Tornados in Museums

Tim, not wanting to sound too much like an advert but try here:

http://www.ukserials.com

Up to date fates of all the F2/F3Tornado’s are here by serial batch allocation.

Preserved ones (ex RAF) are here:

http://www.demobbed.org.uk

HTH

Given that its 22 years since I saw the First F.3 ZE154 in the static at Coningsbys airshow in 6/86.

I was just thinking that the original orders were as follows,

F.2s was 165 plus 3 prototypes ZA254, 267 & 283

What happened to 254 as it was last noted wingless at Coningsby sometime ago, prior to the Typhoons arriving?

and then 18 production a/c were built ZD899-906 932 to 941 (IIRC)

Only 902 survives as the TIARA trials a/c

we got the 8 ex RJordanian AF F.3s = 152 F.3s

– 24 to the Italians, most of which were scrapped (except 1 in the IAF museum,1 at Con as G/guard at least three? back to the RAF

I think about 12-14? have been Written off

And theres the Leuchars, Manchester, and East Fortune a/c plus at least five now in storage at Shawbury

Apart from the RTPs at Leeming, and the plans to keep the golden fleet at 43 not including stored jets whereabouts are we in how many survive????

Wheres Age Concern when you need em….

Anyone have a list?

Tim

You flatter me. They wrote the song about the day the music died about me, ‘cos Buddy Holly and my insight expired about the same time.

When Heseltine went ahead with EF2000, 1985, the projected buy, for worksharing purposes, was 250 (for Service from 1995!). After Peace broke out, that became the current 232. Tranche 3 has yet to be confirmed and is jostling for funds, with some suggesting RSaAF’s 72 should “count”.

In 1992 PM Major and PM Yeltsin agreed not to target the other, so Trident was pointed elsewhere, and many warheads reduced to bunker-busters. The wonder is not that we are only now phasing down deep penetration and Air Defence, but that so many were operated so long. Who do they war-game?

Just wondering is the Typhoon the replacement for the Tornado’s or is something else gonna take its place ??

Whilst this maybe slipping over into modern military, rather than Historic, the ‘official’ line from the MOD / RAF is the Tornado is being replaced by the Typhoon (in its newly designated FGR role). However if the scales of aircraft retired vs those introduced are looked at there are considerably more gone out of service than been introduced. The current scrapping of F3’s and squadron disbandments is more about plugging the hole in the RAF finances than due to a new platform being introduced.

(Now awaiting Alertken’s insight….):D

Just wondering is the Typhoon the replacement for the Tornado’s or is something else gonna take its place ??

There’s not much left actually, all the Jags have gone, the only Harriers are a handfull of disected GR.5-9s (apart from one battered 3), and some stored Tornados.
There is nothing on the dump at all, and nothing left outside on the once full Picketston site – very sad.

Re the FW-190, I was pointed to where it is meant to be buried, but I’m thinking it is probably an urban myth.

Well looking at the list above it’s surprising how may airframes and cockpits have been disposed of and are preserved.
I really don’t know who you would deal with re aquiring one, bet it’s one of those things that if you speak to the right person you might get something for very little, or you pay through the nose via a dealer. It seems the MoD rather stick to known disposal agents.
There is an ‘item’ here that I really want, doubt I will ever get the chance of owning it though, even when they get rid of it.

I will try a bit of snooping, but one thing is for sure, the MoD like a swift and clean operation, no turning up on site with a canoe trailer and a hacksaw!

I can understand that about the MOD ,they wouldnt want you to arrive with a Knackered old car transporter, and a few hacksaws , if i was going to do it, I would try and find myself a “Ahem” aviation Prostitute” for a better word, who would do it for me Professionally, Now wether or not i could afford such services would need some looking into on my part, 😀

AK, I was thinking F-111 but somehow seems unweildly, not particularly good to observe from, and less deployable to horrible places. Plus Tonka (more modern) seems to have better weapons choice and combinations, including that nice canon.

p01: do the Americans even have a direct equivalent to the GRs?
UK chopped 50 F-111K Jan.68 due to cost, then found large sums from July,68 to get going on what became 228 GR.1. Treasury over the next decade repeatedly enquired why UK could not revert to the credit/fixed price deal on (whichever model F-111 was then on offer). The A always given was that 200ft. penetration was core to Central Front Strike, and that F-111, or any other US type was 350ft. at best. Brass would say “grazing angle” and beancounter would go away. In that sense the A to your Q would be “none”. 20TFW/UR, F-111E and 48TFW/LN, F-111F, 1970-1993, might have disagreed.

Here is the discussion about the ex-Italian ones that got shredded at Hitchin last year

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=75122&highlight=hitchin

Well looking at the list above it’s surprising how may airframes and cockpits have been disposed of and are preserved.
I really don’t know who you would deal with re aquiring one, bet it’s one of those things that if you speak to the right person you might get something for very little, or you pay through the nose via a dealer. It seems the MoD rather stick to known disposal agents.
There is an ‘item’ here that I really want, doubt I will ever get the chance of owning it though, even when they get rid of it.

I will try a bit of snooping, but one thing is for sure, the MoD like a swift and clean operation, no turning up on site with a canoe trailer and a hacksaw!

Go for it Merkle. You never know….

benyboy, all into the scrap bin, be interestingto know how recycleable a modern (historic?!) airframe is.

Would i be right Pagen, the only way to try and sucure a scrap airframe/Complete aircraft cockpit ,would be to approach the DSA.
I imagine the cost from the DSA would be atronomical as they seem to rather
scrap the aircraft, a heaven forbid, sell a U/S piece of RAF hardware to a member of the public, no matter his or hers honest intensions, bloody beurocrats, and red tape,

benyboy, all into the scrap bin, be interestingto know how recycleable a modern (historic?!) airframe is.

Alertken, you are right and I think that’s where my surprise stems from. The Tornado is the one aircraft I have seen as a prototype, entering service and eventually working near, and now numbers of which are retired and up for disposal – time has marched past me.
And now reading through this post again it does seem semi logical that museums would have one – at the end of the day the general public enjoy looking at an important aircraft.

Also got me thinking, do the Americans even have a direct equivelent to the GRs?

scrapping

I know its enevitable, but still sad to see the old tornado being chopped up,
i am sure when its gone we will miss it, as its one of those aircraft that has a good raf combat history with the gulf war etc ,
when there all gone ,well miss em,

Where are all the cockpits going ?

Remember that a lot of F3 fuselages have gone from St Athan in the last year straight to scrapyards. The Tornado is very firmly in the historic area now.

Not only at St Athan, there are currently F3’s being RTP’d at RAF Leeming, with the stripped carcasses being chopped up on base and removed in skip lorries to an unknown recyclers. Included in this latest butchery is the former 25 sqn spl mks machine (although I hope the tail may survive….)

Yup, mis-read the negative, missed the positive (isn’t there a song..?).

Age is not when that new guy Elvis is No.1, nor when policeman are younger than self…it is when an aircraft you saw on the production line enters a Museum and this forum.

Your implied disparagement of it as an effective asset…1968.

You obviously didn’t read the bit where I said ‘I have nothing against the Tornado itself’?!

I do like the Tornado IDS very much and have been lucky to have worked close to them at Mawgan an St Athan and have much admiration for it as an effective aircraft and its crews who operate it. In fact I seem to be amongst the few that actually admit to liking the ADV.

I was just expressing my personal surprise that they are so popular with museums

Does seem a shade premature, there are so many spare Tornado airframes kicking about I think the RAF are giving them away.
There’s a load spare here at St Athan and when I spoke to someone about it he intimated they couldn’t get rid of them.
What I can’t understand is why so many collections want one (let alone two!).
The one at Cosford looks well out of place, being displayed amongst the German WWII aircraft

Cor,
well if there Giving them away, i would like a complete cockpit please freshly cut , in Gulf war colours,:D ,Oh and i wouldnt dream of not saying “Please”

take it to shows and raise money for the poor sods who got “Gulf war Syndrome” etc, as the government doesnt seem to give a damn about its own service personel, especailly when they have been injured and invilid out of the services, “thanks very much old chap” now dont make a fuss and try and get on with your life What !” oh and heres a fiver for your trouble my good man, sorry to hear youve lost your legs” but we all have sacrifices to make dont we old man” Now run along ,theres a good chap ! “
😮