WIP: RSAF Tornado / Tornado Rivet/detail template
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its looking good……it just bemused me why GR4 and IDs were quoted, but that explains it. I have spent 20 years working maintenance on these A/C, GR1, ADV and GR4, and now have the privilage of helping to restore a GR1P.
PTPG
The Tornado ZA326 Preservation Group is working to preserve Panavia Tornado GR.1P ZA326 and restore it to fast-taxiable condition. On retirement in December 2005, ZA326 was the last airworthy Tornado GR.1 anywhere in the world, and the only painted in the distinctive “Raspberry Ripple” colour scheme. Please see the latest news section for regular updates on the restoration process.
Having spent its entire 22-year career as a trials aircraft, ZA326 holds a unique place in British aviation history, having been involved in a number of research projects including the development of terrain-following radar, cockpit voice recognition and the Reconnaissance Airbone Pod for TORnado (RAPTOR).
Following retirement in December 2005, ZA326 was stored by QinetiQ at MoD Boscombe Down. Elliott Atkins acquired the aircraft from QinetiQ in early 2013 and donated it to the Cold War Jets Collection. It will be restored to fast-taxi condition by the Panavia Tornado Preservation Group at Bruntingthorpe Airfield in Leicestershire, where it joins a fleet of other jets from the period, including a number of other ex-trials aircraft.
History
ZA326 (cn 016/BT006/3008) was the eighth production Panavia Tornado, and one of the initial 23 RAF IDS aircraft to be built to Batch 1 standard, intended for TTTE. Construction begun in July 1979 and a number of engine runs were performed at BAE Systems Warton between 15th-22nd July 1980 before a ground fire destroyed the rear of the aircraft on 30th July 1980.
Eventually repaired at the end of the Tornado production run, ZA326 first flew on 31st March 1983. Painted in the Royal Aircraft Establishment “Raspberry Ripple” colour scheme, it was assigned to the Flight Systems Department at Thurleigh, near Bedford.
ZA326 spent its entire 22-year career as a trials aircraft, taking part in the development of terrain-following radar, all-weather approach, cockpit voice recognition and stores/weapons carriage research. Following its final flight on 13th December 2005 it was stored at MoD Boscombe Down, before being moved by road to the Cold War Jets Collection at Bruntingthorpe in October 2013.
john
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I have spent 20 years working maintenance on these A/C, GR1, ADV and GR4, and now have the privilage of helping to restore a GR1P.
Had I known that beforehand, I would have saved myself the “explanation”
That’s pretty awesome
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+1.
You have to be proud of this, John, haven’t you? If so, I can understand you, I’m talking serious.
Best congratulations and regards,
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+1.
You have to be proud of this, John, haven’t you? If so, I can understand you, I’m talking serious.
Best congratulations and regards,
oh very, and i still play with this one on a weekend
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Saw this and almost fainted:
:shock:
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You should fly lower!
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Where’s MW-1? Should be cool…
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Hi John, is that FF5?
What I meant to say is I was impressed with submunitions dispensers working (sort of) properly in BMS 4.33…
Ps.: I have not tried JP233 myself yet.
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Hi John, is that FF5?
What I meant to say is I was impressed with submunitions dispensers working (sort of) properly in BMS 4.33…
http://www.zjrf.gov.cn/jstd/dzd/jp233/jp233-2.jpgPs.: I have not tried JP233 myself yet.
oh it is modelled in 4.33? good stuff
yes that was FF5
J