Tartan 42

[ukmil]

there have been no F3 displays since 2005, and indeed now, no Gr4 display. instead they do the combined role demo. this is purley a cost saving measure, as the amount it takes to pay for a season supporting a single display aircraft is too much for todays defense budget. coupled with the fact, that doing a display routine, eats up airframe FI [fatigue], and the remaining F3's we have can ill afford this usage, as they are literally 'hanging out of their arses'

[forthbridge]

:-(

Leuchars home squadrons could be relied upon to plug some of the gaps in the flying display - my Avatar is an F3 taken on 09 sep 2006 - how many formation shots have I missed over the years?

(Mind you it's only relatively recently that I've had decent enough equipment, and grey F3s against the usual scottish skies don't stand out..... ;-)

[steve p]

Anyways...... cut to the bod in the tower who gets a radio message

Croydon.Croydon.....Hengist here, coming in to you........ just passed Dover..over

When I heard that one it had grown a bit. Picture the pilot of an Andover bimbling along over Kent, en-route to Hannover

Andover over Dover, request handover, over...



Best wishes
Steve P

[forthbridge]

instead they do the combined role demo. the remaining F3's we have can ill afford this usage, as they are literally 'hanging out of their arses'

The thing is, it *still* feels like the F3s are split new. It seemed less of a sudden transition between the Phantoms and Tornados for some reason - yet, I have just realised how many years *have* passed since the early '90s....... :o

Blimey...... :drinkers:

[ukmil]

we actually had the F2/3 from very early 80's, so it has almost done 30 years

[Brian Franklin]

Dave,

It may be a cost saving measure but I have to say that having watched the 'Role demonstration' at Kemble 2 weeks ago, it makes for extremely good watching.... and it was nice to see the E3 involved.

A great display well done the lads

[forthbridge]

I tend to keep thinking the F3 appeared when it actuaally equipped 43 and 111 at Leuchars - not that it's actually a bit older :o

I concur with Brian, the role demo is quite impressive (especially the pyrotechnics) and it is nice to see the Sentry circling nearby as the 'action' unfolds.

[DaveB]

The last 'Role Demonstration' I saw was at Fairford and I don't think anyone in their right mind could call it a cost saving exercise with the number of aircraft involved :o Impressive though I must say ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[forthbridge]

Yes, I missed the chance of shots as we had went for a coffee in the afternoon last year, by which time the seasoned snappers had claimed the best positions... :roll:

Next time I'm there, I'll be taking a gazebo, with fully lockable gate ;-)

I dunno what it is, but it's always nice in the later afternoon when the wind (if it does) drops a little - a nice whiff of Tornado exhaust as they thunder over at low level is quite nice... ;-)

As for cost, well, whatever the pyrotechnics include (old oil?) must cost a fair few bob!

Leuchars '06 - the first year we (I) drove up as opposed to taking the train, and despite leaving in time, we only managed the vicinity at 12.45 - so we parked up and watched from afar....


:o

[ukmil]

as mentioned before, it is hidden costs as far as aircraft. to use an aiframe for traditional aeros, but huge ammounts of Fatigue on them, and almost all of the old 56 Sqn Aeros birds of 2005 are now being scrapped. add to this, tevery time we sent a bird to an airshow, 56 sqn brunted the costs.

Now, a role demo, is funded by strike cmd, from a different budget, and it is very light on aircraft fatigue, so it is not a problem for the likes of 43 sqn to take part every week.

this is why, there are no longer any F3/Gr4 single aeros anymore, we simply cannot cover the costs from a single Sqn, in monies and airframes