Eurofighter Deploying with Streamers on Missiles?!
 

BBC News - Libya conflict: RAF Typhoon jets take off for first mission

Do my eyes deceive me or are there streamers hanging off the missiles? Why would it deploy with them? Seems wrong to me... :eek:

ECAM Actions.

Yes your eyes are deceiving you as the footage only shows them taxying with the pins in.
:rolleyes:

They would be 'finally armed' (last safety devices taken out) at or near to the end of the runway.

Saw it. Maybe they are adopting the American practice of Last chance checks including ordanance pin removal just prior to take off?

Pins
 

Glad you mentioned it, it has been annoying me all day and was confusing.

I noticed that as well so thanks for posting this.

Re "adopting the American practice of Last chance checks including ordanance pin removal just prior to take off?"

So the pins are taken out at the end of the runway ?


Is this something particular to the Typhoon or that airfield as the Tornado from the UK on the first nights footage didn't appear to be in the same state at taxiing ?

Thanks
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they are adopting the American practice of Last chance checks

Yes, One Yank and there are off.:E

"When in Rome"

You have to adopt the procedures of the base from which you operate. US bases use last chance checks. Itailian bases didn't use that procedure in my time but I guess those more current can comment.

Final Arming
 

ISTR the Italians insist on Final Arm at the runway hold point, a la USAF. Used to do it that way on the Phantom fleet at Coningsby when I was first there early/mid 70's. It tied wpns trade bods though, so was binned and Final Arm was then carried out on the Line before/at crew walk. Had to be signed for in the F700 - last action before the aircrew signed for the aircraft. Did the Final Arm the same way - on Line/in HAS - on Bucc units at Lossie, mid 80's.

Thanks for the replies! Interesting - hadn't heard of this before.

ECAM Actions.

Not sure about Italian rules but at Nellis (and elsewhere in the US) we didn't do 'Last Chance' pin removal checks. The GR1/4 has a different (read safer) Stores Management System and so they are not required whilst taxiing. I can't speak for the Typhoon however. Perhaps they do.

Let's remember this was they're first combat mission, perhaps the streamers were party-wear, or maybe to wean the pilots off smoke pods and air show stunting...???

Only kidding, great work all and congratulations on the achievement, I'm sure it'll be a great success and we'll see you all home safe soon!
:D

It was the same routine when we were there with the F3's for Deny Flight.

Flare dispenser pins? Sometimes withdrawn at the end of the line or on exiting the HAS complex so nothing unusual there.

On GR4 at KAF all pins are removed before a/c taxis out of the res!

No - these were definitely on the missiles.

ECAM Actions.

The chaff dispensers on Typhoon are in the pylons

The pair outboard of the external fuel tanks, 4 total?

Best regards,
ECAM Actions.

Hard to see because of the rain on the lens but they look like the missile pins to me. Maybe there's no safe heading on the ramp and they have to final arm at the ORP?