Panavia Tornado

canberra wrote:

According to wiki, the F3 didnt have have a secure radio or the correct IFF thats why they were kept to the rear during the first Gulf War.

That is Wiki and as we know its not 100% reliable. When they say it was kept to the rear, it actually means Cyprus. With regards to the IFF, the problem was compatibility with the IFF equipment that the US were using but the Tornado GR1 had the same problem so they fitted the US system to the GR1. They didn't see the need to fit it to the F3 because it wasn't going to be in theatre. To be honest, the Americans had air superiority pretty well covered.

No the F3s werent based in Cyprus, they were at Dharhan why else did the groundcrew on 43 at Leuchars have the clasp to the Gulf medal?

But I have to ask if the GR1 was fitted with the same IFF as the Americans, why werent the F3s?

I'm not sure about the IFF thing. I was a "sooty" so my avionics knowledge isn't that great but I'm sure I remember that the GR1s had their IFF changed. I'm happy to be corrected by someone more knowledgeable. I do remember the IFF being interrogated using a handheld unit on every aircraft before it taxied out. It was quite a big thing. As to why they didn't fit it to the F3, I don't know. Maybe there were physical or wiring restrictions or perhaps they didn't deem it necessary for the F3's rear role. Maybe there weren't enough of the US compatible units to go around.

And I think a daft thing to do was to get rid of the buddy buddy tanker facilitiy before it started. IIRC it was dropped in July 90, boy would that have come in handy in the Gulf war. And given the F3s fuel capacity, that would have made a good tactical tanker IMHO.

Funnily enough I was thinking recently how weird and strange its going to be when the GR/IDS Variant retires after it being 7 Years since the ADV/F.3 retired in 2011.

Does anyone know much about the TTTE aircraft? Did they stay at TTTE for the whole of their life or were they rotated with the rest of the fleet?

And in 1990 the F3 OCU saw sense. Instead of the Phantom aircrew doing the whole OCU course they did the groundschool which was 3 weeks and then did 10 hours flying on the F3, after all the tactics were the same.

canberra wrote:

Does anyone know much about the TTTE aircraft? Did they stay at TTTE for the whole of their life or were they rotated with the rest of the fleet?

Not as far as I know. Over half of the aircraft belonged to Germany and Italy and I think most of them were "twin stickers" which were not as capable operationally. I'm not sure if the TTTE fleet ever got beyond the RB199 Mk101 engine.

A few more Tornado things.

Unlike a lot of fast jets it doesnt have built in steps, the reason? Well I was told that apparently the first 50 built did have them, but it meant only one gun could be fitted so the steps were taken out. And apparently it cost 50k more to have them. Im told that you could spot these aircraft as they had a panel under the cockpit.

What Im surprised is that they didnt have seperate canopies for the crew, as on the F4 for example.

And I was also told that the cockpit is very quiet compared to other fast jets and that the crew can talk to each other without using the intercom, anyone confirm this?

I recently posted on another forum how stange it was gonna be from next March/ April when the RAF retire the last Tornado that there is going to be no Tornado GR.1/4 or F.3 operational with the RAF although I understand that other Countries will still operate Tornado for the forseeable future while the RAF move on and operate Typhoon, F-35B Lightning etc.