Tornado GR4 last flight
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The GR.4 in the 'retro' grey/green camo has flown today, looks really good too!
(Link to images with the kind permission of Rob Yates via the Fightercontrol FB group)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1622...5784301726962/
-RP
(Link to images with the kind permission of Rob Yates via the Fightercontrol FB group)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1622...5784301726962/
-RP
I see they managed to go the whole hog, including the black radome. The 'pink' Granby Tornado was spoiled somewhat by the modern grey radome. In my opinion, at least.
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Proper fighting machine that excelled at the role it was designed for.
I remember people saying how disappointing it was at Air Shows (Role Demo changed that). But of course it was not designed to just impress the public.
It was designed to give the Warsaw Pact forces a really bad day...
I remember people saying how disappointing it was at Air Shows (Role Demo changed that). But of course it was not designed to just impress the public.
It was designed to give the Warsaw Pact forces a really bad day...
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Rhino Power: Excellent pic, jet looks good. The only issue I have is with the dates on the fin. I was on the staff at TTTE at the beginning of 1981, with the aircraft very much in service (if not very much serviceable!). Seem to have lost yet another year of my life!
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I think the dates refer to its operational squadron service.
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RAF Marham Station Commander, Gp Capt Ian "Cab" Townsend standing with two other aircrew, wearing the three Tornado Farewell badges by Squadron Prints. Photo credit: Squadron Prints.
1982-2019?
The 1982-2019 dates are the right ones, in my view anyway. There are only 2 “start” dates that will count for much in the historical record: the first flight in 1974 and the declaration of operational squadron service in 1982. Everything in between, including first production deliveries and formation of training units, are dates that may mean a lot to those who were there but hold no particular significance beyond being milestones on the way to a capability. You can see that today with the F35 Force; who knows or cares when our pilots started to be trained? The recent declaration of IOC marks the start date for that as a fighting outfit.
1982 it is!
1982 it is!
That retro paint job looks superb!
I remember in 1979 or 1980 when the first 'wraparound' painted Vulcan arrived at Scampton for six-seventeen squadron - it too looked very smart.
In 1982 there was actually a study to investigate whether the Tornado could be used in the South Atlantic War. Although Tornado documentation was rather secret squirrel, when an ODM was finally made available the planners dissolved into fits of giggles when they started some calculations....
Not a strategic asset, but excellent work in GW1.
I remember in 1979 or 1980 when the first 'wraparound' painted Vulcan arrived at Scampton for six-seventeen squadron - it too looked very smart.
In 1982 there was actually a study to investigate whether the Tornado could be used in the South Atlantic War. Although Tornado documentation was rather secret squirrel, when an ODM was finally made available the planners dissolved into fits of giggles when they started some calculations....
Not a strategic asset, but excellent work in GW1.
