Tornado GR4 last flight
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Sad, and boring (yes , moi aussi) to read so much drivel on here. Throw away your keyboards, come to my pub, and I'll put you right. And yes, I did fly both, and desked them at Gp and MoD.
Waiting to be put in my box
Farewell RAF Tornado - another aviation Icon.
Waiting to be put in my box
Farewell RAF Tornado - another aviation Icon.
Last edited by jindabyne; 21st Feb 2019 at 19:20.
Big crowd around Lossiemouth today, not helped by one of the main car parks by the beach being flooded! I’ve heard a lot of “ we went faster / lower / better in our day” but, given the restrictions that seem to be designed to stop current aircrew doing ANYTHING these days, I thought it was a pretty good show. I look forward to seeing the photos from the Hawk.
Well done boys and girls and good luck for the future.
Well done boys and girls and good luck for the future.
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Big crowd around Lossiemouth today, not helped by one of the main car parks by the beach being flooded! I’ve heard a lot of “ we went faster / lower / better in our day” but, given the restrictions that seem to be designed to stop current aircrew doing ANYTHING these days, I thought it was a pretty good show. I look forward to seeing the photos from the Hawk.
Well done boys and girls and good luck for the future.
Well done boys and girls and good luck for the future.
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What now for them, are the survivors allotted to Cosford as trainers or similar? Or are they being dispersed to some museums? One just hopes they do not end up as coke cans and frying pans.
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Farewell Tornado. Shame they couldn't have flown over INV on their way to/from Tain/Lossie. Many ex-Service personnel at the airport where, for years, Tornados did practice approaches and occasional diversions, the airport provided weekend land away post displays, etc. and INV used to receive 4-ship flypasts at Christmas.
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very nice...but I can't be bothered trying to work out the relevance of the dates.
Not mine however...
KEEPERS OF THE 'FIN'
A reminder to you men, you heroes who flew it,
There's another bunch who also knew it.
The scruffy young 'pantrash' out manning the line,
Strapping in or on headset, come rain or come shine.
The Riggers and Fairies in a constant fight,
Who's bit kept failing that last CSAS BITE.
The Sooties, late nightshift, a forlorn hope,
Birdstrike, Vib Caption, Failed Boroscope.
"Thanks to the Armourers" came the Aircrew's response.
Even though most of their bits need only work once.
Our patches are not 'Thousand hours' or higher.
Our badges are scars from Locking Wire.
Take pride in the honour it was to have flown it
But remember, you borrowed! It was the groundcrew that owned it.
Not mine however...
KEEPERS OF THE 'FIN'
A reminder to you men, you heroes who flew it,
There's another bunch who also knew it.
The scruffy young 'pantrash' out manning the line,
Strapping in or on headset, come rain or come shine.
The Riggers and Fairies in a constant fight,
Who's bit kept failing that last CSAS BITE.
The Sooties, late nightshift, a forlorn hope,
Birdstrike, Vib Caption, Failed Boroscope.
"Thanks to the Armourers" came the Aircrew's response.
Even though most of their bits need only work once.
Our patches are not 'Thousand hours' or higher.
Our badges are scars from Locking Wire.
Take pride in the honour it was to have flown it
But remember, you borrowed! It was the groundcrew that owned it.
Ah so an AVM as lead and a Gp Capt as the no.2 probably explains why No. 3 seemed reluctant to stay in close ;-)
Whatever is said, it was a bloody good show all round. I remember seeing the very first tornados flying around as I was a kid and they played their part in me joining the military.
Whatever is said, it was a bloody good show all round. I remember seeing the very first tornados flying around as I was a kid and they played their part in me joining the military.
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Correction from earlier, it seems Cab was in the back of Sir Stephen's jet.
Seems like a rather scary flight to sign off, with the CAS not being particularly current or the Stn Cdr only having a few hundred hours on the jet himself without a QFI qualification on type?
Seems like a rather scary flight to sign off, with the CAS not being particularly current or the Stn Cdr only having a few hundred hours on the jet himself without a QFI qualification on type?
Perhaps, but a decent amount of "Top-cover"
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So let me get this straight, the Chief of the Air Staff, a previous Tornado pilot, Sqn Cdr, Stn Cdr current on the jet but only as a VSO, has an ex Harrier Pilot, now Tornado Stn Cdr as his nav, with NO back seat qualification leading a three ship of Tornados.
CAS is (was) a very talented pilot, he worked for me as a young man. I would love to see the auth sheet. Load of BoŁŁocks.
CAS is (was) a very talented pilot, he worked for me as a young man. I would love to see the auth sheet. Load of BoŁŁocks.