Malta Airshow 'Incident' - Tornado Arrival

[Steven]

Hi all,

Couldn't find this posted here so apologies if it has already been posted but I've just seen the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUEYTWYyB_I&app=desktop

Between 15:30 a Tornado arrives on a run and break. Upon the break some material clearly comes off the jet. I have been told that it was part of the fuel tank disintegrating (and the closest tank to the camera upon landing at around 16:40 clearly appears to show damage).

Does anyone have any other information?

Steven.

[kristianrj]

Yup, the rear third of the port fuel tank is missing

[jg43]

Very interesting. I wonder what caused it? Could there have maybe been a crack in the external fuel tank that gave way when the load increased on the break?

Thanks for sharing this

[gaviscon]

If you look closely, there's also damage to the fuselage, just under the serial number.

[ColintheCaterpillar]

On Pprune, in a moment of non-direct speculation, a member had posted a link to a thread regard GR fuel tank fits/wing sweep limits...

(Someone else's speculation, not mine! )

[^^Gord^^]

There is only a wing sweep limit with the large 2250 litre tanks, this Tornado wasn't fitted with them.

[gamecock]

If you look closely, there's also damage to the fuselage, just under the serial number.

The left-hand SPS door is missing. The door may have been lost first, taking the back of the tank with it.

[Viper28]

If you look closely, there's also damage to the fuselage, just under the serial number.

The left-hand SPS door is missing. The door may have been lost first, taking the back of the tank with it.

Good spot, I've seen that happen before on a high speed run and break, this was a GR4 landing after the Marham 2011 Family day, lost the door in the break

[Viper28]

Just got a mail from a member of the 2nd GR4 crew. It was the panel breaking loose. Hit the tank and the the tail plane (no significant damage).

[TS010]

Just got a mail from a member of the 2nd GR4 crew. It was the panel breaking loose. Hit the tank and the the tail plane (no significant damage).

A bit of speed tape and off to go then.

[Viper28]

Just got a mail from a member of the 2nd GR4 crew. It was the panel breaking loose. Hit the tank and the the tail plane (no significant damage).

A bit of speed tape and off to go then.

Duck tape fixes all

[kstater94]

Looked more than just a duct tape/speed tape fix to me....

Looks like the entire aft portion of the tank is gone!

or am I seeing things correctly?

[Mike]

Looked more than just a duct tape/speed tape fix to me....

Looks like the entire aft portion of the tank is gone!

or am I seeing things correctly?

It's the SPS door that's the problem, there's hundreds of spare external fuel tanks kicking around at Lossie & Marham, so a replacement isn't a problem.
I know the corresponding door on the starboard side is for access to the APU, but what is the SPS?

[kstater94]

Looked more than just a duct tape/speed tape fix to me....

Looks like the entire aft portion of the tank is gone!

or am I seeing things correctly?

It's the SPS door that's the problem, there's hundreds of spare external fuel tanks kicking around at Lossie & Marham, so a replacement isn't a problem.
I know the corresponding door on the starboard side is for access to the APU, but what is the SPS?

ah!

Gotcha!

[Mike]

Come on chaps, what does SPS stand for?

This is the Auxiliary Power Unit on a Tornado, which is on the starboard side - but what's the SPS on the port side?

[POL]

Secondary Power System - APU to you and me!

http://www.tornado-data.com/Tid/systems ... system.htm

[Mike]

Secondary Power System - APU to you and me!

http://www.tornado-data.com/Tid/systems ... system.htm

So there's an APU on both sides then? - unless I've read that wrong !!

[gamecock]

Mike - No. The APU is on the RH side. The RH panel is twice the size of the LH, as the RAT takes up half the same space on the LH side.

The LH panel also gives access to the hydraulic hand pump:

[Mike]

Thanks for that Gamecock, I already said that the APU was on the starboard side (RH), thanks for the extra information.

[gamecock]

Sorry Mike, I meant to say only on the RH side. Also, I can't see spares being an issue. The only concern will be any structural damage.