed on several occasions....
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Old 10th May 2007, 17:50
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A good story but probably false.

One that is true however is the low level Chinny snapped by a Gatso camera - I last saw the evidence photograph under the Bunsters' ops desk. I guess the coppers have a sense of humour. I wish I had a copy. Can any Bunsters scan it and post it here?
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Old 10th May 2007, 18:30
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I have it on 'very' good authority that Sky Gaurd(ian) is up and well ! Works too! Although, it does suffer from the fact that front line jets have well programmed RHWR! 'Chaff, me? at low level? Never Sir!!........'

Top Training Guys, Keep it up!

Advo
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Old 10th May 2007, 22:40
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all Tornado Pilots, now need to think in French.
Ahh! So instead of turning to the beam they are now being taught to surrender!
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Old 10th May 2007, 22:45
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Have heard both versions of the tornado story in the past and had an ex RAF Plod officer say there was an effect on Radar Guns when they have tracked aircraft and they need resetting and recalibrating.
Also heard a version of the story happening Mount Pleasant with the RMP with the Radar guns and a RMP officer telling me of the interview without coffee he had with the Garrison commander over it.
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