At least they did it in style not badges.

Point of order though. When did aircrew start creasing their flying coveralls.

They got 2 Buccs down there in 1983, so surely the Tornado could have made it?

I'm sure the F3 was there when the F4 did their farewell beat ups...

in 82 you'd have to get them back too.

I'm sure they would have been capable of tanking there and back from Ascension but based on my GW1 experience, I'm certain they would have run out of engine oil.

That was the biggest risk at that time.
The early Mk101 engines had a pretty inefficient Breather system that allowed a fair amount of oil to be discharged overboard from the external gearbox.

This resulted in relatively high oil consumption (HOC).
The spec was 0,5l/hr which most engines achieved but the trend increased with age.
High speed low level also increased oil consumption.
The usable oil was about 8.5l and hence engines using more than the limit could have been oil limited.
This was resolved by improving the engine internal oil system and gearbox breather system as well as increasing the usable oil content.

They were released Wednesday evening and the stock set aside for the online shop, sold out in hours.
Whatever they didn't sell at the Marham Enthusiast's Day today should be listed later, I would have thought.

I bought the set.

One of the first images from Wednesday's shoot.

The photoship was ZA449/020.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....46c54b4bf5.jpg

Rather more difficult to put on air displays when the force is still successfully achieving ongoing ops,

Even the Mk103 had issues with oil consumption and all the GW1 engines had their breather carbon seals replaced. ISTR the Mk103's had better cooling for the module 11 bearing overheat issues and of course the all attitude oil tank rather than the clunky SLS feature of the Mk101.

A thought regarding TTTE.
The Cottesmore S Met O, Pat Stevens, was a very innovative and proactive scientist and pioneered very early use of computer displays to disseminate Met. around the base. This was in spite of official [Met Office] lack of enthusiasm. TTTE were well served by his office. Thank you Pat!

As an Air Cadet , I saw the Vailant ta Marham (and sat in it). There was a Tornado in one of the Hangars as well. It was 1981. As others have said, it was in service with the RAF then.

As far as I'm aware, the Mk104 engine in the F3 had the same oil tank as the Mk103 engine in the later GR1 and current GR4. However at the time of the Falklands conflict, the only Tornado engine in town was the Mk101 which as previously stated had higher oil consumption.

The Mk103 engine was initially fitted to the Germany based squadrons. I don't know when the Mk101 was finally retired but we were certainly still using them at Honington in 1989. I would imagine that TTTE were the last unit to use them.

Looks like there will be a flypast tour
 

From the BBC website. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-47013735

"The jet's capabilities will be transferred to the Typhoon and there is set to be a "finale flypast" around the UK to commemorate places that have contributed to the Tornado over the years, according to Station Commander Group Captain Ian Townsend."

It also mentions a flypast at Marham on 14th March for the disbandment parades.

Not correct I am sorry. The F3 Mk104 engine was functionality the same as the Mk103 engine in the GR4.
The only difference was the longer 104 Exhaust System and the DECU.

The capability for significantly longer flights was the result of improvements to the oil system that reduced oil consumption.

Not really. He probably meant that the F3 had a larger oil capacity than the GR1 with its original Mk 101 engines and he would have been correct in that respect.

Vaguely remember two RAF Coningsby, 229 OCU F2 aircraft, doing an oil usage trial by flying non-stop to Cyprus, cleaning the cockpit out on return took a little while longer than usual, and there was something on the outbound trip about the rumoured use of HF and a possible UFCM, but age and memory maybe has affected my recollections. I believe oil consumption was not considered an issue after this. Maybe someone remembers some more detail and can confirm, or refute, those recollections.

Also from my perspective from working on virtually all marks of Tornado, I will miss the sight and sounds of them flying around, hope I see some of the flypasts around my way.