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Tornado GR4 last flight

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Tornado GR4 last flight

Old 22nd Feb 2019, 21:01
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For CAS and the Marham staish to fly together, the staish would have to have qualified as a rear-seat pilot with less than two years on the jet, which would be highly unusual for a full-time squadron flier regardless of previous experience, let alone someone who probably flies once per week tops and has no background on the jet. Either that, or CAS would have to be signed off to fly with a passenger in the boot. Both scenarios are highly unlikely.

Anyway, there’s no need to pontificate further, so to turn this back into a fact-based discussion, see here, taken from Tw@tter. Hint: that is not the Marham staish behind CAS.



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Old 22nd Feb 2019, 21:04
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That’s not Cab, and is a backseater (and a mate of mine).
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Old 22nd Feb 2019, 21:12
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Excellent. BS defeated- he’s a mate of mine too.
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Old 23rd Feb 2019, 06:41
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The dit about Cab sitting behind CAS was clearly duff from the outset.
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Old 23rd Feb 2019, 08:45
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Originally Posted by weemonkey

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.
I do like that.
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Old 23rd Feb 2019, 09:10
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Originally Posted by Vendee
I do like that.
Yes.

I did not use the last couple of lines of the original, its much more fitting without.
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Old 23rd Feb 2019, 10:21
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Originally Posted by weemonkey
Yes.

I did not use the last couple of lines of the original, its much more fitting without.
Indeed. The best squadrons I’ve served on have been the ones where air and ground crews collectively refer to themselves as “we”. Those where it’s “them” and “us” have been sh*t places to work, with results to match. And it’s such an easy thing for good leadership to fix!
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Old 24th Feb 2019, 07:01
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Easy Street - absolutely spot on! IX(B) has always been known as "our squadron", from LAC to ACM (as Peachy testifies). Its is no accident that IX(B) Sqn has the best, all-ranks squadron association in existence; it is a family.
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Old 25th Feb 2019, 14:39
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Originally Posted by Buster15
Since when did the Buccaneer have wing sweep.
Yes, the Bucc did have swept wings, just not adjustable

Ttfn
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Old 26th Feb 2019, 16:26
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Here is Sqn Ldr Jim Sills, the Senior Engineering Officer from IX(B) Sqn.

We are expecting the 9 Tornado aircraft to take off from Marham at approximately 1400 on Thursday. The flypast of RAFC Cranwell will take place at approximately 1515. The 9 aircraft will then return to Marham at approximately 1520 to conduct a series of passes, more information to be revealed tomorrow.

We do not have any public viewing areas here at Marham and all of the land surrounding us is privately owned. The land owners at White Road and at the fence line opposite the entrance to White Road, just off the A1122 have kindly agreed to let people park and view from their land. Donations will be requested for the charity Moth in a China Shop on arrival, parking is at your own risk and you are to be aware that this is working farm land, please be respectful of the farm workers and their machinery.
Video at following links

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=784629311909638

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Old 26th Feb 2019, 17:41
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I sincerely hope someone will post a decent vid of this final 9-ship on YouTube.
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Old 26th Feb 2019, 18:19
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Glad it is PM ..... I am in with a chance. All I need is the route so I can preposition!
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Old 26th Feb 2019, 21:06
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Who is preparing for the Tornado Warning with a possibility of Lightning on Thursday, then?

I am so looking forward to going to Marham.

The predicted weather looks pants but it may change. I hope it changes. It's going to be a bittersweet day.

I am like a big kid all over again, I am not a spotter at all, I've only done this once before as an adult (plenty as a kid) but I am making the exception for the mighty Fin!
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Old 27th Feb 2019, 15:25
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See following for Marham and Cranwell flypast routes.



Also at Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/RoyalAirForceMarham/
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Old 28th Feb 2019, 17:19
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Well despite starting the thread, I actually missed the three day nationwide flypast due to family bereavement but today I did manage to get to Marham for the 9 ship flypast. I avoided Marham itself with its crowds and knowing the surrounding area quite well, I found a spot about 1.5 miles south of the airfield and on the published route. The weather was quite grotty but I did get to see the mighty Tonka in the air one last time.



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Old 28th Feb 2019, 18:24
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Originally Posted by Vendee
Well despite starting the thread, I actually missed the three day nationwide flypast due to family bereavement but today I did manage to get to Marham for the 9 ship flypast. I avoided Marham itself with its crowds and knowing the surrounding area quite well, I found a spot about 1.5 miles south of the airfield and on the published route. The weather was quite grotty but I did get to see the mighty Tonka in the air one last time.




Sorry to hear about your family bereavement and well done for the excellent pictures of the mighty Tornado.

What were your emotions when you saw and heard these fantastic jets flying overhead.
A day to feel sad or a day to feel proud. I hope it is the latter.

When we read about the so called defeat of IS; whether that is indeed the case or not, we can take great pride in the GR4 role in that. No just the precise airstrikes but the huge amount of information gained by the RapTor reconnaissance pod.
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Old 28th Feb 2019, 20:09
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Originally Posted by Buster15

What were your emotions when you saw and heard these fantastic jets flying overhead.
A day to feel sad or a day to feel proud. I hope it is the latter.
A bit of both really. Sad to see it go but proud to be a part of it. It also made me feel rather old because as a young airman, I remember this "state of the art" aircraft coming into service like it was yesterday.........only it wasn't yesterday
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Old 28th Feb 2019, 20:45
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Originally Posted by Vendee
A bit of both really. Sad to see it go but proud to be a part of it. It also made me feel rather old because as a young airman, I remember this "state of the art" aircraft coming into service like it was yesterday.........only it wasn't yesterday
Me too. I first touched one as a newly qualified jelly tot in 1982. The old girl has done this nation proud, she had a difficult birth as the RAF came to terms with modern technology, those rebellious teenage years eventually saw her mature into a beguiling and capable mistress after she had the boob job (stretching a point but the GR1 to GR4 mods were significant in recent years).

I worked long hours on her in her youth to keep her ready for the unthinkable. Thankfully she was never called upon to do that, but she has risen to every other challenge she, and the people who made her work have served this country well. I never thought as a youngster, handing over yet another snag to the day shift, that I would miss her, but I shall.

Weemonkey's poem; perfect

Last edited by Kitbag; 28th Feb 2019 at 21:19.
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Old 28th Feb 2019, 21:11
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Thanks

Having spent most of the day at RAF Marham today I'd like to post a big thank you to everyone involved in todays flypasts. The fact that several hundred people turned up today shows how much affection the spotter's world has for both the jet and the people who made her work. Having OC Marham turn up on the fence to brief the spotters on the route was a really generous gesture on his part which we appreciate.

So, good bye Tonka. and thanks to all involved with her over close to 40 years. You'll be missed.
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Old 1st Mar 2019, 10:43
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I was there all day yesterday, and I stayed until the airfield closed. The location where I was, went from about a thousand people and several hundred cars at its peak, to only a few cars and about six of us remaining when the second F-35 of the 2nd and last pair of the day shut its engine down.

I didn't get the best view of the elephant walk at the end because I opted to not go to the centre line, but the angle wouldn't have been great anyway - the RAF photographers had that privilege and it is one they earned.

It was a bittersweet day, a moment of happiness and a moment of sadness that the end is near. The engineers should be incredibly proud of themselves to get 11 out of 12 available jets airborne this late in to their service life, it was an outstanding achievement. The U/S jet was actually the Bat special, but as the Squadron would say: There's Always Bloody Something!
Oh, and it wouldn't be the Tornado if at least one of the 11 jets didn't have an IFE during the event and had to RTB early! It lost something on the runway as well, and I saw it being towed back to the HAS Site after the others had taxied in.
To everybody at RAF Marham who made this happen yesterday, thank you so much. I think the nation can be incredibly proud of you and I hope your hangovers aren't too terrible this morning after that massive hangar party last night!

I think it's now time to reflect over the many years of constant operations and Cold War deterrence that the Tornado Force has served on - both the GR Force and the Air Defence Force - and to remember those who sadly did not return home. Thank you all.
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