Loan Tornado regularly circling East Northants

[LotusOmega375D]

Apart from high flying F15s, Typhoons and Tornados transitting to/from base/destination, we don't normally notice any fast jets around these parts. However, since the start of last week we have had a loan Tornado around every weekday for an hour or so each morning and afternoon. He seems to be following a fairly regular pattern flying a repeated eliptical East-West route at intervals of about 5 minutes or so per "lap". His height is just below the current low cloud base, so he's making plenty of noise, but he's not exactly low level either.

Does anyone know what he might be up to? I suppose he could just be biding his time until called into action as it were, but I've no idea what that could be. If it just happened once or twice, I wouldn't bother asking, but it's been the best part of a fortnight now, so I am getting intrigued.

His presence also puts a temporary halt to any of the civil light aviation that regularly flies around here.

[CaptainSlow]

Maybe as it's borrowed the pilot isn't allowed to take it too far?

[Eric Mc]

Is it on HP?

[n3il123]

Can't add an explanation but we've noticed it (heard not seen) over in Rushden.

[hurstg01]

Its so loud it Hertz

[mgreenwood]

The one this morning is showing as ZG775 which shows as being a 41 Sqn aircraft - aren't they the Test and Evaluation unit now so i guess either testing or calibrating a new piece of kit? I live in Higham Ferrers and yes as you say unusual to see them around us

[SilverSixer]

Bloody hell, how come I only got a loan A-Class today? 16 years old too, nasty little thing. I'll ask for a Tornado next time.

[williamp]

mgreenwood said:

The one this morning is showing as ZG775 which shows as being a 41 Sqn aircraft - aren't they the Test and Evaluation unit now so i guess either testing or calibrating a new piece of kit? I live in Higham Ferrers and yes as you say unusual to see them around us

so you think they loaned it for a road test then??

[LotusOmega375D]

Jesus I have gone insane! I think I'll start a money lending business called the "Loan Ranger". Apologies to all for my error!

[mgreenwood]

williamp said:

mgreenwood said:

The one this morning is showing as ZG775 which shows as being a 41 Sqn aircraft - aren't they the Test and Evaluation unit now so i guess either testing or calibrating a new piece of kit? I live in Higham Ferrers and yes as you say unusual to see them around us

so you think they loaned it for a road test then??

well you get 48 hour test drives on a Ford Focus you'd expect longer if you were going to pay for a Tornado

[LotusOmega375D]

So the "lone" Tornado has now been replaced by a lone Hawker Hunter! Exactly the same routine today as the GR4 was doing during the past couple of weeks. Most peculiar.

[Simpo Two]

LotusOmega375D said:

So the "lone" Tornado has now been replaced by a lone Hawker Hunter! Exactly the same routine today as the GR4 was doing during the past couple of weeks. Most peculiar.

Guess he couldn't afford the repayments.

[IanH755]

So the Tornado got repossessed and replaced with a Shed in true PH fashion then?

[Hilts]

I used to live up along the coast from Lossiemouth and the most common aircraft I saw on a daily basis were 2 LN/UH F-111s holding in an oval pattern.

I met 2 of the crew in one of the TV rooms at Leuchars and asked them what they were doing and they said they were holding for a bombing slot at the Tain range.

Is there a range near you?

[D4VE 3LL]

There was a NOTAM out for 1 fast jet conducting trials in that area for a week.