Pointy bit on a tornado

[George Smiley]

Big metal skewer on the nose of a tornado. What’s it for?

[Boatbuoy]

Pitot Tube I'd guess.

To measure airspeed.

[George Smiley]

That’s what I thought but my friend suggested it’s for skewering seaguls

[anonymous-user]

George Smiley said:

That’s what I thought but my friend suggested it’s for skewering seaguls

Flying pigs, surely.

[bristolbaron]

garyhun said:

Flying pigs, surely.

???

[Gary29]

'Air data probe'

Fancy pitot tube.

[LotusOmega375D]

No it's DEFINITELY for skewering birds. Look closely....

[Eric Mc]

When it comes to pointy things on aeroplane noses -

[George Smiley]

That’s plane rude.

[heisthegaffer]

Eric Mc said:

When it comes to pointy things on aeroplane noses -

Lovely VC10 in the background

[heisthegaffer]

heisthegaffer said:

Eric Mc said:

When it comes to pointy things on aeroplane noses -

Lovely VC10 in the background

Lovely VC10s in the background

[Eric Mc]

Pretty sure that is RAF St Athan with VC-10s being collected for conversion to tankers. As well as the RAF example, there is one from Gulf Air and one from BA.

[anonymous-user]

I thought it is more to do with managing supersonic shock waves. Having a long pitot tube is I understand only used in prototypes to calibrate the short production one.

[Eric Mc]

No - many fighter aircraft have had reasonably long pitots. They aren't so common these days, however.

[Boatbuoy]

Eric Mc said:

Pretty sure that is RAF St Athan with VC-10s being collected for conversion to tankers. As well as the RAF example, there is one from Gulf Air and one from BA.

...and an ex-BA Tristar.

[Tony1963]

They’re for hitting with aircraft tugs and ground equipment. They bend back again easily.

[Yertis]

Eric Mc said:

Pretty sure that is RAF St Athan with VC-10s being collected for conversion to tankers. As well as the RAF example, there is one from Gulf Air and one from BA.

Happy to be corrected on this but I think the VC10s were converted at Abingdon - I was there in 79/80 or thereabouts, for some reason I forget, and they were all lined up waiting to be done (not RAF ones either).

[PAUL500]

No hills like that in the background at St Athan, its flat as a pancake. Looks like the ex East African VC10s also there pre conversion to RAF spec

[colin_p]

George Smiley said:

Big metal skewer on the nose of a tornado. What’s it for?

I thought it was for doing this if the need ever arose.

[MB140]

Nope what there for is hanging your headset on after seeing the aircraft in.

Of course if you forget to check the seat to stick numb nuts has turned the pitot heaters off it will melt the plastic on the headset.

Yep speaking from experience. Thankfully not where the holes are for measuring air pressures so got away with that one.