Top Guns Inside The RAF

[Malcolm]

Seen worse.

Interesting loadout on the Typhoon taxying out during the "Alpha Scramble" from Amari towards the end of the 3rd section of the program (about 45 mins in). What's the pod on the port wing station? Doesn't look anything like the drop tank on the starboard wing. Looks a bit like the ECM pods that Growlers carry - square/rectangular section not round. I realise the program is probably edited together from lots of different footage, but never noticed anything like that on a Typhoon in the UK.

Both sides just carried the standard drop tanks. No pods apart from the centre-line and the wing tip pods. All as standard.

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/top ... /74781-001

Go to 35:40 to 35:41, where the 'blurry' typhoon lines up onto the runway. No way that port station is a standard drop tank, Meteor or Storm Shadow.

[T_J]

Seen worse.

Interesting loadout on the Typhoon taxying out during the "Alpha Scramble" from Amari towards the end of the 3rd section of the program (about 45 mins in). What's the pod on the port wing station? Doesn't look anything like the drop tank on the starboard wing. Looks a bit like the ECM pods that Growlers carry - square/rectangular section not round. I realise the program is probably edited together from lots of different footage, but never noticed anything like that on a Typhoon in the UK.

Both sides just carried the standard drop tanks. No pods apart from the centre-line and the wing tip pods. All as standard.

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/top ... /74781-001

Go to 35:40 to 35:41, where the 'blurry' typhoon lines up onto the runway. No way that port station is a standard drop tank, Meteor or Storm Shadow.

Yes, of course it is a Meteor missile. The confusion arises when you mentioned the drop tank. The Meteors are on the recessed area on the underside of the belly.

[Malcolm]

Both sides just carried the standard drop tanks. No pods apart from the centre-line and the wing tip pods. All as standard.

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/top ... /74781-001

Go to 35:40 to 35:41, where the 'blurry' typhoon lines up onto the runway. No way that port station is a standard drop tank, Meteor or Storm Shadow.

Yes, of course it is a Meteor missile. The confusion arises when you mentioned the drop tank. The Meteors are on the recessed area on the underside of the belly.

It's not a meteor. I'm talking about the 'item' on the port 'wet' station, outboard of the undercarrage. Compare it to the item on the same station on the starboard wing - which is a large drop tank.

[T_J]

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/top ... /74781-001

Go to 35:40 to 35:41, where the 'blurry' typhoon lines up onto the runway. No way that port station is a standard drop tank, Meteor or Storm Shadow.

Yes, of course it is a Meteor missile. The confusion arises when you mentioned the drop tank. The Meteors are on the recessed area on the underside of the belly.

It's not a meteor. I'm talking about the 'item' on the port 'wet' station, outboard of the undercarrage. Compare it to the item on the same station on the starboard wing - which is a large drop tank.

It is still a drop tank. It is just the angle and the shadows leading you astray. The other drop tank is in full sunlight and the port drop tank is in shadow. Also not helped by the heat haze.

[Pesmog]

The programme mentioned that Lossiemouth is the 'UK's busiest operational air base'. Is that TV
sophistry as I would have thought Lakenheath would have that status in terms of aircraft movement's ?

[Red-Eye-Knight]

The programme mentioned that Lossiemouth is the 'UK's busiest operational air base'. Is that TV
sophistry as I would have thought Lakenheath would have that status in terms of aircraft movement's ?

Maybe they mean busiest RAF Air Station? As Lakenheath would be US, I don't know I'm just speculating.

[Discodaz]

The programme mentioned that Lossiemouth is the 'UK's busiest operational air base'. Is that TV
sophistry as I would have thought Lakenheath would have that status in terms of aircraft movement's ?

well, all i can say is, i spent two weeks there for my first lossie visit a couple of years ago and.......it was dead!! i mean, not much more than a handful of movements in two weeks.weather was good. i can only assume most of the station was on deployment.

lovely place though and would be happy to take the 10 hr trip to try again

Daz

[Pesmog]

well, all i can say is, i spent two weeks there for my first lossie visit a couple of years ago and.......it was dead!! i mean, not much more than a handful of movements in two weeks.weather was good. i can only assume most of the station was on deployment.

lovely place though and would be happy to take the 10 hr trip to try again

Daz

Which is kind of why I asked the question, as I am planning the long drive north to visit Lossiemouth for a couple of days soon, and the programme somewhat got my hopes up

[Andy_99]

I'm guessing they discount Lakenheath although technically it's still an RAF station. I'm guessing saying it's the busiest is down to the P8 being there as well. Also making a program & saying it's RAF Lossiemouth Britain's 2nd Busiest Fighter Base doesn't have quite the same wow factor.

[Alf]

I'm guessing they discount Lakenheath although technically it's still an RAF station. I'm guessing saying it's the busiest is down to the P8 being there as well. Also making a program & saying it's RAF Lossiemouth Britain's 2nd Busiest Fighter Base doesn't have quite the same wow factor.

It's certainly Scotlands busiest fighter base, being the only one left! I would say Coningsby is the busiest RAF fighter base in the UK.

[Agent K]

I'm guessing they discount Lakenheath although technically it's still an RAF station. I'm guessing saying it's the busiest is down to the P8 being there as well. Also making a program & saying it's RAF Lossiemouth Britain's 2nd Busiest Fighter Base doesn't have quite the same wow factor.

It's certainly Scotlands busiest fighter base, being the only one left! I would say Coningsby is the busiest RAF fighter base in the UK.

Not sure about CBY being the busiest, Lossie has 4 x Squadrons of Typhoons, + 9 x P8's, + a decent amount of visiting aircraft including P8's, tankers, and fighters.

[Discodaz]

well, all i can say is, i spent two weeks there for my first lossie visit a couple of years ago and.......it was dead!! i mean, not much more than a handful of movements in two weeks.weather was good. i can only assume most of the station was on deployment.

lovely place though and would be happy to take the 10 hr trip to try again

Daz

Which is kind of why I asked the question, as I am planning the long drive north to visit Lossiemouth for a couple of days soon, and the programme somewhat got my hopes up

I have been told by many that it's a busy base. I just dropped unlucky as It happened to be quiet when I went.
I'm used to Coningsby that's busy every day so lossie was a bit of a let down for me.
However,...... It's very layed back up there so maybe it was busy
Again, I would still go try again as the viewing is brilliant

Daz

[reheat]

Think the guy taking the rise out of the pilot doing his pre flight walk around check may be in for a rollicking though.

[Condor68]

Wouldd have thought QRA would have been loaded for bear as they say but only saw one missile on the wing beside the pod in question. As previously mentioned probably made up from loads of clips.Enjoyed it though even though it was puzzling that at this time they only had 2 QRA plus a spare ready to go 200 miles from the border.

[Fighterfoto]

Enjoyed it though even though it was puzzling that at this time they only had 2 QRA plus a spare ready to go 200 miles from the border.

It was a joint intercept with the Luftwaffe, so more than two jets on alert.

[Condor68]

Got that bit but I was assuming both would go from the same base.

[venom]

last nights. programe about lossie very entertaining

It certainly was buddy

yea buddy

[venom]

am sure its caled lightning pod

[EGDR]

Wouldd have thought QRA would have been loaded for bear as they say but only saw one missile on the wing beside the pod in question. As previously mentioned probably made up from loads of clips.Enjoyed it though even though it was puzzling that at this time they only had 2 QRA plus a spare ready to go 200 miles from the border.

2 RAF jets on alert total, as I understood it, the 2nd being the spare. The other jet in the formation was a German Typhoon, so each participating force only had to send up a single jet. Presumably the Germans also kept 2 jets ready.

[Evergreen 44]

Normal arrangement is two pairs scramble, two pairs on standby brought to readiness
If the second pair scramble more are brought on line but at longer readiness