Tornado GR4 Fleet General Info

[Steven]

Thanks to all - list updated again.

Steven.

[Mike]

043 & 081 were both active with 15 sqn on 10/10/14.

[Vulcanone]

Steven

078 seems to have sneaked into the RTP line ????

Tim S

[rh226]

12.30L [43C177] = ZG714/124 showing on PP as "MON 2".

Showing on the list as having gone to RTP in May?? Previously reported in July as very much alive and kicking.

13.56L [43C1CA] ZA406/015 showing on PP as "MRM 32" heading up East Coast.

[Steven]

Cheers, Bob. I don't know how that happened - I have checked ukserials and de-mobbed and it doesn't appear on either site as having gone to RTP.

Steven.

[rh226]

No problem.

Incidentally, ZA393/008 spotted early-ish this afternoon on PP with a "MRM xx" callsign in the box.

Perhaps the pilot has not got a REBEL number yet??

[Steven]

Also unusual mate - you would expect that he would have a Rebel callsign if flying with 41(R)TES - or if not using "Apollo 1" or "Viking 1". It might have been that ZA393/008 was simply static display for the APCV and has now returned to Marham??

Steven.

[rh226]

He was obviously going via a bit of scenery, then.........NW towards the Lake District was the direction he was heading!!

[dunmailbiffa17]

IMG_5702_filtered by LFA17ULV, on Flickr

IMG_5673_filtered by LFA17ULV, on Flickr

Both through The Lakes yesterday 141014.

[C24]

Nice shots, thank you.

Anyone know how long before all the airframes are redundant? With all the current use are we about to run out of Tornados?

Am I correct in thinking that Typhoons are unsuitable for the same role?

[rh226]

11.57L [43C153] ZA553/045 on PP airborne from Marham with callsign "MRH 67" in the box

[rh226]

Also unusual mate - you would expect that he would have a Rebel callsign if flying with 41(R)TES - or if not using "Apollo 1" or "Viking 1". It might have been that ZA393/008 was simply static display for the APCV and has now returned to Marham??

Steven.

Milky01's site shows his R/T callsign was "Rebel87".

[Steven]

That was for Friday 10th October though wasn't it? Not yesterday.

Steven.

[rh226]

Must read the dates better. Sorry, Steven.

Anyway, ZG775 is up again from Warton over the Irish Sea as "TN09". Time = 14.40L

[Gary]

Another long term absentee up, ZD745 / 093 flying as Tarnish 21

[Vulcanone]

C24

The (current) Official plan for the Tornado Out of Service date is March 2019, but I suspect that depends on

A) The F-35 working well and not having anymore problems, and 617 reforming in 2016 as planned, and then they are supposed to be bringing the jets over to the UK, in 2018.

B) We might be about to finish in Afghanistan, but it depends what happens out in Iraq and possibly Syria. Assuming nothing else pops up

I believe the plan was to have a fleet of 80 Jets (with some in storage and maintenance) till 2018/19

I'm sure someone has a better idea than that??


Tim S

[mirage41]

C24,

You may well be spot on, Typhoon has been with us for more than 10 years now, and it is only within recent days that 41(TES) advise first live Paveway IV release - was it China Lake ??

Will Brimstone fit somewhere, will Storm Shadow upset the balance ??

What will go on the F35, will current weaponry be redundant ??

[Vulcanone]

Mirage 41 (and C24)

Don't forget Typhoons self designated and dropped stuff out in Libya...

Until the publisher I worked for went pear shaped in 2012, I kept fairly up to date with Typhoon and F-35 and other stuff. Alas, now I just can't quite keep up with some of it

Anyhow here is what I can remember

Typhoon

Is (currently undergoing/will be undergoing) integration trials of Storm Shadow and Brimstone (One of these has started in Italy mid 2014) and also 41 has been doing Paveway VI trials out in the USA. Not sure where they are with Meteor trials

F-35

Weapons trials on and of before I lost the will to keep up....It has a mix of things that it can carry as a stealthy option, and after the combat area becomes less needy of stealth, it can carry external things like a gun....and I assume stuff similar to F-15E F-22 etc. The RAF have spoken of integrating Meteor (A to A missile)

Hope that helps, well not that its does for The Mighty Fin...


Tim S

[Reptile 1]

ZA412/017 noted 16-10-14 as 'Tarnish 21'

Wonder if the Tail has survived

[markranger]

ZA412/017 noted 16-10-14 as 'Tarnish 21'

Wonder if the Tail has survived

It sure has mate
Also up 015,097,023,078