TTTE
 

Just been rooting through the attic and found these 2 photos.

Those were the days; completely clean jets (sports car!!!), German beer and Italian food. :cool:

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/...psd41f9f53.jpg

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/...ps92b3a97a.jpg

A few familiar faces there, JAJ. Good pics. :ok:

Your eyes are better than mine!

Apologies to those who don't know what TTTE stands for;

Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment

Based at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland, all pilots & navigators from Germany (Luftwaffe & Luftlotte), Italy & the UK learned to fly the Tornado here until its closure in 1999. Other overseas pilots came through TTTE as well, principally Saudi Arabia, but exchange pilots too. Aircraft from all 3 nations were used so you could easily end up with an Italian student pilot, a German Air Force Navigator instructor flying an RAF aircraft. Proper integration!

A great tour as an instructor. :ok:

I had a German pilot-instructor and an Italian navigator-instructor: we all had the same surname. :)

Best 3 yrs of my life at that place. The pics were taken after I had left, some say because the photo section didn't have a wide angle lens to get me in !

...delivered in large quantities by regular Transall which brought the odd bit of uniform or mail as well to keep it all legit:ok:. I have some pics as well, from holding at Cottesmore near the end of TTTE, which I will scan and upload when there's a quiet moment.

I thought TTTE stood for Thomas The Tank Engine! :}

I'll get my coat...

-RP

Good shots. :ok:

There are still lots of houses in the local villages which had double glazing put in at public expense when TTTE started.

First and only time I ever saw a GR1 land with wings swept was at TTTE. It sure was impressive!


Posted from Pprune.org App for Android

Like cars, there is something to be said about the purity of the line. Those early GR1s are like early example Lotus Elans, with steelies and a raspy little engine that may not have counted for much in light of what it eventually became. But it puts a smile on your face and it sure looks sweet.

And sure was quick. :E Supercruise anyone. :ok:

You can spot a Tornado flight line a mile off....always engine and hyd oil pi$$ing out of them.:E

I can understand cuefaye being an Italian surname but it doesn't sound anything like any of the Germanic ones I am accustomed to!

However, I'm with you cuefaye

and I've just got new glasses!

My GIF was the spitting image of Pavarotti! How he ever got into a 104 cockpit I'll never know but his Pasta GTX after night flying was magnificent!

Bloggs:ok:

Happy memories!! Self and a few blasts from the past on there.

RIP Greg and Wez not forgotten.

Ivor

He was a great bloke, think he's a civvie flyer now in Italy, Mag Regin, er Reggine er Reginni, well you know who !

In the tower we had to write the pilots and navs name on a movements board, there were many R + 11, G + 13 and S+17, it was easier for us air traffikers !!

That's the guy. I'm still in contact.

Bloggs:ok:

Stupid boy:)

The Revenue obviously got wind of the number of items arriving at TTTE in such a manner. So now and again, a German F-4 would arrive at Wattisham on Friday and the crew would dutifully declare their bottle and 200 to the customs folk....who would wish them well and promptly poke off.

The Luftwaffe mates would then stand around looking innocent....until some German MT wagon bowled up from Cottesmore. Whereupon the F-4's 4000lb centre drop tank would reveal its true function in life as a side panel was removed and all manner of 'imports' would be transferred to the MT wagon. I'm told that a complete Mercedes-Benz exhaust system arrived once....

This freight service worked fine until the unfortunate groundcrew managed to ding the stabilator one Friday afternoon when putting the jet away in a hangar. Despite offers to fix it, regrettably officialdom in Germany had no option but to put an end to this clever little venture.

Maybe Cuefaye needs to sign off in brackets (QFI).