Tornado Airworthiness
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Tornado Airworthiness
Surprised that nobody has risen yet to comment on the Beebs reporting of current Luftwaffe woes. Ministerial claims that only 29 out of their 66 Tonkas are airworthy.
Sorry, working off an iPhone so unable to post the link. I'm sure some good sport will oblige in due course.
Raises 2 obvious questions in my book:-
How does current RAF servicability compare with that sorry tale?
And should they/we really be advertising the fact?
Meanwhile the debate ensues about actually using them, and Germany is ahead of us on that one
Sorry, working off an iPhone so unable to post the link. I'm sure some good sport will oblige in due course.
Raises 2 obvious questions in my book:-
How does current RAF servicability compare with that sorry tale?
And should they/we really be advertising the fact?
Meanwhile the debate ensues about actually using them, and Germany is ahead of us on that one
"The state of our flying systems remains unsatisfactory," the German army's chief of staff General Volker Wieker was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
The defence ministry report, obtained by German media, blamed the problem on the "lack of availability of various spare parts".
The defence ministry report, obtained by German media, blamed the problem on the "lack of availability of various spare parts".
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No idea about serviceability rates, but worth remmebering that the basic aircraft has diverged over the years; the Germans still fly the equivalent of the RAF GR1 and have the slightly newer ECR, both of which received avionics upgrades in the early part of this century, the RAF has the GR4 which was an upgrade from the mid 90's, again mainly avionic, but very different from the German aircraft. If the supply difficulties are for those systems there probably won't be much read across. If on the other hand it was for structural stuff that may be an issue. Assuming of course the supply system has procured enough stuff against predicted usage and not allowed contracts to lapse to make 'savings'.
There's nothing more expensive than a combat aircraft grounded for a couple of hundred quid saved on a widget.
There's nothing more expensive than a combat aircraft grounded for a couple of hundred quid saved on a widget.
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To be fair, we're right in the middle of the ASSTA 3/3.1 modernization program. It's a shame nonetheless.
If my memory serves me well, there have been some quite recent reports about the RAF having to beg the other Tonka operators for spare parts
If my memory serves me well, there have been some quite recent reports about the RAF having to beg the other Tonka operators for spare parts
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Meanwhile the debate ensues about actually using them, and Germany is ahead of us on that one
Lack of spares doesn't make an aircraft unairworthy or mean they are unreliable. However, any breakdown of the process to ensure the correct spares are available, at the right place and time, is a sure fire indication of major airworthiness problems. I'd say it would be unusual for Germany to be suffering alone. It is a difficult area. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but our Tornado OSD has been moved right a few times. That is a recipe for unavailability, as the financial rules state funding reduces at 20% per year for the last 5 years life. (The "5 year rule"). If you suddenly extend, a heck of a lot has to be resurrected. Even if this rule has been waived (or more likely ignored) we are long past the guaranteed support date and problems will be rearing their head continuously. Best of luck!
Tornado OSD has moved left in recent years - from 2025 to 2019. No idea about current spares status but our aircraft are reputed to be much more 'available' than was the case 5 or 6 years ago, largely stemming from the maturity of the support contract and some good work targeting the most common technical faults with improvements to preventive and remedial procedures.
I believe the real issue is with the RAF's (or MOD's) wish to avoid a 'Knife Edge' cessation of Tornado ops and opted for a gradual decline in parts and, subsequently, serviceability rates. I remember being informed of my post's demise in 2011 and was surprised at the proposed decline in BAES manning even then.
The left and right movement of OSD dates between 2016 and 2025 has somewhat complicated those earlier decisions!
It appears that UK is left with the product of dithering from several indecisive govmint departments!
The left and right movement of OSD dates between 2016 and 2025 has somewhat complicated those earlier decisions!
It appears that UK is left with the product of dithering from several indecisive govmint departments!
