Armed Tornado into Shawbury

[GhostWalker]

At approx 1145 hours this morning a Tornado came low over Ellesmere quite slow, and looking like it was going on a turn for a circuit into Shawbury.

One notable thing was that it was armed to the teeth with missiles clearly visible.

Any updates or info on this anyone and I suspect it just came out of the Loop in LFA 7?

[Agent K]

Missiles clearly visible, interesting.... it would be very rare to see an armed GR4 in UK airspace, what types was it carrying? Storm Shadow?, Brimstone? ASRAAM?

[GhostWalker]

My colleague thinks they had yellow rounded fronts and on both wing. Defo missiles unless carrying dummies of course.....

[GhostWalker]

And it didn't show up on ADS B or other radar apps which was strange.

[Blackcat1]

Marham 33 was around at that time the MCroberts special. Maybe it was a Saudi Tornado from Warton?

[Agent K]

My colleague thinks they had yellow rounded fronts and on both wing. Defo missiles unless carrying dummies of course.....

I wonder if perhaps he (she?!) was seeing fuel tanks/ECM pods then, the only wing mounted missile the Tornado would carry (and these would be on the shoulder pylons of the fuel tank main pylon) would be the ASRAAM air to air missile. Storm Shadow and Brimstone are carried on under fuselage pylons.

[GhostWalker]

Doubtful as this one was grey I thought the Saudi one was a lighter colour?

[GhostWalker]

My colleague thinks they had yellow rounded fronts and on both wing. Defo missiles unless carrying dummies of course.....

I wonder if perhaps he (she?!) was seeing fuel tanks/ECM pods then, the only wing mounted missile the Tornado would carry (and these would be on the shoulder pylons of the fuel tank main pylon) would be the ASRAAM air to air missile. Storm Shadow and Brimstone are carried on under fuselage pylons.

Local copper suggested they were under the wings as he and others saw it as it passed over the primary school in Ellesmere. Strange how no one from Shawbury itself has commented surely others saw it go in etc?

[dubmasteruk]

Yes a GR4 did a practice diversion.

[tommc]

This was ZD741 flying at a dismal Marham on Tuesday

[dubmasteruk]

Can confirm it was indeed ZD741 that did a PD as 'MARHAM33'

Have seen a photo of it taken over Whitchurch as it was turning in the radar circuit and it has exactly that configuration of underwing tanks etc.