FighterControl

Updating the radio log for Thursday 25 Jan 2018.
ZA553/045 flew initially as Monster 1 (working with ZA560/EB-Q as Monster 2). Both aircraft hotpitted and went out again as 'Primus' departing at 16:23.
ZA554/046 (not shown above) departed at 16:41 as 'Fang'. Sorry didn't catch the number of 'Fang'.

Cheers

It was Fang 2, Fang 1 broke.

Slightly GR.4 related but you know the writing is on the wall when the GIA is now available..

http://www.ex-mod.com/shop/promotion/to ... 07805.html

ZA267 was the WLT up until last year, now been reported replaced by either 029 /133.

At the spotters event May 2017, the blue suiters mentioned ZA267 being disposed of in future. At least that looks like it means sold rather than broken up

Monday 29th January 2018

Voodoo 1 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZA553/045
Voodoo 2 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZD849/110
Monster 1 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZA472/031
Monster 2 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZA560/EB-Q - 050

Tuesday 30th January 2018

Voodoo 1 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZA542/035
Voodoo 2 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZD849/110
Monster 1 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZG775/134
Monster 2 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZA553/045
Marham ** showed as Tornado GR4 ZA612/074

Wednesday 31st January 2018

Monster 1 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZD849/110
Monster 2 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZA553/045
Marham ** showed as Tornado GR4 ZA542/035
Marham ** showed as Tornado GR4 ZA588/056

Thursday 1st February 2018

Nil

Friday 2nd February 2018

Primus 1 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZA614/076
Primus 2 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZA560/EB-Q -050
Primus 3 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZG775/134
Primus 4 [31 Sqn] showed as Tornado GR4 ZA542/035

Gary wrote:ZA267 was the WLT up until last year, now been reported replaced by either 029 /133.

At the spotters event May 2017, the blue suiters mentioned ZA267 being disposed of in future. At least that looks like it means sold rather than broken up

I still need ZA267 - might go to the viewing !

Paul Rainford‎

RAF Leeming Spotters Group
19 mins · Llandudno ·

Well, a nice little visit to RTP today, and I actually managed to get sat in the cockpit of the jet I photographed last week - McRoberts Reply!
A few bits of news. Leeming will have another jet to RTP next week, and only a couple more after that, as the remaining GR4's will be dismantled at Marham!

Pinky's demise was brought forward from July/Aug this year, to January, as parts were needed, so they began the RTP process early.
However, her tail is being preserved and will eventually head back to Marham for display!

Info courtesy of Paul Rainford‎ & the RAF Leeming Spotters Group

Will make keeping track of the dwindling numbers a bit tougher

Tuesday 30th January 2018

Marham ## showed as ZA612
Voodoo 1 [31 Sqdn] showed as ZA542
Voodoo 2 [31 Sqdn] showed as ZD849
Monster 1 [31 Sqdn] showed as ZG775
Monster 2 [31 Sqdn] showed as ZA553

The majority if not all were eyeballed, thanks to Slogen51

Quick update on ZA459 (025). It has now ceased being an operational airframe and will be prepared for museum display.

Hi Steven,
Ref: your last fleet update as at 26-01-18

I have seen ZA613/075 parked outside on North side on 16 and 25 Jan 2018
Complete airframe.

Regards,

Integrale1 wrote:Quick update on ZA459 (025). It has now ceased being an operational airframe and will be prepared for museum display.

Some good news at last When you say "museum display", do you have any idea where? Also, is it likely any will be earmarked for gate guard duties or is it literally going to be one or two (i.e. ZA459 and ZA452 at Coventry) and the rest sent through RTP at Leeming or scrapped at Marham?

Regards 025 I’ve been sworn to secrecy for the time being regarding its final destination, I can say though that it is not staying at Marham. Hopefully the museum will make an announcement soon.

To be brutally honest i can’t see many being saved as whole airframes, they are worth far more to the nations that still use them in their component parts than they are as whole aircraft. I would be very surprised if anymore then around 5 are kept as whole aircraft for displays.

I’ve not heard of any planning to be kept for gate guard either.

Completely understand (and not too surprised considering disposal/preservation of the GR4 seems to be a rather esoteric affair! )

More than happy to wait for the announcement though - and pleased it's a museum that (presumably) the public can access. This has made my week!

p.s. The value of component parts makes sense too, sadly. Just wish a few of the fuselage hulks could be retained for the future statics rather than shredded. An epic restoration task for sure, but where there's a will (and plenty of parts on eBay!) there's a way.

Monday 5th February 2018

Marham ## showed as ZA553
Marham ## showed as ZA542
Marham ## showed as ZA554
Marham ## showed as ZA472
Primus 1 [31 Sqdn] showed as ZA597

ZA560 E-BQ, 050 withdrawn from use, no longer an active airframe.

Does anyone the status of ZA587,597

Regards
Paul

ZA587 is in Marham depth wing being overhauled

ZA597 is flying with 31sqb

ZA597 Flew today.

Integrale1 wrote:ZA560 E-BQ, 050 withdrawn from use, no longer an active airframe.

Great shame, last Tornado to have squadron markings (assuming ZA607's are removed).
Well remember ZA560 in an earlier life as the all-black 'aeros' aircraft of TTTE.