Question about Tornado GR1
 

Question about Tornado GR1.

Did the GR1 really carry a pair of Sidewinders and a pair of internal 27mm cannons?

Were the crews of a Tornado GR1 both ground attack trained and "fighter" pilots?

I would assume if they were carrying sidewinders they would at least know some basic air to air combat stuff.

Was a GR1 a "fighter/bomber" or to be more accurate given the armement "a bomber that could fight its way in and out"

I realise later Tornados became more specialised.

Thanks.

1. Yes.
2. Ground attack - yes. Fighter - basic self defence in order to survive to fight another day (although some pilots thought otherwise!).
3. No, I would never suggest the GR1 as "a bomber that could fight its way in and out". Thats more F15E than GR1 (and GR4 for that matter).

Thanks..
 

Thank you, wikipedia is not wrong on the GR1.

;)

Wrathmonk summed it up pretty well. My $0.02 - we used to conduct 'air combat trg' but this was more to give pilots experience of flying closer to the limits and boundaries than in normal mud-moving ops rather then tactics as such (other than some basic manoeuvres) - and we did get to fire an occasional Sidewinder at STCAAME from time to time.