RAF Tornado retirement

[bhjordan]

maybe Pinky hasn't been RTP yet so can be resurrected.

Last pictures doing the rounds showed pinky completely stripped down unfortunately.

Really do hope they do come up with something special to see them off, a full camo would be good to see again, however it maybe wishful thinking based on the RAF100 efforts.

[The Phantom]

Yes a full camo Tornado would be nice to see one last time

[jamesg23]

they managed it for the harrier.

[csnewton2701]

Has a date been set yet or is it still just sometime in April?

Cheers

Chris

[Vulcanone]

Retirement is before the end of March. Any being flown out to retirement homes follows that.

[csnewton2701]

Cheers.

Will be keeping my eye out to see if they announce a special retirement celebration as I will definitely travel down for it.


Chris

[James Cutting]

Pinky is looooooooooong gone!

Here, you can buy her canopy on eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Very-Rare-Pi ... %7Ciid%3A1

[tm74sqn]

I suspect that this is just the canopy - probably in poor condition, so swapped for a better one?

[James Cutting]

Sory, you are right I meant canopy could well be.

[IFAD]

Its a shame nobody thinks of keeping a few flying examples going as in 50 years time these will be doing the stints currently carried out by BBMF - How many examples of great aircraft are just being scrapped without thought for the future?

[bizfreeq]

You going to pay for them then??

[RubyRoo]

Let's have a People's Tornado.

Actually let's have a People's Tornado Squadron.

[James Cutting]

Or, like a lot of other jets, we just let them retire out gracefully, and get on with life...Enjoy them whilst they last, enjoy the send off events, and enjoy the new jets. Share pictures in memory, and celebrate the aircraft.

They were here to do a job, did this to an exquisite level, and it is now the end of their life. It is my favourite jet of this era, but having a 'people's tornado' is just silly. Some are being sent to museums, so that's good to see in itself.

[MiG_Eater]

I definitely don't think its a silly idea.

I think the Swedes have it right.

It's nice that we can see so many flying aircraft from the second world war; but the importance of the Cold War, and in particular its aircraft, is being forgotten far too fast.

[Nighthawke]

It will never happen while the rules governing complex aircraft are in place. For the MoD to do it would be cost prohibitive. You cannot compare modern jets to the BBMF and other warbirds as older aircraft are far easier to maintain as well as being more affordable.

[James Cutting]

Exactly what Nighthawke has said. Sure the CAA would like to see a Tornado in the Show Circuit...Not!

[Vulcanone]

I suspect after April 2019, you have more chance of seeing Nelsons column flying, than a retired RAF Tornado. As Father Ted said Dreams and Reality....

Here endeth the dreams!!

[paddyboy]

I think I can safely say that there is more chance of me being the next Pope, than a Tonka being kept in flying condition after its retirement

[James Cutting]

Now THAT...Would be 'interesting' to say the least!!

[welshandy]

maybe Bruntingthorpe could add one to their collection & do ground runs with it.