Tonka F3 Interesting Facts

[Jabba_TG12]

"Another interesting fact - the MOD preferred the F3 to the F15.

Says it all about the MOD."


Yeah, I read about that too, when I did a some research on the programme for FT1... then read afterwards about the Air Staff losing control of their collective pelvic floor muscles when they saw the F16 gambolling around Farnborough on its first tour in Europe in the late 70's... The info I read implied that they tried to wriggle off the hook saying they didnt want the F3 any more, but were tied into the contract so deep that they were stuck with it.

Not that we've seen that kind of thing happen anywhere before, mind you...

I mean, lets face it... Who the hell would have chosen the F3 over the F15?

FWIW, I'd have chosen the F14 over the F3... After all, what was the mission, the raison d'etre at the time?

Dogfighter or BVR interceptor?

At the time, the job was that of long range interceptor. QRA Air policing & picking off the hoardes of Bears & Backfires coming round the cape before they got to missile launch point if the balloon went up.

Arguably the F14, 15 and 16 would have given us both capabilities.

The F3 was barely OK when it was needed... certainly couldnt have mixed it with any number of other fighters had it come to real air combat. Those who know will know about reliability, particularly that bloody radar...

Thats what happens when you let the Air Staff get an attack of shiny kit syndrome...

[Data-Lynx]

On May 22nd 2008, one F3 Tornado wizzed through Windsor

One Steve Davis style factoid is: if you turn it around, the F3 Tornado can manage 158 to 206 mph.

It is a wind speed scale from F0 to F6, according to a clever Japanese - Theo Fujita. At F3, this severe wind will tear off roofs and walls, overturn trains, uproot trees and toss cars into the air.

[maxburner]

Tarnished, see what you've started now?

[Data-Lynx]

1435 Flight

Not even mildly chastened, but more in spirit with the original question, how about: the Tornado F3 is the only variable geometry fighter to serve in the Falkland Islands?

[Cows getting bigger]

It does OK as a low level bomber.............

I guess that's because it's a low level bomber with a different paint job and some extra space to store the sandwiches

[Riskman]

The F3 has destroyed less enemy ac than the GR

[mr fish]

sitting here gazing into my "model aircraft (NOT toy!!) display case", can i add, F3 better looking!!!

both aircraft depicted "full load" and "dirty"








LOOK, my son bought them as christmas prezzies----don't judge me

[Rigga]

Wow! All these huge speeds being banded about - and I thought F3's were restricted by PSI or Amps produced?

[backTOfront]

One fact that pertains to both aircraft is that neither will ever shoot down an enemy fighter.

and one more for good luck....

The F3 did not have the same amount of PR as the Phoon. I mean how many random RAF associations have the phoon as its mascot? Force developement anyone?

[althenick]

It hasn't shot down as many Aircraft as Sea Harrier

[Data-Lynx]

4 the 1 who nose. Three grumpy comments then blessed silence from 11 Mar 08 until today. Such insight; was it a compare and contrast statement for both aircraft or just the F3? You are perhaps:

A specialist is one who knows more and more about less and less?

More to the point, the F3 has certainly intercepted a wider variety of Falklands AT and airbridge 'targets'. As self-loading luggage, I was always pleased to see them.

[Climebear]

The F3 has destroyed less enemy ac than the GR

That statement is incorrect.











It should read that the F3 has destroyed fewer enemy ac than the GR

[PPRuNe Pop]

I am pretty sure that Tarnished did not expect that one or two of you would have a handbags at dawn problem with the subject.

On topic please or it goes!

[AdLib]

OK OK! I've got one.



er ....
















sorry

[Navaleye]

I'm a bit new to this;

can one of them fly as high as civilian airliners?

[cargosales]

Alluded to earlier but not actually stated as a Top Trump fact ..

The standard F3 has a large baggage compartment while the standard Typhoon has none. Although both a/c have ample space to store crew overnight bags and duty free


Ok, being serious if we must ... how about how many Squadrons have been equipped with each airframe? Or how many Stations have/will play host to either?

Or,

Which weighs more, the Blue Circle radar or the Blue Circle cannon?

Or,

Ideal for an aircraft with a projected A2G role, thanks to its canards the Typhoon pilot can see less of the ground below and in front of him than the F3 pilot can. How much less?? [No, I've no idea of the answer either but it might just be the killer Top Trump comparison for which the Typhoon has no answer]

CS

[The B Word]

Just to please PPP - back on thread

You could fit a slab of "Wobbly" in the data-link bay of F3 - before they fitted JTIDS.

You could really p!ss off 1 or 2 star USAF Generals by going "Winchester" on Red Flag on the final day (that was with 2-shot kills!) in a jet they knew was less capable. Nothing better than gunning an F-16 from a low-level zoom climb as they blindly transitted to their tanker - turning the radar off and using the JTIDS picture could often get you in and out unannounced!

You could chase down B1-Bs at LL and get a 830kts gun solution!

You could turn up to work 2 hours after the mud-mover affil did and spoil their plan!

You could blow over a Winnebago at low-level in the Nevada desert.

You could launch an early Skyflash and then catch it up!

You could fly an aircraft with stupidest looking fin that is second only to the C17...

The B Word

[10W]

The B word

Buccaneer ?

[Tarnished]

Much as I suspected, I thank you for your efforts. My mate is delighted.

Please feel free to close this thread if I can't find a way to do it myself.