RAF to scrap twin-seat Typhoons
 

RAF to scrap twin-seat Typhoons | Jane's 360

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is to scrap 16 UK Eurofighter Typhoons as part of a project to save GBP 800 million (USD1.13 billion) on the running cost of the service's combat aircraft fleet.

The plans to dismantle the aircraft and harvest spare parts for use on the remainder of the Typhoon fleet were revealed to Jane’s on 29th January by RAF Air Command at High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire, in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request.

The project, known as Reduce to Produce (RTP), aims to generate GBP50 million worth of parts from each airframe “back into the supply chain”, according to the FOI data.

Either the story is nonsense - even if it come from Janes?

Or we are in trouble! So with one hand we get more Typhoon Sqns and with the other hand this..

Well my question would be more about what was the role of those aircrafts (I guess training?) and how will it be fulfilled?

Salami slicing.... and probably not the last one either......

These are some of the oldest and time expired Typhoons in the fleet. They are Tranche 1 jets that are increasingly irrelevant in comparison with the currently developed production versions.


This is actually a good news story, the RTP line started last year and if it recovers a huge $value of spares from each frame, then surely it is a no-brainer. The Tranche 1 aircraft cannot be upgraded to current standards, and the superb sims now available negate the need for a huge fleet of two-seaters.


Once RTP is complete on these old jets, there will still be a few of the newer standard two-seaters on strength as needed.

Twin stickers
 

HQ2 has hit the nail on the head.

Years ago we had twin seat versions of single seat jets because it was necessary. That is no longer the case.

This is not the bad news story you assume. It may (should) actually help the Typhoon force in the long run.

BV

They started this last summer. And the first jet was there outside for all to see when the Germans visited last September.


Even after spares recovery I'm sure they could do something useful with the gutted shell....?


:rolleyes:

Like what?

The MoD found plenty of other uses for retired airframes that have been spares recovered.


Ok we don't burn airframes at Manston now, but something for firecrews to play with for vehicle positioning...?




They even sent one of the early Tornados to China Lake for bomb trials (that was a no brainer)

With all the carbon we couldn't burn them now.

BDR training would be a good application I guess?

Used to be dozens of Jaguar/JP/Gnat airframes in the workshops at Halton giving valuable experience to the brats; did some of them move to Cosford?

Are they planning on building any new Tranche 3A two seaters?

Also, Javelin, Hunter and Sea Vixen in my day. The flat-iron was good for airframe repairs (a lot of airframe!), Hunter was good for Hydraulics and, with the Avons for engine strip/rebuild. JP was nice for ground running, wing removal/rebuild, rigging and jacking (fairly safe if it went badly!). Sea Vixen was too big and complex really, did some fuel tank and component removal/refit work on them. Great days! :ok:

OAP

Decoy airframes? Oh, wait, the Russians aren’t attaching UK these days.

In a previous existence, I was looking at providing all FJ bases with a small fleet of multi-spectral decoys at £12.5k apiece.

Brats? by which you mean APPO'S or apprenctices were not the exclusive users of these.
The airframes at Halton and now Cosford were/are used by aircraft mechs on their basic courses and of course the techs on their fitters courses.

Considering that there are no 2 seat F-35s as the training can be done in the simulator these days at vastly reduced cost; and the post above concerning the quality of the current Typhoon simulators. Why?

They also had some taxiable JPs on the airfield which were used for traiinng Flight Line Mechanics, plus a couple of taxiable Gnats used to train engine fitters to carry out ground runs.
They needed pilots or qualified/authorised groundcrew to taxy these types of course. One day there were a couple of Gnats at the ERB which needed to go back to the hangar and rather than get a someone down from the main camp, the SNCO i/c asked us microlight pilots to taxy them!

Suitably trained Sgts and Chiefs, with varying degrees of grumpiness, horribleness or buffoonery - all part of the act (in most cases)!

Taxiable Percival Provost in my day. I remember being chased around the airfield while supposed marshalling one.

"Taxiable Percival Provost in my day."

ISTR a couple of Pembrokes at 4SofTT, Grumpy Chiefs for the use of.