Happy birthday Jaguar
Discussion
The mighty Jagwar was a good, reliable, low maintenance aircraft. The Tornado, especially in its early years, was a very unreliable and manhour hungry aircraft. Plenty of ex-RAF techies have fond memories of the Jag, not so many have them of the Tornado.
However, the old saying about the Jag was 'variable noise, constant speed'. Funny.
However, the old saying about the Jag was 'variable noise, constant speed'. Funny.
Tony1963 said:
ETA: but it didn't enter service til '79 lol.
I saw my first Tornado (as opposed to MRCA) at Binbrook during the summer of 1982 when I was 'Holding' on LTF. The a/c in question were being operated by the OEU (Operational Evaluation Unit), so they were hardly in Service in 1979.Ginetta G15 Girl said:
No it didn't Eric. MRCA may well have flown in 1974 but MRCA was a world away from Tornado.
It was the prototype so I always count it as the first off the line - which I'm sure PANAVIA did too.Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Sunday 9th September 21:05
I saw a Tornado (XX947) at the Farnborough Air Show in 1978.
That's the only 40th anniversary I can associate with the Tornado.
Ginetta G15 Girl said:
I saw my first Tornado (as opposed to MRCA) at Binbrook during the summer of 1982 when I was 'Holding' on LTF. The a/c in question were being operated by the OEU (Operational Evaluation Unit), so they were hardly in Service in 1979.
I was based near Wharton in '84 and they seemed very new then... our secretary had worked there and I got a keyring - woot!Ginetta G15 Girl said:
I saw my first Tornado (as opposed to MRCA) at Binbrook during the summer of 1982 when I was 'Holding' on LTF. The a/c in question were being operated by the OEU (Operational Evaluation Unit), so they were hardly in Service in 1979.
The OEU wasn't even on the go when I arrived at Marham December '82. The TTTE at Cottesmore had been on the go for a while by then, so perhaps that is what counts as in service. 'Operational' is different, and off the top of my head would be, for the RAF, 9 Sqn in 1982 at Honington.Edit: the OEU didn't evaluate the Tornado prior to entry into service. It was formed to evaluate the aircraft for use in different climates, amongst other tasks. I knew a few of the guys on the OEU and had worked with them for a year or so at Marham, on Tornado, BEFORE they went to the OEU.
Edited by Tony1963 on Sunday 9th September 22:19
Ginetta G15 Girl said:
No it didn't Eric. MRCA may well have flown in 1974 but MRCA was a world away from Tornado.
It wasn't really a world away. Ok the avionics would be different, and maybe the engines. A few minor differences in the shape of flying control surfaces? But really, the differences between a GR1, GR4 and F3 would be greater. But all still Tornados.Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Sunday 9th September 21:05
Eric Mc said:
It was the prototype so I always count it as the first off the line - which I'm sure PANAVIA did too.
I saw a Tornado (XX947) at the Farnborough Air Show in 1978.
That's the only 40th anniversary I can associate with the Tornado.
I worked on XX947! PO3 as it was known arrived at Marham on a trailer in the mid-80s (I think) and we converted it to a weapons loading trainer. It had the large camera in the fin and wooden tips on the tailerons. Strange ol thing. I think it's now on display outside a company in Scotland who made some component or other for the Tornado.I saw a Tornado (XX947) at the Farnborough Air Show in 1978.
That's the only 40th anniversary I can associate with the Tornado.
Tony1963 said:
The OEU wasn't even on the go when I arrived at Marham December '82. The TTTE at Cottesmore had been on the go for a while by then, so perhaps that is what counts as in service. 'Operational' is different, and off the top of my head would be, for the RAF, 9 Sqn in 1982 at Honington.
Edit: the OEU didn't evaluate the Tornado prior to entry into service. It was formed to evaluate the aircraft for use in different climates, amongst other tasks. I knew a few of the guys on the OEU and had worked with them for a year or so at Marham, on Tornado, BEFORE they went to the OEU.
I "fixed" my first Tornado as a Jnr Tech late '82. It's tail number was G-24 Serial 43+05 Variant GT005 IDS 9 Batch 1 Arrived 03.09.80.Edit: the OEU didn't evaluate the Tornado prior to entry into service. It was formed to evaluate the aircraft for use in different climates, amongst other tasks. I knew a few of the guys on the OEU and had worked with them for a year or so at Marham, on Tornado, BEFORE they went to the OEU.
Edited by Tony1963 on Sunday 9th September 22:19
So if your saying there were only German Tornadoes at Cottesmore..
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