FighterControl

The final flight of the Tornado F3 in RAF service took place with the delivery of the last three aircraft on the strength of the disbanded 111 Squadron into retirement at RAF Leeming on 28 March 2011. The three comprised ZE734/JU (the Squadron flagship), ZE 791 (which had received a special paint scheme to mark 25 Years of RAF service by the type), and ZH 554/HX and used the traditional squadron call sign ’Scimitar’. ZE 791 made a spectacular landing applying aerodynamic braking by keeping the nose high which gave the impression that the aircraft was reluctant to leave its natural element. The previous week’s delivery flight had included a farewell tour of RAF bases by a different trio which overflew Boulmer, Coningsby and Waddington as well as Leeming before two of the aircraft landed there (ZE168/HH and ZE938/HL). Having developed a close affinity with the type as a result of decades of spotting at both Leeming and Coningsby I made sure that I was at Leeming on both occasions. Light conditions for the first delivery were nt good but better for the second on 28 March when the sun broke through and by the time the trio were parked it was quite hot as you note from the haze which had developed over the intervening runway and the apron.

1 break to land 24-03-11 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

3 HH breaks to land by Michael Britton, on Flickr

7 Last landing JU 28-03-11 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

8 - ZE 791 overshoots 28-03-11 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

11 ZE791 landing (1) by Michael Britton, on Flickr

12 - ZE791 landing (2) by Michael Britton, on Flickr

10 - ZH554 HX overshoots 28-03-11 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

14 - Last taxi 28-03-11 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

15 - Last 3 28-03-11 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Thought you might be talking about yourself for a minute there Mick !!!

Ah....Those were the days eh? Not like that anymore up there

Nice reminder of F3 times...You done well in those conditions of heat haze to get a set...

Lovely set of a sadly underrated airframe, Mick

Never thought I would ever hear myself saying this, I actually quite miss the old F.3. Concurring with Paddy, the Tonka F.3 was underrated in it's day, guess you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.

Yes. Those were the days as Freddie Mercury once sang. Nice to hear some appreciation of a much maligned jet. According to Chris, who owns Jetart Aviation and was previously XI Sqn. groundcrew on one exercise in Alaska they were registering kills at an unbelievable rate thanks to ASRAAM and JTIDS. By the end of its service it was the equal of the much vaunted F-15. Just a shame that thanks to a penny pinching MoD it took so long for its full potential to be realised! That was almost the end of my spotting days @ Leeming altho' I did go back a couple of years later to see the arrival of the three Qinetic jets which had been used on the Meteor trials, one of which is now on the gate so even after retirement the type continued to perform useful service.

Great shots for the record Mick

Thanks for posting
Keith (3Greens)

Great to see them at the other end of the flight, I did the see off of ZE791 from Leuchars. Really miss those days, great times, people and memories.