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ZG750
- reheat module
- Posts: 2906
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:59 pm
- Location: Often UK
Re: ZG750
Farewell Gal.
Had plenty of warning to catch it whilst still flying.
Had plenty of warning to catch it whilst still flying.
UK ONS CPI Rate checker for Sept every year...
- Blackcat1
- Posts: 24773
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:06 pm
- Location: Southern edge of the Brecon Beacons, South Wales
Re: ZG750
Didn't fly much if at all after RIAT sadly. Lucky I got to see her a good few times, last twin stick to go to rtp?
Gareth
6 Sqdn Canopeners
Oculi exercitus
Blackcats remembered
Jaguar Force Excellance! 2nd July 07.
6 Sqdn Canopeners
Oculi exercitus
Blackcats remembered
Jaguar Force Excellance! 2nd July 07.
Re: ZG750
Well, in the “good old days” a Tornado Sqn. would have a nominal strength of 13 a/c of which one would be a twin-stick so on the face of it the current numbers are high for three squadrons. With pooling of the current fleet that established ratio has probably long gone out of the window. It may be policy to use up the remaining life on the twin-sticks where applicable on local flying to preserve life on the more capable ‘strike’ versions (and as an insurance against any hiccups with “Centurion”). The counter argument might be that they are more valuable to the RAF on the spares shelf. I guess we have to wait and see.
Re: ZG750
From what was said at May's enthusiast day, a couple of T's will solider on until nearly the end. They will be kept back for pilot to pilot checks and any basis refresher courses they might need to do. Also I'm guessing any photography work the RAF want done with the TGRF.
Speaking to a pilot last time I was there, next squadron due to disband in March / April 2018 with the final two squadron seeing the Tornado out in 2019. Unless that has changed again since June There was no official word on which squadron will disband in 2018 but I'm guessing 12(B) as 31 will be out in Cyprus and IX(B) will next to go, if the TGRF is still needed chasing Daesh that is
Speaking to a pilot last time I was there, next squadron due to disband in March / April 2018 with the final two squadron seeing the Tornado out in 2019. Unless that has changed again since June There was no official word on which squadron will disband in 2018 but I'm guessing 12(B) as 31 will be out in Cyprus and IX(B) will next to go, if the TGRF is still needed chasing Daesh that is
Posh are going to Wembley (albeit for a tin cup)
- reheat module
- Posts: 2906
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:59 pm
- Location: Often UK
Re: ZG750
That's a real thought provoking statement and got my mind going back to my Bruggen days; I recall that, on the 4 Sqns (9, 14, 17 and 31) we used to swap and rotate aircraft, and Trainers were a high value commodity and frequently 'loaned' between Squadrons (on the understanding of 'you get it serviceable, with enough hrs for the sortie - you break it, you fix it).DavidT wrote:Well, in the “good old days” a Tornado Sqn. would have a nominal strength of 13 a/c of which one would be a twin-stick so on the face of it the current numbers are high for three squadrons...
As I recall, 17(F) had at least 3 Trainers, GX, GY & GZ and there were 16 ac on the books, although at any one time we had numbers away on Major Serv at St Athan, in MEAS on Minor or Minor Star Servicing, on Sqn on Primary or Primary Star Servicing, on loan or deployed. I may be wrong, but I thought there was a letter in the alphabet designated on the Sqn to indicate a Trainer. Age may have affected my memory though...
Best job I ever had, as a Rects Controller; nothing before or after that gave me as much satisfaction.
UK ONS CPI Rate checker for Sept every year...
Re: ZG750
ZA612 aka "ZA61 new" should be the last one to finish flying as it was the only one to have gone through the "mid life fatigue programme (MLFP)" at Warton. It was broken right down to its original sub assemblies when originally assembled at Warton. Plenty of re-lifing of old structure and new structure incorporated before reassembly again. Obviously the original plan was for more airframes to go through this programme but as usual defence cuts ensured it never happened.DavidT wrote:The following twin-sticks should still be at Marham
ZA612/074
ZD711/079
ZD713/081
ZD741/089
ZG752/129
ZG771/133
Cheers
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