RAF Tornado GR4's

[Slinky Skills]

I don't know if anyone's interested but I thought I'd post up this footage.

It's taken from a cockpit of one of the RAF's Role Demonstration GR4 Tornado's flying Poker formation, poker being their callsigns.

This was taken around Southport - Liverpool near the Southport Airshow last year, look at the fluff and vapour going over the wings at 44 seconds in when they change to a 67 degree angle, looks fantastic!

I would have done anything to have been in that plane at the time. Love Tornados!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xzx0Ro6YAko

[mick the click]

Emailed the link to m'boy - asleep next door. He's in the Air Cadets and will love it.

[Slinky Skills]

Quality mate!

Hope he enjoys it, it's a good clip. Maybe one day he'll be flying them himself.

[Vermilion]

Amazing watching the wings opening and closing, you can even see them flex now and then as he changes direction up and down, even over that short a wing span.

Marvellous.

Love it.

Technology FTW.

[Slinky Skills]

Ace isn't it!



They're certainly hurtling along once they go over that estuary aren't they? I'd say a good 500-600 mph or thereabouts, looks amazing.

[tufty]

thats brilliant

never realised they move around as much

do they have 'lines' on their cockpit glass to give them some idea of angles against the horizon ?

[Slinky Skills]

thats brilliant

never realised they move around as much

do they have 'lines' on their cockpit glass to give them some idea of angles against the horizon ?

I'm not too sure tbh mate, like you said they do move about a lot especially the Navigator, he does have bars to hang on to and he would have a bar just in front to hang on to aswell, I know the American F15's do. I can imagine the G's would cause a lot of pressure especially when it angles quickly like that, can't be very comfortable for either of them.

It's difficult for the Navigator in the back because he probably has limited visibility in front so he can't see what the Pilot's doing or when he's going to turn.

That formation when they're doing an airshow basically fly past one another, once the other jet goes past the pilot then turns hard to do the manouvere again. I watched them at Rhyl last year and the routine was about 10 minutes in all, doesn't sound like a long time but flying that quickly and the sharp changes in direction would take it's toll on the body.

[Oberon]

I'm not too sure tbh mate, like you said they do move about a lot especially the Navigator, he does have bars to hang on to and he would have a bar just in front to hang on to aswell, I know the American F15's do. I can imagine the G's would cause a lot of pressure especially when it angles quickly like that, can't be very comfortable for either of them.

It's difficult for the Navigator in the back because he probably has limited visibility in front so he can't see what the Pilot's doing or when he's going to turn.

That formation when they're doing an airshow basically fly past one another, once the other jet goes past the pilot then turns hard to do the manouvere again. I watched them at Rhyl last year and the routine was about 10 minutes in all, doesn't sound like a long time but flying that quickly and the sharp changes in direction would take it's toll on the body.

I worked on GR4s for 10 years, I'm happy to answer questions about it as best I can, if you're interested. Just please be patient for replies, I don't have long periods of time to myself at the moment.

[Slinky Skills]

I worked on GR4s for 10 years, I'm happy to answer questions about it as best I can, if you're interested. Just please be patient for replies, I don't have long periods of time to myself at the moment.

Smart!

Quality mate, sounds like you had a good job you lucky sod. Are you still in RAF?

[Oberon]

It was a good job, I only ever wanted to be in the RAF so I guess I was a lucky sod,

I left in 2010, fed up with deserts and spending at least 1/4 of the year away every year. Got to look after the family and being home became more important than anything else.

Back on topic, did you know some of technology and systems on the Tornado originated from the TSR2 programme. Lots of early sixties technology flying around Norfolk & Scotland.

[ntto]

biggest mistake the government ever made from an RAF perspective was cancelling the tsr2 programme

[Fosterbloke]

I'm rather partial to the Vulcan (shame it will never fly again) but Tornados, Harriers and Jaguars also do it for me!

[little dave hedgehog]

i wanted to be a pilot. good thing i didn't, my emotional breakdown has left me without the stomach i used to have for speed and quick turns.

[Fosterbloke]

i wanted to be a pilot. good thing i didn't, my emotional breakdown has left me without the stomach i used to have for speed and quick turns.

You'd be a **** politician too then.

[tufty]

Harrier Jump Jet