Tornado GR4 last flight

[SATCOS WHIPPING BOY]

Originally Posted by 57mm

Understand the last fly past mission is on Thu 21; any idea on launch / recovery times at MR? Would love to say farewell to the old girl....

I can't help with times for 21st but that is not the last "event".

28th Feb there is a planned 9-ship flight out of Marham and up to Cranwell.

[bobward]

Tornado GR last flight

Thanks to the crews of the two jets that did a low go-around at Norwich this afternoon.
It was great to see you!

[Easy Street]

The Defence-wide formation flypast limits are available for all to read in their miserableness: 500ft minimum height and 20 degrees angle of bank. Google RA2335. Any lower or steeper (or indeed a second pass according to some lower-level orders) and it becomes a role demonstration, which for performance in public needs PDA just like a display! It seems that straightforward kinds of activity that any military aircrew could deliver safely and professionally with barely a scrap of paperwork have been caught up in the post-Shoreham clampdown. A sad legacy indeed.

[wub]

Originally Posted by Herod

She certainly corrected first impressions. Originally Multi Role Combat Aircraft. Those of us of a certain age will remember, when the next delay was announced. "MRCA: Must Refurbish Canberras Again"

Another interpretation was “Mother Riley’s Cardboard Aeroplane”

[N707ZS]

Once the operational flying's over might HMG give the airframes out to museums as they did with Nimrods!

[Herod]

Easy Street: I wasn't aware of that. Quite depressing, and must be a morale-breaker. What about an approach, with a low go-around? No more victory-rolls over the crowd I guess!!

[BVRAAM]

Originally Posted by SATCOS WHIPPING BOY

I can't help with times for 21st but that is not the last "event".

28th Feb there is a planned 9-ship flight out of Marham and up to Cranwell.

That is only a practice.

The same sortie will be flown as a formal flypast over the disbandment parade on March 14th.

[BEagle]

MRCA = Must Reopen Chivenor Again!

[Onceapilot]

Originally Posted by Easy Street

The Defence-wide formation flypast limits are available for all to read in their miserableness: 500ft minimum height and 20 degrees angle of bank. Google RA2335. Any lower or steeper (or indeed a second pass according to some lower-level orders) and it becomes a role demonstration, which for performance in public needs PDA just like a display! It seems that straightforward kinds of activity that any military aircrew could deliver safely and professionally with barely a scrap of paperwork have been caught up in the post-Shoreham clampdown. A sad legacy indeed.

I think this is the way it has been for quite a while. I held DA's for what I would consider straight-forward flying over a decade ago. Mind you, there was no DA for the RAF 90 Flypast, and that was a close formation 30sec stream briefed as IMC compliant with a +/- 10 sec tolerance in formation position/time, with half of the aircraft types having no nav kit able to achieve that IMC. Thank God it was VMC for the run-in and flypast.
Apart from the difficulties with multiple "Displays" and DA's that the Tornado FINale might entail, there is probably a complication for the individual venues, where the performance of a "Display" requires a major investment in planning and, the acceptance of liability. So, in the light of these issues, and after reviewing video of nearly all the flypasts yesterday, I think the Tornado flypasts were extremely well thought-out and performed. The Vic was impressive, the weather was mixed and moody, the flying would have been demanding and they achieved the plan, as far as I know! Many thousands turned out to watch, and I hope that most people could enjoy the occasion. I wish the best of luck for all the remaining Tornado retirement activities and, Yes guys, some of us did notice how much was done in 67 wing!

OAP

[EAP86]

I see RA2335 dates from Nov 2014 so probably not a Shoreham response. Could it be a knee-jerk response to an impromptu Typhoon 'display' over RR Filton which was readily visible from Abbey Wood?

EAP

[unmanned_droid]

Looked awesome over Filton, although kinda took me by surprise coming down the A38!

[bridgets boy]

Looked pro as ever at their turning point prior to MOD Andover. Goldstar jet in the lead stood out nicely

[bvcu]

Great to see at Pembrey !

[dead_pan]

Odd track over Brize which caught quite a few people out. Still impressive though

[Lyneham Lad]

Was driving over the Marlborough Downs this afternoon, heading east to Marlborough when the three-ship whizzed from right to left in front of me - quite low level too. Hadn't expected to see them in the area, so a pleasant surprise.

[JAVELINBOY]

Made the effort to watch the three ship transit up the Severn Estuary this afternoon and turn in at Goldcliffe near Newport managed to film them on the phone,
Thanks chaps it was worth standing on the windy coastal path, you were on time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVWP...ature=youtu.be

[dctyke]

Are we likely to see a detailed route and timings up to Scotland tomorrow?

[wub]

Just been a piece on BBC News at 6 with their defence correspondent on board one of the trio.

[fantom]

Ah... Goldstar.

[weemonkey]

Originally Posted by fantom

Ah... Goldstar.

Wot! no SEAM or anyfink. About much use as an iron bomber. Oh hang on...

..nice strike camera hanging there in the breeze just don't go too ffaassttt...